June 18, 2014
The Selection Committee of The Jonathan Maslow Scholarship today announced the recipient of its 2014 scholarship award.
Anja Merz, a graduating senior at Red Bank Regional High School (RBRHS), will receive a scholarship in the amount of $5,000. Anja is an active member of RBRHS’s National Art Honors Society, this year serving as the group’s Secretary and helping to organize several fundraisers for local arts organizations. She is also active in the school’s Environmental Club, which participates in dune grass replenishment projects in Sea Bright and Sandy Hook. Anja will attend the University of South Carolina this fall and plans to study fashion merchandising and journalism, with the ultimate goal of writing for a fashion magazine.
The Jonathan Maslow Scholarship is awarded to students exhibiting exceptionally high levels of written proficiency, creativity, and originality, as well as an interest in local or national environmental causes, journalism, or creative writing. The one-time $5,000 scholarship is open to all RBRHS juniors and seniors who plan to continue their education at an accredited 2 or 4-year college immediately following their graduation.
The fund was established by members of the RBRHS Class of 1966 in memory of their classmate, Jonathan Maslow. Jonathan was an accomplished author, journalist, documentary filmmaker, naturalist, and environmentalist. At the time of his death in 2008 he was an editor and columnist for the Herald News in Paterson, New Jersey. His accomplishments as a journalist and his commitment to his community are reflected in the many awards bestowed on him including The New Jersey Press Association for Responsible Journalism and the Joseph M. Sklenar Editorial Award. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jonathan covered civil strife in Central America, helped save a library in the City of Passaic, fought vigorously to help clean up the Passaic River, and championed efforts to make politicians accountable for their actions.
The Community Foundation of New Jersey administers the fund on behalf of the Scholarship Directors.
About the Community Foundation of New Jersey
Established in 1979, the Community Foundation of New Jersey’s mission is to support charitable giving that is inspired by our donors, targeted at making our communities stronger, driven by creative solutions, and effective in achieving lasting change. Through a combination of Legacy Funds and Donor Advised Funds, the foundation has granted an average of more than $30 million each year to charitable organizations and currently stewards over $270 million in charitable assets for current needs and future challenges.
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