(Courtesy of Kaplen JCC) The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now accepting applications for the Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Awards, which honors student-athletes in their senior year who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, their schools and within their communities. Seniors throughout Bergen County are encouraged to apply and do not need to be a member of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades to be awarded. The application deadline is December 31. First place winners, one male and one female, will each receive a $3,600 scholarship. Additional college scholarships will be awarded to second and third place winners.
Awards will be presented at the third annual Sports Night of Champions, a community-wide event that features sports celebrities as keynote speakers and supports scholarships at the JCC. The date of the event is forthcoming.
“It is always a privilege to hold this event, where we can honor local youth who are passionate about sports and committed to enriching the communities where they live,” said JCC CEO Jordan Shenker. “Each year, we look to acknowledge students who have taken the skills they cultivated as athletes and used them to create a powerful, positive impact on the lives of others around them. We are eager to hear from everyone, so if you know a qualified student athlete who may not know about this opportunity, refer them to apply.”
Students interested in applying must be current high school seniors, who demonstrate strong academic ability and exemplary leadership skills in sports, their school and within their community. As part of the application process, students will need to submit a personal essay (500-750 words), two letters of recommendation and their most current high school transcript. Students should visit www.jccotp.org/athleteawards for application details, judging and selection criteria, and other important details.
The Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Award was established in memory of Joseph Taub, z”l, a JCC founding member and former co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, who dedicated his time and resources to supporting underserved youth in the area of athletics. An avid philanthropist, he made dreams of a better life possible for countless youth by providing scholarship assistance and creating a successful after-school basketball league as a safe haven for students in the Paterson public school district, where he himself grew up. Taub was also a founder of Automatic Data Processing (ADP).
For additional information or questions, please contact Fran Koszer at 201-408-1404 or [email protected].
