The Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association awarded 11 scholarships worth $9,500 to deserving high school and college students from Newark during its Third Annual Scholarship Breakfast.

Newark North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. with 2016 scholarship winners at The North Ward Center in Newark. From (left to right) (first row) Dihza'e K. Bailey, Genesis Rocha, Michael J. Caceres, Ashanti Lee Gilland-Belen, Marielly Pena (second row) Ahjhane L. Sanders, Alvin Fisher, Anibal Ramos Jr., Raquel Rodriguez (third row) Eliyah Green, Luisteven Aponte and Julissa Eve Morales's mother.

Since he was elected in 2006 as councilman representing the North Ward of Newark, Anibal Ramos has been awarding scholarships to Newark students. In the last decade, Ramos has awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships. ARJ Civic was formed as a non-profit organization a few years ago to accept donations from those who want to help provide scholarships for students. ARJ Civic also hosts community events in Newark and helps families in need.

“The Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association is thrilled to have the opportunity to support Newark high school and college bound students as they continue to display hard work and dedication toward their education,” Ramos said. “ARJ Civic is committed to improving educational opportunities for children across the city of Newark, and these scholarships allow our organization to accomplish this goal. We are proud of our scholarship recipients for their achievements, and wish them continued success as they embark onto the next chapter in their educational journeys.”

Ramos said he was motivated to provide scholarships because of his own experience growing up in poverty in Newark. When he was attending high school at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, his mother worked part time in order to pay his tuition, but she became ill when he was a sophomore. A family helped pay the tuition his senior year.

"I always said if I had an opportunity in the future, one of my goals would be to establish a program to help other young people, like that family helped me," Ramos said.

The following students received scholarships (click on each name to learn more about the student):

High School Scholarships ($500 each):

Ashanti Lee Gilland-Belen, graduate of Robert Treat Academy, attending St. Vincent Academy

Julissa Eve Morales, graduate of Park Elementary, attending St. Timothy School

Michael J. Caceres, graduate of Robert Treat Academy, attending St. Peter’s Prep

College Scholarships ($1,000 each):

Alvin Fisher, student at Stockton University

Ahjhane L. Sanders, student at Essex County College

Genesis Rocha, graduate St. Vincent’s Academy, attending Mount Holyoke College

Eliyah Green, graduate of Technology High School, attending William Paterson University

Raquel Rodriguez, graduate of Montclair Kimberly Academy, attending University of Delaware

Luisteven Aponte, graduate of Christ the King, attending New Jersey City University

Marielly Pena, graduate of Newark Tech, attending Stockton University

Dihza K. Bailey, graduate of University High School, attending Kean University