North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. congratulates Ivett Cevallos on receiving a scholarship from the Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association.

Ivett is a graduate of Abington Avenue School and will be attending Saint Vincent Academy in the fall.

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. stands with Newark Public Schools Advisory Board member Josephine Garcia, the mother of scholarship winner Ivett Cevellos and Councilman at Large Carlos Gonzalez.

Ivett was born in Ecuador and came to the United States with her mother when she was 2 years old.

"Starting school I didn't really have any dreams and I don't really know what I want to be yet," Ivett says. "All I know right now is that I want to have a good education. Having a good education means being in a school where, yes it may be hard but I will do everything in my power to be a good student, to be worthy and earn my grades."

Ivett has been playing the violin for the last three years.

"It's very exciting being able to tell an amazing story through music, which connects a lot with me wanting to learn new things often," Ivett says.