Scholarships
Each year, the Summit College Club awards financial scholarships to young women from the surrounding area in New Jersey who have been selected for their academic record and leadership qualities. The number of scholarships awarded, and the amount of each award, may vary from year to year. Since its inception, Summit College Club has awarded roughly $1 million in scholarship money, helping hundreds of young women attend the college of their choice.
Eligibility
Scholarships may be awarded to residents of Summit, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Millburn and New Providence, New Jersey. Applicants should be in their senior year. Also eligible are daughters of individuals who have been Summit College Club members for three ore more years.
Application Process
Members of the Scholarship Committee work closely with the Guidance Offices of high schools in the towns listed above. The Guidance Offices coordinate the application process, ensuring that eligible young women in their schools are aware of the opportunity and checking that all applications are complete before they are submitted to the Scholarship Committee. Typically, applications are due around March 1. The application consists of: applicant information, including an academic and extra-curricular resume; academic transcript; written recommendations from (1) the applicant’s guidance counselor and (2) a teacher or other academic reference; and a written essay that addresses a question posed by the Committee.
The Scholarship Committee reviews all of the applications and, from the pool of applicants, selects those applicants who will be offered interviews. From this smaller pool, the final recipients are chosen. Awards are usually made in June. The scholarship is paid directly to each recipient in the form of a check.
Available Scholarships
The Tilla Thomas Scholarship, awarded each year from the Tilla Thomas Bequest, is given to a woman student who has achieved academic excellence and demonstrated leadership potential at Summit High School.
The Mary Tennant Scholarship, awarded each year from the Mary Tennant Bequest, is given to a woman student who has achieved academic excellence and demonstrated leadership potential.
The Kathy C. Madison M.D. Scholarship, awarded each year from the Caroline Madison Endowment, is given to a woman student who plans to pursue a career in science.
The Summit College Club Merit Scholarships are awarded to one or two women students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated leadership potential.
How to Apply
Please contact your high school guidance counselor if you are interested in applying for a Summit College Club Scholarship. The process typically begins in late January.
Introducing the 2022 Summit College Club Scholarship Recipients
Olivia Lawlor was awarded Summit College Club’s oldest honor, the Tilla Thomas Merit Scholarship. At Summit High School (where Tilla Thomas taught years ago), Olivia was captain of the basketball team and an award-winning soccer goalie. She organized local blood drives and logged 450 hours of work with the Summit First Aid Squad. Olivia plans to major in pre-med at Dartmouth College and have a career in neuroscience. (Pictured: SCC Scholarship Committee Member Ellie Redington shares Olivia's accomplishments at the awards ceremony)
Helen Yiran Liu won SCC’s Mary K. Tennant Scholarship. At Governor Livingston High School, Helen was a founder and co-president of the Understanding Asia Club and a member of the Diversity Committee. She tutored in English and Math and started a summer reading program for children with novels by Asian authors. She is a skilled rock climber. Helen, who spent a summer working with a geneticist at Case Western, will attend the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and hopes to do graduate work in biology or medicine. (Pictured: SCC Scholarship Committee Member Barbara Sayre introduces Helen and her achievements)
Tiffany Lan was awarded SCC’s Kathi C. Madison MD Scholarship. At Millburn High School, Tiffany was a leader, taking the Science Olympiad Club to statewide competition. She participated in the prestigious Columbia University Science Honors Program; she was active in the LifeStraw Give Back Campaign in Kenya. A Chinese classical dancer at the competitive level, a bird-watcher, and an illustrator and managing editor of her school’s literary magazine, Tiffany’s interests range widely; she plans to major in biology at Haverford College and to pursue a career in medicine. (Pictured: Tiffany accepts her award certificate from SCC Scholarship Committee Co-Chair Kathy Tatlow)
Zaina Qureshi won one of the three SCC Merit Scholarships. At Chatham High School, Zaina, who has lived all over the world, is an ambassador to the League of Women Voters and founded the Refugee Rescue Club, which works with an international rescue committee. A member of both the varsity fencing and tennis teams, Zaina will attend Lehigh University in the fall. (Pictured: SCC Scholarship Committee Member Susan Abely describes Zaina's achievements in high school and her plans for the future)
Christina (Crystal) Jong also garnered one of the SCC Merit Scholarships. At Kent Place School in Summit, Crystal tutored classmates and was captain of the fencing team and vice-president of the judiciary. At church, she mentored children with special needs. Crystal plans to study engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. (Pictured: Crystal holds her Scholarship certificate, award and roses as SCC Scholarship Committee Member Kathy Brock leads the applause)
Lara Cota was awarded the final SCC Merit Scholarship. At Summit High School, Lara was captain of the women’s cross country team, played the lead clarinet in the marching band, and wrote for the school newspaper. An activist for both gender equity and cultural awareness, Lara speaks Spanish and Croatian in addition to English. Lara will attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she will study law, journalism, and psychology in anticipation of a career in humanitarian and civil rights. (Pictured: Lara accepts her award from SCC Scholarship Committee Co-Chair Kathy Tatlow)
Standing: 2022 Summit College Club Scholarship Recipients (l to r) Olivia Lawlor, Lara Cota, Tiffany Lan, Christina (Crystal) Jong, Helen Yiran Liu, and Zaina Qureshi. Seated: Members of the Summit College Club Scholarship Committee (l to r) Marilynn MacLean and Kathy Tatlow (co-chairs), Kathy Brock, Susan Abely, Barbara Sayres, and Ellie Redington. (Not pictured: Committee Member Jee-Hoon Krska)
