New Camden scholarship program includes internships
Students who graduate from high school in Camden next year at the top of their classes will be eligible for a new scholarship program that includes paid internships for three summers, as long as they attend college in New Jersey.
Students who graduate from high school in Camden next year at the top of their classes will be eligible for a new scholarship program that includes paid internships for three summers, as long as they attend college in New Jersey.
The program was launched Tuesday in Camden and Newark by the politically connected economic development group Choose New Jersey, school district officials, and local business leaders.
The pilot program will provide a $2,000 scholarship to the academically highest-ranking graduating senior at each of Camden's 11 public, charter, and private schools. Those students are then guaranteed paid internships for three consecutive summers from companies, labor organizations, and businesses around the state that are participating in the program. Transportation costs for those internships will be covered by the employers.
Michele Brown, president of Choose NJ, said the program was developed to address the fact that more than 40 percent of New Jersey's high school graduates leave the state each year for higher education.
"That means we are losing some of our best and some of our brightest," she said at a news conference at the Camden headquarters of Campbell Soup Co., a sponsor of the program.
Camden City School District officials acknowledged that many of the city's graduating seniors opt to attend in-state schools already. But Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard also said that the district's top-ranking students are the ones most likely to attend out-of-state colleges and universities. He also said the access to internship opportunities would have a significant impact for students who may not have the connections needed to find such jobs, as well as those who must work during the summer to earn money.
Founded in 2010, Choose New Jersey's mission is to market the state as a location for businesses. In recent years, the group has financed some of Gov. Christie's overseas travel - trips Christie has described as trade missions meant to promote the state and encourage business growth.
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