NJ students: Schleck attends West Point's Summer Leaders Experience

Mary Claire Schleck, a senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, attended West Point's Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) — a highly selective program for students interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy from Saturday, June 4, to Friday, June 10.

“I am so grateful for this immersive experience of life at West Point and in the military,” she said. “Each day, filled with early wakeups, physical training, military training, academic classes, and squad activities, flew by. While there were challenging moments, I loved everything about SLE. I will forever cherish the friendships I made, the knowledge I gained, and the leadership skills I developed during my week at West Point.”

A resident of Metuchen, Schleck is involved in a variety of activities at Mount Saint Mary Academy and outside of school. These include: Vice President of the Student Council Executive Board, a member of the Peer Facilitators Team, host of the Mount Pack Podcast, soccer team captain, and basketball team captain. Outside of school, she is a Girl Scout.

Also: Dylan Elizabeth Wolski, a junior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung and a resident of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, graduated from the Jr. Docent program at the Staten Island Zoo in July. She completed a 50-hour training program including topics on conservation education, bio-facts about the animals, and care and handling of animals while presenting to the visiting public.

Wolski was excited to be accepted and complete this program and follow the legacy of her grandmother, Stanislava Wolski, a docent at the Staten Island Zoo more than 30 years ago. Zoo conservation and public education about the importance and care of animals have long been a family passion.

"The Jr. Docent program at the zoo provides many opportunities,” she said. “I find it interesting learning new information about conservation and animal life while I engage with the community. I look forward to participating in the monthly themed zoo special events."

Wolski is a new member of the Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents and Volunteers.

At Mount Saint Mary, Wolski is a member of the Chemistry Club, Mock Trial, Art Club, and Future Medical Professionals Club. She plays on the volleyball and golf teams.

Bank of America of New Jersey

Bank of America announced five Northern NJ high school students have been selected as Student Leaders, an eight-week paid internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving their communities. These students are mid-way through their internship experience of workforce skills, leadership, and civic engagement with local Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. As part of the program, they will earn $17 per hour and receive a Chromebook.

The Student Leaders program, which started in 2004, recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. each year. In NJ, Student Leaders work closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs to provide needed administrative support and actively shape the experiences of local children. With guidance from the bank and NJ Boys & Girls Clubs, the Student Leaders are gaining access to career skills-building opportunities that are crucial in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing job market.

“This is a win-win for New Jersey. So many organizations need talented young people to help serve our communities. With the Student Leaders program, we’re able to pair some of New Jersey’s best and brightest students with nonprofit jobs that will truly have an impact,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “Young adults are the future of our state, and programs like Student Leaders are one way we can provide paid opportunities that help pave the way for the next generation of the local workforce.”

Bank of America’s selected student leaders are:

• Bergen County

  • Annabelle Hur of Norwood, Academy of the Holy Angels, a rising senior.

• Essex County

  • Vanessa Iwuoha of Newark, graduated from Essex County Vocational-Technical School, Newark Tech Campus and will start her freshman year at Harvard University in the fall.

• Hudson County

  • Annalie Diaz of West New York, Memorial High School, a rising senior

• Hudson County

  • Alisha Varma of Jersey City, Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, a rising senior

• Middlesex County

  • Amirah Oladoja of Fords, a graduate of Woodbridge High School, will start her freshman year at Boston University in the fall.

Selected students underwent a rigorous application process and were selected for their leadership, background, passion, and commitment to NJ’s local communities. While the students come from diverse backgrounds, they all are united by their drive and commitment to serve others.

“We are thrilled to have this year’s Student Leaders working alongside our dedicated Club youth staff throughout Northern New Jersey,” said Susan Haspel, state director, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. “Their perspective has been invaluable, and through our partnership with Bank of America we can help provide them with important leadership training and hands-on work experience.”

For more information on Student Leaders, visit https://bit.ly/3ptqCvG.

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Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF)

The Kaplan Educational Foundation (KEF) celebrates the latest college acceptances from their 15th cohort of scholars in the Kaplan Leadership Program.

Established in 2006, the Kaplan Leadership Program helps high-potential, low-income and underrepresented community college students complete their associate's degree, successfully transfer and go on to earn a four-year bachelor's degree at the nation's most highly-selective schools. The program focuses on a holistic approach ― providing extensive tutoring, academic advisement services, leadership and career training, stipends for living expenses, and other resources and support to help them expand their personal goals, and eventually attain leadership roles in their professions and communities.

The 2022 Kaplan Leadership Scholars and their college acceptances include:

• Marlon Arteaga, Union County College, on to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill• Sybel Francois, Union County College, on to Claremont McKenna College• Belicia Kensah, Union County College, on to Rutgers University-New Brunswick• Ndongo Njie, Hostos Community College, on to Princeton University

Since KEF’s inception, Kaplan Leadership Scholars have been accepted to the country’s most competitive schools. This year, KEF has its first acceptances to Princeton University and Haverford College. Eighty-seven percent of Kaplan Scholars earn a bachelor’s degree.

"While COVID-19 continued to create challenges for our scholars, given the fact that the diverse and resilient talent that the nation needs to fuel the economy can be found in our community colleges, we felt it was particularly important that we remain committed to our mission and celebrate the achievements of our students at this time,” said Nolvia Delgado, executive director of KEF. “This year’s cohort continues to represent the wide diversity that exists in U.S. community colleges, including non-traditional age students, recent immigrants, first-generation and ESL learners, and others pursuing degrees in education, STEM, computer science, medicine, law and other fields. We’re excited to continue to remove barriers and provide greater access to higher education for talented, motivated individuals."

For more information on the Kaplan Leadership Scholars and how to apply to be a scholar, visit www.kaplanedfoundation.org/

Westfield Public Schools

In its 20th year, the Extended School Year Program in the Westfield Public School District assists students in preschool through high school who have been identified as those who would benefit from additional instruction and related services during the summer.

The five-week, state-mandated ESY program, which ran from Wednesday, July 6, through Tuesday, Aug 9, helps to prepare students for the new school year.

“The ESY program provides a safe environment for students to review material from the previous year while maintaining and strengthening academic skills for the upcoming year,” said Alex Linden, ESY supervisor and a special education teacher at Edison Intermediate School. “The program also gives the students social opportunities to foster peer relationships with students from all of our schools across the district.”

Instructional specialists in reading, behavior/social skills, speech, occupational and physical therapy join special education teachers, paraprofessionals and a school nurse in administering the program. Many of the ESY staff are longtime educators and aides with Westfield Public Schools.

Twenty-seven students in grades 6-12 attend the ESY program at Westfield High School, each with a morning homeroom and a rotation schedule of core academic classes. Enrolled in the preschool through fifth grade ESY program at Wilson Elementary School are 101 students who also receive instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics, along with related services. An additional 24 ESY students at Wilson receive related services only, which can include OT, PT, speech, behavioral services and reading instruction through the Wilson Reading System.

Linden said, “We hope that our students come away from the ESY program prepared and with confidence as they enter the new school year.”

Student and School news appears on Saturdays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com

Carolyn Sampson is Executive Office Assistant for the Courier News, The Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com, and handles the weekly Student News page. 

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ students: Schleck attends West Point's Summer Leaders Experience