Somerset County officials presented scholarships to two Somerset County Vocational Technical High School students during a public meeting, highlighting vocational education and corporate support for county students.

County and New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Foundation representatives handed checks to Dominic Elias and Kenneth Ponteris; the foundation’s executive director, John Donati, said the foundation and corporate donors have awarded more than $110,000 in scholarships this year to county vocational-technical graduates. "I love giving away other people's money through the foundation," Donati said, noting support from companies he named during the presentation.

The awards recognize students who are continuing their education in-state. Donati said the scholarship recipients from Somerset County are attending or matriculating to Raritan Valley Community College and other New Jersey institutions; Dominic Elias told the commissioners he will attend Stevens Institute of Technology in the fall and said, "I'm definitely putting this towards my school because it's expensive." Kenneth Ponteris thanked the board and donors and acknowledged family and internship opportunities that supported his work as a student videographer.

Superintendent Presuto, who introduced the students, described the Somerset County Vocational Technical High School (VoTech) as a choice school that trains students in practical skills. "They make the choice to come to VoTech," Presuto said, and noted that the county provided two new buildings that will open in September and add seven additional CTE classrooms.

The brief presentation included certificates, photographs and remarks from the students and school superintendent. No formal votes or budget appropriations for the scholarships were recorded in the meeting transcript; the awards were presented as part of the NJAC Foundation’s program and corporate contributions. The county’s acknowledgement emphasized the role of career and technical education in preparing students for local workforce needs.

A group photo followed the presentations and commissioners and staff encouraged the public to attend VoTech once the new facilities open.