Passaic County recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, presents honors and scholarships to local residents
Loading...
Summary
The Passaic County Board of Commissioners held a Hispanic Heritage Month program that honored community leaders and presented two education scholarships from the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.
Passaic County commissioners recognized National Hispanic Heritage Month during a board meeting and presented a series of proclamations honoring local leaders and two scholarships awarded to county residents.
The board read proclamations and presented certificates to honorees including Ashley B. Sanchez — the first woman assigned to Patterson Fire Department’s Elite Rescue Unit — Ariel Jacob “AJ” Luna for veteran services work, Jessica Gonzalez (recognized for nonprofit leadership at Cuemac), and Larri (Lottie) Colon for more than three decades of county service. Janice (executive director, Passaic County Housing Agency) announced two scholarship winners from the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NJ NAHRO).
The scholarships are intended to help recipients with tuition, computers or other education-related costs. Doria Huertas, who works full time in the Essex County Superior Court criminal division while attending Berkeley College and raising three children, received a $1,500 scholarship that is renewable for one year. “They have been my cheerleaders since the beginning,” Huertas said, thanking Clarissa Manjaris and Maria Geraldo for helping applicants find opportunities.
The second recipient, Jaquasia Pryor, who works as a behavior technician and is pursuing a bachelor of science in psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis, received a $3,000 scholarship, also renewable next year. “I was not prepared, but I’m truly grateful to be here and honored,” Pryor said, describing her decision to return to school and calling the award a source of “purpose.”
Commissioners also read formal proclamations recognizing the month and the individual honorees’ community service. The presentations included remarks from honorees; Larri Colon, after receiving the county’s recognition for 32 years of service, told the room she was “deeply honored and incredibly humbled.”
The board held the ceremony as part of its regular meeting; commissioners invited attendees to join refreshments in the lobby after the program.
