Chatham Student Honored For Leadership, Academic Achievements

CHATHAM, NJ — A Chatham High School senior is the most recent recipient of the P.E.O. STAR Scholarship, which is given to a student who demonstrates excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities and community service.

Eloise Hilgendorff was given the $2,500 scholarship due to her demonstrating the potential for future success.

"I am so proud of Ellie for all of her accomplishments, and it's wonderful to see that she has been recognized through this platform. She is an effective leader, an exceptional student and athlete, and has given selflessly to the school and local community through a variety of clubs, organizations and endeavors," said Joe Barbato, a counselor at Chatham High School.

The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship was established in 2009 to provide scholarships for outstanding women in their senior year of high school to attend an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the United States or Canada the following academic year.

To be eligible for the scholarship students must:

• Exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success
• Have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Is in the final academic year of her secondary education and is 20 years of age or under at the end of the calendar year
• Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada
• Plan to attend an accredited post-secondary educational institution in the U.S. or Canada full time or part-time in the fall of the academic year following high school graduation
• Be recommended by and receives the vote of a local P.E.O. chapter
• The applications of individuals who satisfy these eligibility criteria will be evaluated on a nondiscriminatory basis without consideration of race, age, national origin, religious affiliation, disability or P.E.O. connection.

"She is very deserving of this honor," Barbato said.