Howell Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship

HOWELL, NJ — A Brookdale Community College student from Howell has earned a prestigious national scholarship to support his pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

Adam Deinhardt has been named a 2026 Hites Scholar, which comes with a $7,500 scholarship, Brookdale officials announced.

He is one of 10 winners nationwide. The scholarship, administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, had more than 3,000 applicants, the college said.

Deinhardt, who is set to graduate from Brookdale in the spring with associate degrees in mathematics and physics as a Global Citizen Distinction Scholar, plans to study applied mathematics when he transfers. His top choices of schools are Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, along with Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Socieity chooses the Hites Scholars based on academic achievement, leadership, and meaningful engagement in research and campus life.

Deinhardt, who was chosen by the honor society as a Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, is a researcher in the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium NASA-funded on-campus program, conducting interdisciplinary work in mathematics and physics.

Through the program he has collaborated with and been mentored by professionals affiliated with leading institutions, including Princeton, MIT, and UC Berkeley. It has given him hands-on experience in research development and proposal writing.

In October, Deinhardt achieved a major milestone by publishing two peer-reviewed articles at IEEE MASS 2025, the International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Smart Systems in Chicago.

As first author on one of the papers, Deinhardt presented research on AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) smart systems designed to support adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in residential settings, sharing his findings with leaders across the technology and healthcare industries.

Deinhardt also serves as president of the Physics & Astronomy Club at Brookdale.

"This is an exceptional honor that reflects Adam’s hard work and the power of the opportunities available at Brookdale," Brookdale President David M. Stout said. "His journey shows what’s possible when students engage deeply with their studies, research, and campus community."

"Being named a Hites Scholar is a truly special moment for both my PTK and community college journey," Deinhardt said. "Brookdale offered opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and community engagement that helped me become a more well-rounded individual. I was able to pair rigorous mathematical work with experiences focused on fellowship and social responsibility, which prepared me both academically and personally for the next stage."

Deinhardt's long-term goal is to pursue doctoral studies and build a career as an applied mathematician working in medical research before transitioning into academic leadership.

Phi Theta Kappa will recognize the 2026 Hites Scholars as a group on stage during the Parade of Scholars at PTK Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention in Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting institutions and helping them grow as scholars and leaders. It has more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.