Red Bank Students Honored As NJSIAA Scholar-Athletes

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ -- A pair of Red Bank high school students are among more than 200 from across New Jersey honored as scholar-athletes Wednesday by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Each NJSIAA member high school has the opportunity to select one senior student as their scholar-athlete of the year, the association said in a news release. 

The students selected by their high schools then attend the scholar-athlete luncheon where, through a random drawing, they had the chance to win a college scholarship from one of multiple sponsors. The NJSIAA awarded $172,000 in scholarships to the students, the association said.

Gabriella Ferrigine of Red Bank Catholic received a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Shore Conference. while Sarah Baker of Red Bank Regional received a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Ray Festa Foundation.

“This dinner is among my favorite annual events, because we’re able both to recognize and, in some cases, provide a bit of financial assistance to some of New Jersey’s finest student-athletes,” said Steve Timko, the NJSIAA’s executive director. “Each of the young people in attendance truly stands out at their individual schools, and our association is honored to be able to bring them all together for this special evening.”

Since 1993, the NJSIAA has honored more than 6,900 New Jersey high school students and distributed more than $1.5 million in college scholarships through its scholar program.

Established in 1918, the NJSIAA is a voluntary, nonprofit organization comprised of 431 accredited public, private, and parochial high schools. A member of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the NJSIAA conducts tournaments and crowns champions in 32 sports. Championship competition for girls is sponsored in basketball, bowling, cross country, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track, and volleyball. Boys’ championships are determined in baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, fencing, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track, volleyball, and wrestling.

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