EMS Council of N.J. Awards Cadet Scholarships

Fifty-one applicants competed this year for eight $1,000 scholarships from the EMS Council of New Jersey (EMSCNJ). The 89-year-old nonprofit EMSCNJ represents more than 250 volunteer EMS agencies throughout the Garden State.

Squads from the EMSCNJ’s 17^th District donated three of the scholarships in memory of deceased members: Bob Barbieri of the Totowa First Aid Squad; David Gourley of the Pompton Lakes/Riverdale First Aid Squad; and Daniel Vanderhook of the Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The Totowa First Aid Squad donated an additional scholarship in Barbieri’s memory.

Eligible scholarship applicants were high school seniors planning to attend college this fall, and who are active participants on EMSCNJ-affiliated squads. A selection committee at Raritan Valley Community College reviewed the applications and chose the winners.

“The caliber of students applying for the scholarships was extraordinary,” said Mary Claire Shiber, chairperson of the EMSCNJ’s Cadet Scholarship Committee.

Following are the names of the 2018 Cadet Scholarship recipients, their squad affiliations, the schools they will attend and their planned courses of study:

Anthony Esposito                    Sparta Ambulance Squad
                                                University of Miami; Biology/Pre-Med
                                                (Bob Barbieri Memorial Cadet Scholarship)

Jonathan Fessock                   Long Hill First Aid Squad
                                                Mount St. Mary College; Nursing
                                                (Bob Barbieri Memorial Cadet Scholarship)

Marc Greenwood                    Ramsey Ambulance Corps
                                                Ramapo College of New Jersey; Management/Law Enforcement
                                               (David Gourley Memorial Cadet Scholarship)

Sonal Mahindroo                    Morganville First Aid & Rescue Squad
                                               St. Bonaventure University/George Washington University School                                                                       of Medicine; Biology/Pre-Med/Medicine

Mariella Pueblo                      Tinton Falls EMS North
                                               Brookdale Community College (2 years)
                                               Montclair State University (2 years); Education

Jaime Silino                            Tinton Falls EMS North
                                               Molloy College; Nursing

Mark Steinberg                       Verona Rescue Squad
                                                Rutgers University-Newark; Criminal Justice/Forensic Science
                                                (Daniel Vanderhook Memorial Cadet Scholarship)

Kelly Waters                            Somerville First Aid & Rescue Squad
                                                Loyola University; Biology/Pre-Med