(Trenton —Novemer 21, 2006) Three County Prep students have been named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars this year, announced Principal Barbara Mendolla.

Khrystyne Avetria, Hao Chen and Zarina Lagman have been selected for the 2007-08 Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar awards.

The Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Award was first awarded during the 1989-90 academic year, as part of the Garden State Scholarship Program. This program is administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) and includes both The Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and the Urban Scholaship awards. Each year, more than 7,000 students statewide receive scholasrships in recognition of their high level of academic acheivement. Students may use the awards to continue their education at New Jersey institutions of higher education.

Students are selected on the basis of the following criteria: 1) the student must be among the top three students in class rank and be within the top 10 percent of the graduating class at the end of the junior year; or 2) they must rank within the top 10 percent of the graduating class with combined critical reading and math SAT scores of 1260 or higher at the end of the junior year.

Distinguished scholars earn an annual award of $1,000 without regard to financial need. For the 2006-07 selection process, secondary schools submitted names and academic information of more than 21,000 students. Of these, 7,000 students received awards this year.

Ms. Mendolla congratulates the winners on their acehivement!

For more information about HESAA’s programs, call 1-800-792-8670 or visit online at www.hesaa.org