(Trenton—December 17, 2007) Four County Prep students have been named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars this year, announced Principal Barbara Mendolla. The winners are Chynna DeStefano, Annie Ko, Rona Marco, and Tanya Hemrajani. They have been selected for the 2008-09 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 Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) and includes both The Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and the Urban Scholarship awards. Each year, more than 7,000 students statewide receive scholarships in recognition of their high level of academic achievement. 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. Ms. Mendolla congratulates the students on their achievement!