Berkeley College Foundation Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

The Berkeley College Foundation honored 19 high-achieving students during its Annual Scholarship Awards and 10-Year Anniversary Celebration dinner on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at La Neve’s Banquets in Haledon, NJ. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided $296,000 in scholarship awards to 84 Berkeley College students.

See the Photos: Click here to view photos from the Berkeley College Foundation 10th Annual Scholarship Reception dinner.

The 2025 scholarship recipients are:

• Saron Bonilla of the Bronx, NY
• Stephanie Boyd of Newark, NJ
• Joshi Fabian of Kearny, NJ
• Yenny Gonzalez of West New York, NJ
• Edisa Gordon of Brooklyn, NY
• Zakaria Hassan Hamza of Bayonne, NY
• Mark Kovacs of Old Bridge, NJ
• Julian Marshall of Jamaica, NY
• Vanessa Mejia of Belleville, NJ
• Lucas Moraes of New York, NY,
• Montana Murdock of Catoosa, OK
• Darius Murray of Breezy Point, NY
• Christopher Nino Quintanar of Brooklyn, NY
• Deirdre Raisin of Tinton Falls, NJ
• Eutresa Richards of New York, NY
• Dina Shafik of Bayonne, NJ
• Joselyn Singleton of Irvington, NJ
• Shazeeda Subhan of Valley Stream, NY
• Zachary Witham of Wanaque, NJ

“These scholarships are more than just a nudge of support. They are a vote of confidence in your potential, a recognition of your journey, and a belief in your future,” said Jonathan Santiago, Scholarship Chair, Board of Directors, Berkeley College Foundation.

Ellen Zitis, Executive Director, Berkeley College Foundation, thanked attendees, including guests of the recipients and sponsors, for supporting the students on their educational journeys.

“Some of the scholarship recipients were motivated by someone important in their lives who was an influence in their educational pursuits,” Zitis said. “You earned this through your hard work, and you impressed us with your GPAs, personal statements, perseverance, and commitment to your education.”

“Berkeley College Foundation scholarships do more than simply help students pay for tuition,” said Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College. “Every scholarship opens the door to opportunity – the chance for a student to earn a degree, to launch a meaningful career, to uplift their family, and to shape their community.”

The event included a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

Event Sponsors

Title Sponsor: CohnReznick

Advocate Sponsors: Ai Media Group and Wilmington Trust

Supporter Sponsor: Cigna Healthcare

Friends of the Foundation: Allan Industries, Inc.; Best Trails & Travel; Cengage; Complete Care; David and Christina Brown; David Bayne, Esq.; Pagano Company Real Estate; Provident Bank; Valley Bank; and Wells, Jaworski & Liebman, LLP

Special Sponsor: Marsh McLennan Agency