Kids & Family

Princeton Community Village Students Awarded $40K in Scholarships

Fifteen Princeton Community Village residents were recently awarded college scholarships, totaling $40,000 in grants.

The scholarships were awarded by the National Affordable Housing Management Association, as well as the New Jersey Affordable Housing Management Association. Seven students received money from both NAHMA and JAHMA. 

“I want to congratulate the Princeton Community Village culture here that supports education,” said Dr. Bruce Johnson, administrator of the Affordable Housing Management Association Scholarship Program. “Because education leads to opportunity, and opportunity leads to success.”

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Recipients will be off to Rutgers University, Norwich University, Farleigh Dickenson University, Seton Hall University, Rowan University, Franklin and Marshall College, Ithaca College, Mercer County Community College, Strayer University, and Haverford College in the fall.

“That’s a pretty impressive list, pick any 15 people,” said Johnson. “I would be anxious to see an apartment community any place in this country that can put 15 people…with a list of schools as impressive as that.”

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Police Officer Shahid Abdul-Karim addressed the students and their families as a former PCV resident, recalling fond memories of the nurturing community he grew up in. Karim has since had a career as a teacher’s aide at John Witherspoon Middle School, a teacher and coach at Princeton High School, and a Princeton police officer.

“You have to take advantage of your opportunities,” said Abdul-Karim. “As a basketball coach, I always tell my players: You will get your opportunities; it’s what you do with them.” 

Dr. Charlene St. Clair, a doctor of optometry and former recipient of the JAHMA scholarship for three consecutive years, also spoke to the students. St. Clair moved to PCV when she was 9 years old, and attended Rutgers University, followed by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

“No one here should settle for mediocrity,” said St. Clair, who implored the students to time-manage effectively for success in college. “There’s no way around it. You have to do the work.”

Ed Truscelli, executive director of Princeton Community Housing, acknowledged the sense of pride that the PCV staff felt towards the students they had watched grow up in the community.

“It feels like a family; we’re all different families, but one big family,” said Truscelli.

Founded in 1967 by volunteers, PCH owns and operates 467 affordable rental homes in Princeton and works to balance housing opportunities and foster economic diversity in the community. 

Mary Ebong, one of the 15 winners, expressed excitement over starting classes in the fall in a rigorous college environment.

“It’s been pleasant (growing up here),” said Ebong, who will be studying human resource management at Rutgers New Brunswick. “It’s a close-knit community. I made a lot of friends when I first got to high school. I didn’t know there were so many kids who lived here, but during the school year there’s always lots of people to interact with.” 

Residents past and present praised PCV for its strong sense of community.  

“I still live here at the Holly House, so I came back. It’s a wonderful place to be,” said Abdul-Karim. “I’ve seen every side of Princeton: growing up, teaching, being a cop, and there’s more good than bad in this town, I have to say. It’s a beautiful thing.”


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