A PROUD COMMUNITY: Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert and Dr. Bruce Johnson (center), administrator of the New Jersey Affordable Housing Management Association and National Affordable Housing Management Association Scholarship Foundation, pose with student award winners (L to R) Cindy Guzman, Alana Chmiel, Mary Ebong, and Joshua Hsieh, at last Wednesday’s scholarship awards ceremony at Princeton Community Village. Scholarship recipients not pictured include Jonas Daniecki, Vanessa Guzman, Daniel Hanna, and Christian Nazario. (Photo courtesy of planetprinceton.com)

Eight students from Princeton Community Village (PCV) have won scholarships from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Management Association (JAHMA) and the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).

In a ceremony last Wednesday at the Theodore M. Vial Clubhouse at PCV, Bruce Johnson, Administrator of the JAHMA and NAHMA Scholarship Foundations, presented the awards to Alana Chmiel, a sophomore at Rutgers this fall; Jonas Daniecki, a senior at Norwich University; Mary Ebong, a senior at Rutgers; Cindy Guzman, a senior at Rutgers; Vanessa Guzman, a senior at Fairleigh Dickinson; Daniel Hanna, a freshman at The College of New Jersey; Joshua Hsieh, a senior at Richard Stockton University; and Christian Nazario, a senior at LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising).

Mr. Johnson acknowledged the uniqueness and diversity represented by the students and praised the responsibility, hard work, diligence and strong academic background of each recipient. All eight scholarship winners are Princeton High School graduates.

Other speakers included Princeton Police Officers Shahid Abdul Karim and Jorge A. Narvaez and Franklin High School Principal Frank Chmiel. They congratulated the award winners and encouraged them to take advantage of the resources in the Princeton area, to be lifelong learners, to work hard, to never quit, and to give back to their communities.

Scholarship winners must demonstrate significant community involvement, a grade point average of at least 3.0 and strong recommendation letters from a teacher and an employer.

“They know what it is to be responsible in school work and to contribute to the community,” said PCV staff member Edith Juarez. “These students set a great example for the younger students.”

Both foundations offer scholarships to outstanding students living at JAHMA- and NAHMA-member affiliated properties. This year’s awards ranged from $1500 to $3500 for each JAHMA scholarship recipient and $2500 for each NAHMA winner. Six of the students received both awards.

Princeton Community Village, an affiliate of Princeton Community Housing (PCH), opened in 1975 to provide low and moderate income townhouses and apartments. The nonprofit PCH provides, manages, and advocates for affordable housing. Founded in 1967, it works to ensure “a balance of housing opportunities essential to the continued success and diversity of the Princeton community.” For more information on affordable housing available in Princeton, visit www.princetoncommunityhousing.org.