Hudson County Community College Establishes Scholarship in Memory of Slain Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago

July 17, 2014

New, full scholarship to be offered exclusively to Jersey City law enforcement officers to attend Hudson County Community College.

 

July 17, 2014, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Board of Trustees Chairman William J. Netchert, Esq., and HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert announced today that the College is establishing a scholarship in memory of Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago, who was slain in the line of duty earlier this week.

Officer Santiago attended Hudson County Community College as a Criminal Justice major from Fall 2011 through Spring 2013, and left the College to attend the Police Academy.

The Officer Melvin Santiago Memorial Scholarship is a full scholarship that covers tuition, fees and books for a Jersey City law enforcement officer pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice (or a related field) at Hudson County Community College. The scholarship will be renewable for up to six semesters (three years).

“When an individual becomes a Hudson County Community College student, he or she becomes a member of our family and remains such,” said Mr. Netchert. “We send heartfelt condolences to Officer Santiago’s family. We are dedicating this scholarship to Officer Santiago so that others who are as committed as he was to serving and protecting the community may continue that work to which he was so devoted.”

Mr. Netchert said that it is the hope of the Board of Trustees and the College’s administrators that this scholarship will contribute some good to what has been a tragic event.

“We want this scholarship to bring renewed unity and healing to our community,” Dr. Gabert stated. “Every day the College – and the scholarships provided by the people of our community through our Foundation – open the doors to new opportunities for those who live and work here. Education lays the groundwork for improving lives and fostering understanding,” he said.

The requirements and selection criteria for the Officer Melvin Santiago Memorial Scholarship are detailed here.

Applicants must:

  • Complete an application form. Jersey City law enforcement officers who are currently HCCC students are welcome to apply.
  • Meet the standard admission requirements set forth by the College.
  • Submit one letter of recommendation, preferably from his/her Jersey City Police Department supervisor.
  • Write and submit a typed essay describing his/her academic goals and how he/she expects his/her degree to enhance service to the Jersey City Police Department, and thereby to the community.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 to continue scholarship eligibility. (Should a student’s grade-point average fall below the minimum, he/she will have a one-semester grace period to bring their GPA up to the required minimum.)
  • Submit a digital photo of himself/herself. The photo and words from the applicant’s essay may be used in the College’s publications.

Completed application packages must be received by August 15, 2014. Applications should be mailed or delivered to: Vice President for North Hudson & Student Affairs, ATTENTION: OMSMS, Hudson County Community College, 4800 Kennedy Boulevard, Union City, NJ 07087. Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision during the week of August 25, 2014.