NJHOF NAMES 2023 ESSAY CONTEST &

ARETÉ SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Mackenzie Booker

2023 Essay Contest Winner

with teacher, Tara Roberto

Yana Javenska

2023 Essay Contest Winner

with teacher, Jonathan Lancaster

Max Druckman

2023 Areté Scholarship Winner

Keely Balfour

2023 Areté Scholarship Winner

In keeping with their commitment to inspire, educate, and motivate youth and students in our state, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) announce the winners of the annual student Essay Contest, as well as the Areté Scholarship Fund.

Mackenzie Booker and Yana Javenska won the 2023 essay contest titled Who Belongs in the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Both winners will receive a $500 cash prize so that they can further their dreams and aspirations by enrolling in a camp or technical program of their choosing.

In the middle school category, Mackenzie Booker, a fifth grader at Charles Harker Elementary School in Swedesboro, New Jersey, won for her essay on First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who was born in Hammonton, New Jersey. Mackenzie’s essay focused on Dr. Biden’s efforts to advocate for all Americans and work to increase educational opportunities as an educator herself.

Yana Javenska, a tenth grader at Bergen County Academies in Elmwood Park, was selected in the high school category for her essay on suffragist and journalist Alice Stone Blackwell, who was born in Orange, New Jersey. Yana’s essay described Alice Stone Blackwell’s tireless efforts to further women’s rights and equality.

“NJEA is proud to partner with the New Jersey Hall of Fame to recognize the achievements of these students,” said New Jersey Education Association President Sean M. Spiller, who is also a high school science teacher in the Wayne public school system. “Our partnership has contributed to the successful educational journeys many students have since taken because of the Areté Scholarship Fund program. The scholarship program inspires our students and affords them the opportunity to see that with hard work, determination, and opportunity, the fulfillment of dreams is possible.”

The essay contest is open to all New Jersey students from 4th-12th grades and divided into two age categories: intermediate (grades 4-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Applicants need to write an essay of no more than 500 words describing who should be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The winning students’ nominations will be forwarded to the New Jersey Hall of Fame Academy for consideration for induction into the 2024 class.



The Hall of Fame also announced Max Druckman and Keely Balfour as the winners of the 2023 Areté Scholarship Fund, a $5,000 award granted to two graduating high school seniors each year.

“We are proud to recognize this year’s recipients of the Areté Scholarship and the NJEA Essay Contest, which are vital components of the Hall of Fame's mission,” said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. “On behalf of our board of trustees and many supporters throughout New Jersey, we applaud these students.”

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