Essex County Scholarship Winners Attending MSU, Rutgers | West Orange, NJ Patch – West Orange, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A pair of students from Essex County recently earned scholarships that will help them continue their academic careers at Montclair State University and Rutgers University.

Azana Sall and Izdihar Benjamin, both of East Orange, were named as the Essex County recipients of the 2020 Scholarship Program Award from the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) Foundation and Investors Foundation.

The scholarship award recognizes distinguished students from technical and vocational schools who plan to pursue higher education in New Jersey.

According to the Essex County Board of Commissioners, which recently honored the pair of scholars:

Azana Sall – “Azana is currently a freshman at Montclair State University majoring in Biology, and working towards earning a Bachelor of Science degree. After college, she plans to go into medical school, obtain her M.D., then apply for residency in a local hospital. Her career goal is to become an OB/GYN, and at some point own and operate her own clinic. Her ultimate goal is to change the course of healthcare for African American women by treating diseases affecting women and children, and improving access to quality health care.”

Izdihar Benjamin – “Izdihar is a recent graduate of Essex County Schools of Technology, West Caldwell Tech Campus in West Caldwell, New Jersey. She displayed academic excellence throughout her high school tenure, and was very involved in her school’s community. She was an active member of the Key Club, the National Honor Society of High School Scholars, and was also a Senior Mentor. She currently attends Rutgers University where she is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is described by her teachers as a hardworking, ambitious and dedicated young lady who is committed to making a difference in the world. She has made her family extremely proud and draws inspiration from her late great grandmother Sallie Coleman, who served as an assistant to former Freeholder Leroy Jones, Jr. and current Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com