Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Recent high school graduates gather for the announcement of their scholarships. (Photos by Ed Lea/City of Atlantic City)
The message to the Atlantic City students receiving scholarships was clear: Get your education and come back home.
This is the third year for the Mayor Marty Small Sr. Scholarship, which is funded through the Addressing Educational Disparity category of the $33 million of American Rescue Plan funds the city received over the past two years.
“You’re our leaders of the future,” said Pam Fields, a member of the committee that chose the winners. “We’re relying on you to be impactful and come back and make a difference in the town.”
Small has heralded the scholarships as an investment not only in the students, but in the city’s future.
“There is no education like an Atlantic City education, and I am proud of each and every one of these students, who are being rewarded for their hard work and dedication,” Small said Wednesday. “We have heard a lot of success stories since this scholarship program began, including one of our first scholarship winners who has already landed a job with the city of Atlantic City, and we expect many more success stories with our latest award winners.
“While this marks the final year of a three-year commitment, rest assured the Small administration will find a way to continue this program and invest in our future,” he added.
This was the first time scholarships were available to all Atlantic City residents, regardless of which high school they currently attend or attended.
More than 300 submitted applications, more than the first two years.
It also is the first year more than 100 scholarships were awarded due to money left over. Each of the 113 students receive $10,000 with half for the fall semester and the second half for spring.
The 44 scholarship winners who just graduated high school were announced at Wednesday’s ceremony, with each getting a handshake from the mayor and Superintendent Dr. La’Quetta Small.
“We are extremely proud of our students’ accomplishments,” Dr. Small said. “The district is grateful that the city of Atlantic City provided this monumental scholarship for our students. This $3 Million commitment is more than a financial contribution — it is an investment in the dreams, resilience, and future success of Atlantic City’s next generation.
“It sends a powerful message to our students: your hard work matters, your goals are achievable, and your community stands behind you,” she added. “This partnership between the city of Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Public Schools is proof of what we can accomplish when we work together for the good of our children.”
The students are headed to some of the country’s top colleges, said Donald Harris, director of secondary education.
Those include Princeton, Yale, New York University, Stanford, Boston University and Rutgers.
Another 52 current college students will learn of their scholarships in the coming days, along with 11 Atlantic City residents currently pursuing their masters or doctorate degrees.
Six scholarships will be awarded to residents who just graduated from high school and plan to attend trade school in the fall.
The scholarships are “not only a turning point for the town but for me personally,” Fields said. “It has shown me that making education is a priority making sure that our students are equipped to go to other states and other places and then to be able to have also the advocacy and the knowing that you have someone here back in Atlantic City that is going to help you along the way.”
The committee also includes Christina Noble, Tasha Devonish, Richard Ney and Milton Chowdhury.
“Your essays were amazing and we’re here for you guys,” Devonish said.
Nobel, the city’s Youth Services director, called them “authentic and heartfelt.
“I hope that you come back and do some great work in Atlantic City,” she said.
Superintendent Small even invoked her husband’s catchphrase.
“I don’t normally say this, but today is a great day in the city of Atlantic City,” she said, ending her comments with, “Can we say great day?”
The mayor then joked: “Dr. Small it’s safe to say you’ll be hearing from my attorney about copyright infringement.”
BreakingAC founder who previously worked in newspapers for more than two decades. She is an NJPA award-winner and was a Stories of Atlantic City fellow.
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.