Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Seeks High School Athletes for Its Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Award

It’s not art, but it’s a chance for young athletes.

Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Award

The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now accepting applications for the Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Award, which honors student-athletes in their senior year who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, their schools, and within their communities. Seniors throughout Bergen County are encouraged to apply and do not need to be JCC members to apply or win. The application deadline is October 12 and winners will be notified in early November. First place winners, one male and one female, will each receive a $3,600 scholarship; second place winners receive $900; and third place $540.

All winners will be publicly honored and recognized at the JCC’s second annual Sports Night of Champions, a community-wide fundraising event that features sports celebrities as keynote speakers and supports scholarships for children, families in need and seniors who benefit from JCC programs and services. The event is scheduled to be held in late November.

“It is a privilege to hold our 2^nd annual Sports Night of Champions event, where we can honor local youth who are passionate about sports and committed to enriching the communities where they live,” says JCC CEO Jordan Shenker. “We are eager to hear from everyone, whether they are their schools’ top players or the ones making a difference in other ways. The important thing for us is to acknowledge students who have taken the skills they cultivated as athletes and used them to create a powerful, positive impact on the lives of others around them.”

Students interested in applying must be a current high school senior; gain acceptance to a university/community college for the 2019 summer/fall term; and be a current member (in good standing) of a high school sports team or be involved in after-school sports (e.g. intramurals, martial arts, etc.). The must also have maintained an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher from 9th grade to first semester of 12th grade and be a resident of Bergen County.

As part of the application process, students will need to submit a personal essay (500-750 words), two letters of recommendation, and their most current high school transcript. Students should visit www.jccotp.org/athleteawards for application details, judging and selection criteria, and other important details.

The Joseph Taub Scholar Athlete Award has been established in memory of Joseph Taub, a JCC founding member and former co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, who dedicated his time and resources to supporting underserved youth in the area of athletics. An avid philanthropist, he made dreams of a better life possible for countless youth by providing scholarship assistance and creating a successful after-school basketball league as a safe haven for students in the Paterson Public School District, where he himself grew up. Joseph Taub was also a founder of Automatic Data Processing (ADP).

For additional information or questions, please contact Fran Koszer at 201-408-1404 or fkoszer@jccotp.org.