The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund is proud to announce the 2021 recipients of its annual college scholarships for cancer patients and survivors. Sixteen patients and survivors were awarded scholarships to use at the college of their choice.
 
Funded by generous donors, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation scholarships were established to offer hope beyond cancer, providing financial support so cancer patients and survivors can attend college and live out their dreams. Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, moral character, attitude, and resilience.
 
Congratulations to each of these very deserving and inspiring young people!

Marcella Borgenicht

TISCH FAMILY SCHOLAR  

Marcella graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 2020.  Due to her cancer treatment schedule, she is currently taking a gap year from college. She was an AP and honor student in high school, president of the National Honor Society and member of the National Chinese and Art Honor Societies.  Marcella was the Color Guard and Marching Band Captain and a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance and Feminist, Community Service, Environmental, and Chemistry clubs. She was also on the wrestling team. She is currently an EMT on the Glen Ridge Emergency Squad.  Marcella will study forest bioeconomy and science technology at University of British Columbia this fall.

 

 

Gabriella Codrington

FRANCE FAMILY SCHOLAR  

Gabriella is a senior at Bard High School Early College. She is the editor and staff writer for the BQ Broadside School newspaper and a Bard Student Ambassador.  Gabriella is a member of the Black Student Union and Girls Who Code clubs and co-director of Black Girls Talk. She was the 2018 Youth Ambassador of Barbados and received outstanding achievement recognition in the NYU Science and Technology Entry Program. Gabriella will major in computer science at New York University this fall.

 

 

Rian Covington

TOM COUGHLIN JAY FUND SCHOLAR  

Rian is graduating from Atlantic Coast High School where he is a USAA Scholastic All American swimmer and member of both the National and Science Honor Societies. Rian was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December of 2018. Rian accredits his discipline in the swimming pool to his success in his academics and tackling cancer. Rian plans to study medicine at Florida State University and hopes to fulfill his lifelong goal of becoming a physician.

 

 

Dane Hagstrom

RECHLER PHILANTHROPY SCHOLAR  

Dane is a senior at Cranford High School. He is an AP and honor student, as well as a member of the English, Math and National Honor Societies.  He earned the George Washington University Engineering Award and Union County School Board Association “Unsung Hero” Award and was nominated to attend American Legion Boys State. Dane is captain of the swim team and a member of the track team. He is a peer tutor and volunteers his time for Relay for Life. Dane’s long-term goal is to start a pediatric cancer survivors’ scholarship. He will attend Drexel University in the fall, where he will major in civil engineering.

 

 

William Harvey Jr. 

WENGER FAMILY STEM SCHOLAR

Will is a senior at Yulee High School. He is on the wrestling team and will be graduating with four college courses completed.  Will is a certified medical administrative assistant and EKG technician. He was diagnosed with a glioma of midbrain in February of 2019. He looks forward to attending Florida State College in the fall. After completing his associate degree, Will hopes to study engineering at the University of Florida.

 

 

Samantha Joseph

WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL FOUNDATION SCHOLAR  

Samantha is a senior at West Orange High School. She is an honor student and member of the Family Care and Community Leaders of America. Throughout high school, Samantha spent hours working with children at the West Essex YMCA, JCC MetroWest Camp, and Helping Hands Family Child Care. She also volunteers at Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter and The Seeing Eye, where she realized her love for animals. This fall Samantha will attend University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she will major in animal science, working towards her goal to become a veterinarian.

 

 

Wil Kehler

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS SCHOLAR

Wil is a senior at Westfield Senior High School. He qualified for back-to-back Race Team Scholarships to attend Hartford Ski Spectacular. Wil is a Dunk Your Kicks Ambassador for the Max Cure Foundation and an active member of the Presbyterian Mission Group. He is also a team member of both the No Place for Hate club and Youth and Rebuilding Hope club.  Wil, who at the age of 5 had his leg amputated due to cancer, has a passion for sports and is an athlete who aspires to train for Paralympics after college. This fall he will attend Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business where he will study sports management.

 

 

Sara Latic

COMMANDER RICK MURRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLAR

Sara is graduating from Englewood High School in June. She participated in the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office Explorer Program which inspired her to study criminal justice/criminology at Florida State College of Jacksonville this fall. Sara’s dream is to become a K9 officer. Sara was only 18 months old when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Although she does not remember that time, she knows what a huge obstacle it was for her and her family and they recently celebrated her being 16 years cancer free!

 

Malini Popat

BARRY FAMILY SCHOLAR

Malini Popat is a senior at Milburn High School. She is an AP and honor student, with both Silver and Bronze Congressional Award Medals for volunteering over 300 hours. Malini volunteers at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation and Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children. Malini is well on her way to obtain her Congressional Gold Award this year. Malini is also a member of the swim team, Key Club, and Asian Club. Malini will be attending Brandeis University this fall.

 

 

Jacob Rudd

McGILLIS FAMILY SCHOLAR  

Jake is a senior at Wayne Valley High School. He is an AP and honor student and a member of the National Honor Society. Jake is the student government president and past treasurer. He was selected to be part of the Adventure Leadership Program where he mentors younger students. Jake has been a member of the Wayne Valley lacrosse team for the past four years. Although he is unable to play due to his cancer diagnosis, Jake has been a very enthusiastic team manager.  Jake will attend Rutgers University this fall.

 

 

Taylor Saffelder

McGILLIS FAMILY SCHOLAR

Taylor graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 2020. During high school, she participated in marching band and concert band. Shortly after graduating, Taylor was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in July 2020. Taylor will be the first in her family to go to college and will start this summer at Daytona State College majoring in elementary education.

 

 

Isabelle Scott

SHERRY MURRAY MEMORIAL SCHOLAR  

Isabelle will start her senior year at the University of Miami this fall where her focus is harp performance. Isabelle was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in January 2018 at the age of 18. During treatment, Coach Coughlin visited her in the hospital where she first played her harp for him. Isabelle has shared her talent with the Jay Fund by performing at the inaugural Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Day in 2018, the 2020 Wine Tasting Gala and the 2021 Celebrity Golf Classic.

 

 

Jaclyn Shrubsall

TOM SCERBO SCHOLAR

Jackie is currently a sophomore at Rutgers University. She is pursuing a dual degree in psychology and social work. She is on the dean’s list with a 4.0 grade point average and is an avid member of Rutgers University women’s volleyball team. Jackie is also a member of a travel club volleyball team and is a coach for the Great American Volleyball Beach Club.  Jackie is a proud participant in Relay for Life since 2008.

 

Eli Stewart

WENGER FAMILY STEM SCHOLAR 

Eli will graduate from Columbia High School next month with a high school diploma as well as his Associate of Arts degree from Florida Gateway College. After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of three, Eli spent most of his childhood in hospitals and clinics. Eli will be pursuing a degree in biology and chemistry at Mercer University. His focus is on medical school so that one day he can research and develop new cancer treatments.

 

Ashley Torbic

NASCAR SCHOLAR

Ashley is a senior at Saddle Brook High School. She is an AP and honor student who received the President’s Award for Honors and Academic Excellence in Geometry and Latin.  Ashley is also a member of the Science and National Honor Societies and Latin and Italian clubs. She earned her Bronze and Silver Girl Scout Awards by creating “comfort bags” for children in the hospital. In her free time, Ashley volunteers as an assistant soccer coach. Ashley will major in chemical engineering at the University of Connecticut this fall.

 

Kayla Williams

BISIGNANO FAMILY SCHOLAR

Kayla is a senior at Bergen County Academy. She is an AP and honor student and a member of the National Honor Society. Kayla received the NAACP Youth Achievement Award and the Freddie and Ada Brown Encouragement Award for Future Careers in Chemistry. She is a pole vaulter on the varsity track team, as well as a youth leader and camp volunteer. Kayla will pursue an engineering degree in biomolecular science at Duke University this fall.