Newark, NJ – May 6, 2020 – On the heels of Newark Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Roger León’s promise to high school seniors that the district would find a way to celebrate its graduates despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 70 top performing high school seniors graduating from Newark’s public high schools are getting special recognition for their outstanding achievements. Panasonic Corporation of North America has donated 70 Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® laptop computers to NPS to help honor members of the 2020 graduating class. Students hailing from the district’s 15 high schools, who are among the top in their class this school year, will receive a Panasonic laptop.
“Panasonic’s steadfast commitment to the City of Newark and our students remains unparalleled,” said Newark’s Superintendent of Schools Roger León. “Through this historic moment in time, we will always remember that Panasonic maintained NPS at the forefront of their work.”
In addition to the laptop donation valued at $130K, the Panasonic Foundation also contributed $25,000 to NPS to support a variety of student needs during the COVID-19 crisis. “We are proud to congratulate the graduating class of 2020,” said Alejandra Ceja, executive director, Panasonic Foundation. “Panasonic wanted to support Newark students and let them know that their hard work has not gone unnoticed. We hope these donations help these young leaders through this difficult time and prepare for the next chapter in their lives.”
For more information, please contact:
Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265
Panasonic Corporation North America
Angela Daniels, Communications & Outreach Manager
Office of Corporate Social Responsibility & Panasonic Foundation
862-955-0748
angela.daniels@nullus.panasonic.com
Jerry Rizzo, Sr. Communications Manager
Corporate Communications
201-463-9790
gerald.rizzo@nullus.panasonic.com
About The Newark Public Schools District
The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.