After three days of meeting virtually with numerous representatives of Prudential, including Senior Vice-Presidents, members of the Talent Development Team, Actuaries, and various Financial Management specialists, students participated in the program's culminating event: a Case Competition. During the Case Competition, students made presentations that showcased their speaking abilities, analytical skills, knowledge of Excel, and learning about financial management, retirement, and the insurance industry. Students were divided into teams of 2 and made their presentations before judges selected by Prudential. All of the presentations were AMAZING! The judges all agreed that all teams were extremely competitive.
In the end, 2 teams were selected for the 1st Place and 2nd Place standing:
Each team member wins a $1000 monetary prize and admission into the Penn State Boss program!
Each team member wins a $500 monetary prize!
Note: All PACE-FM participants are receiving a gift bag with lots of Prudential goodies. Each gift package is worth @$100.00!
Prudential has announced the names of the students who have been selected to participate in the 2022 PACE-FM Program. This year, there were 87 total nominations received, 32 student digital interviews/essays received, and 16 students selected for the cohort. Of the 16 students, 14 of the students are from Newark Public School high schools!
| Selected Students |
School |
| Amani Bowie | Arts High School |
| Aurora Amigon (goes by Ezequiel, preferred pronouns he/him/his) | Arts High School |
| Evony Pichardo | Barringer High School |
| Santiago Mosquera | Barringer High School |
| Fathiat Oyediran | Central High School |
| Achunike Okafor | Science Park High School |
| Kaleb Jeffries | Science Park High School |
| William Neto | Science Park High School |
| Abigaelle Thermitus | Technology High School |
| Marvin Vega | Technology High School |
| Noemi Cerqueira | Technology High School |
| Suly Solano | Technology High School |
| Janeva Roberts | Weequahic High School |
| Udochukwu Laura Nwanebu | Weequahic High School |
| Student Nominees | School | # of Nominations from School |
| Eliel Serna | AMERICAN HISTORY HIGH SCHOOL | |
| Luis Solorzano | AMERICAN HISTORY HIGH SCHOOL | |
| Wendy Michelle Pino | AMERICAN HISTORY HIGH SCHOOL | 3 |
| Amani Bowie | Arts High School | |
| Aurora Amigon (goes by Ezequiel, preferred pronouns he/him/his) | Arts High School | |
| Samyra Caldwell | Arts High School | 3 |
| Danielle Lopez | Bard High School Early College | |
| Al-Quamir Wharton | Bard High School Early College, Newark | |
| Anabhayan Ahruran | Bard High School Early College, Newark | |
| Araylia Szviatkovsky | Bard High School Early College, Newark | |
| Franklin, O. Iwuoha | Bard High School Early College, Newark | |
| Hailey Vicente | Bard High School Early College, Newark | 6 |
| Evony Pichardo | Barringer High School | |
| Mitchel ELusanmi | Barringer High School | |
| Rahmatullah Jallow | Barringer High School | |
| Santiago Mosquera | Barringer High School | |
| Santiago Parhuana | Barringer High School | 5 |
| Fathiat Oyediran | Central High School | |
| Keisha Gesse | Central High School | |
| Kyala Askew | Central High School | |
| Oluwagbemisola Michael Akinnawo | Central High School | |
| Success Odins | Central High School | 5 |
| Rhosanna De La Rosa-Martinez | East Side High School | |
| Alejandra Torres | East Side High School | |
| Gomes Moreira, Skylah | East Side High School | |
| Javier Lago | East Side high school | |
| Justiniano Mendes, Mario | East Side High School | |
| Nasir Mitchell | East Side High School | |
| Roca, Julissa | East Side High School | 7 |
| Lopez, Jillian Natalie | Malcolm X Shabazz High School | 1 |
| Asyjen Alston | Newark Vocational High School | |
| Nana Amosah | Newark Vocational High School | |
| Clyvens Jules | Newark Vocational HS | |
| Jeremiah Pellow | Newark Vocational HS | |
| Malique Bernard | Newark Vocational HS | |
| Victoria Alegunlade | Newark Vocational HS | |
| Yerys Medrano | Newark Vocational HS | 7 |
| Achunike Okafor | Science Park High School | |
| Alves, Arianna Sophia | Science Park High School | |
| Isabella Castillo | Science Park High School | |
| Kaleb Jeffries | Science Park High School | |
| Saint Pierre, Joshua W | Science Park High School | |
| Shohid, Mahfuzur Rahman | Science Park High School | |
| Silifonova, Elizaveta | Science Park High School | |
| Sivanesan, Thanusa | Science Park High School | |
| William Neto | Science Park High School | 9 |
| Abigaelle Thermitus | Technology High School | |
| Andy Crespo | Technology High School | |
| George Coronel | Technology High School | |
| Joe Pomavilla | Technology High School | |
| Leticia Ferreira | Technology High School | |
| Marlon Herrera | Technology High School | |
| Marvin Vega | Technology High School | |
| Noemi Cerqueira | Technology High School | |
| Suly Solano | Technology High School | 9 |
| Deirdre Corbett | University High School | |
| Michael Ogbuehi | University High School | |
| Simone Sunley | University High School | 3 |
| Aishat Jimoh-Kuku | Weequahic High School | |
| Annisha George | Weequahic High School | |
| Elliot Ampofo | Weequahic High School | |
| Fathiat Rilwan | Weequahic High School | |
| Janeva Roberts | Weequahic High School | |
| Jennifer Tshimanga | Weequahic High School | |
| Merytsheena Pean | Weequahic High School | |
| Udochukwu Laura Nwanebu | Weequahic High School | 8 |
| Ayoola Kalejaiye | West side High School | |
| Colette Ezeanyim | West Side High School | |
| Fathia Ajibola | West Side High School | |
| Joseph Bio | West Side High School | 4 |
| TOTAL SELECTED NPS STUDENTS = 14 | TOTAL NPS Schools = 13 | TOTAL NPS NOMINATIONS = 70 |
Newark, NJ [February 16, 2022] –Through contributions from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA), Newark Public Schools will be able to address three of their emergent projects within the school district. Recognizing the challenges that districts face in making repairs to school building structures, Governor Murphy made a direct appropriation of $75 million to districts across New Jersey, and the Newark Board of Education received an allocation of $6,455,930 to assist in their improvements. The funding is designed to offset district costs associated with taking important measures to ensure that students and staff have a safe and healthy learning environment.
Newark Public Schools has identified three schools within the district that meet the criteria and guidelines for emergent projects and that have been approved by the SDA and NJDOE; specifically, roof replacements and masonry repairs at Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School, Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School, and West Side High School.
“We are pleased that Newark was chosen as a recipient of this grant and we will use the monies to make repairs to the three schools identified, which have suffered water infiltration and damage to walls and ceilings over time,” said Superintendent Roger León. “This generous award will allow us to strengthen those key structures” he added.
“The Newark Board of Education is more than appreciative of these contributions made to our schools by the NJDOE and the SDA. Improvements such as these typically come at the expense of having to cut back on other opportunities,” said Board President, Dawn Haynes. “With the assistance of the NJDOE and SDA, we have been able to reallocate funds to other important initiatives that positively influence the culture and climate of our schools for students”.
The Barringer Bowling team dominated the field at the Newark Public Schools Bowling Tournament. Lead by a strong performance by the number one Male and Female in the tournament. Ziali Rivera lead all girls and took home the highest average award. Chris Padro had the Highest Average and Highest Game in the tournament bowling a 240. Barringer was in second Place, behind 20 pins, after the first game. Then fell a little further behind in the second game. Down by 38 pins going into the final game, the Blue Bears put together their best game of the night to over take Central by more then 50 pins in the third game. Sophomore Elijah Lane, Freshman Jaden Perez, and Junior Destiny Garcia also gave very strong performances in the tournament.
During the Essex County Tournament Chris Padro placed 5th overall and is looking forward to competing for the Essex County Individual Championship.
Go Blue Bears!
Senior Pamela Snowden-Reynolds placed 4th in the New Jersey DECA 2021-2022 Central East District Conference; as a result, she has qualified to compete at the New Jersey State DECA competition to be held in Atlantic City on March 1, 2022. Pamela’s area of concentration for the competition was Quick Serve Restaurant Management. This is the first year West Side High School has participated in a DECA competition, and she has represented West Side and the city of Newark well. Pamela has been accepted to six universities and has earned over $400,000.00 in scholarships.
What is DECA? I’m so glad you asked. Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. During the 2021-2022 school year we are proud to announce over 25 West Side students enrolled in the CTE Supply Chain Management program of study participated in the Central East District Conference. NaDeen Richardson, Supply Chain Management Master Teacher and DECA Senior Advisor, has spent numerous hours preparing her students through role-play scenarios, oral presentations, public speaking techniques, and building overall self-confidence.
Pamela’s 4th place Central East Conference finish has been applauded by all of her peers as they embraced her victory as a victory for all; in addition, she is eligible to apply for a $5,000 New Jersey DECA Scholarship. Her application has been submitted for consideration. In the words of Mrs. Richardson, “The need for students of color to be represented in statewide and national educational platforms is so necessary. My goal is to expose my students to a world without limits and not defined by their color, ethnicity or zip code.”
As the School of Business and Finance, West Side High is the only school in the Newark district to offer the CTE Supply Chain Management program of study. The program consists of three courses: Supply Chain Management I, II, & III and concludes with each completer earning a Certificate of Completion from Rutgers University, and 3 general elective credits for completers who enter Rutgers Business School. Thanks to our many industry partners: Johnson & Johnson Corporation, FedEx, DHL, Farmland Dairy and the Newark/Elizabeth Port - students will be offered positions earning a competitive living wage upon graduation in June, and 15 completers will graduate earning an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Essex County College.