Centenary College Announces That it Will Give 8-Year-Old Reese Ronceray a Good Samaritan Award Scholarship for Saving His Friend From Drowning

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Jul 02, 2010, 07:40 ET

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Centenary College has announced that it will present a "Good Samaritan Award" to Reese Ronceray, an 8-year-old boy from Long Valley, N.J., who saved his friend from drowning in a lake on June 5, 2010. "The Good Samaritan Award" will entitle Reese to a $10,000 annual scholarship after he graduates from High School if he meets Centenary's admissions criteria and chooses to become a student at the College.

Reese, who has taken swimming classes at Centenary College for three seasons, made international headlines when he saved 5-year-old Andrew Gentile from drowning during a private party. Reese had credited his swimming ability to classes that he had taken at the College and to an episode of Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants" that he had watched.

Reese will be presented with this Award at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., at 2 p.m. July 14, 2010 by the President of the institution, Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite.

"Reese is a member of the Centenary community, and his demonstration of heroism needed to be recognized in a significant manner," says Dr. Lewthwaite. "We felt that by rewarding him with the Good Samaritan Award, it would be indicative of how truly courageous he is and acknowledge the magnitude of what he did that day. Centenary College values the importance of community service, and Reese accomplished the ultimate form of it through a life-saving action."

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College is an independent, coeducational liberal arts and career studies college distinguished by an accomplished faculty, small class size and diverse student body. Centenary is the only baccalaureate and master's degree granting institution in northwest New Jersey.

Centenary College's main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The College's Centenary Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) program offers accelerated degree completion programs in Parsippany, with an additional facility in Iselin, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.