Executive Women of New Jersey Awards $35,000 in Scholarships to Seven Outstanding Graduate Students

EWNJ champions academic achievement and leadership among New Jersey's future leaders

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ), the state's leading organization for women executives, today awarded $35,000 in scholarships to seven outstanding women graduate students as part of the prestigious EWNJ Merit Scholarship Awards during EWNJ's Annual Holiday Celebration. This year's awards bring their total giving to nearly $1.5 million since the program's inception. Among this year's honorees, two recipients earned special distinction: the President's Award, presented to the scholarship recipient with the highest level of academic achievement, leadership, and professional promise; and the Past President's Award, presented to the recipient with the next highest qualifications and demonstrated commitment to excellence.

Awardees include doctoral and master's candidates from Felician University, Rider University, New Jersey City University, and Seton Hall University.

"EWNJ is proud to recognize these remarkable women who exemplify resilience, ambition, and leadership," said Susan Dromsky-Reed, EWNJ President. "Our scholarship program reflects EWNJ's commitment to creating pathways for women to achieve their academic and professional goals. By investing in their success, we are investing in a stronger, more inclusive future for New Jersey's business and civic communities."

Following Dromsky-Reed's remarks, Diane Dunn McKay, EWNJ Scholarship Chairperson, emphasized the organization's pride in supporting these future leaders "These extraordinary women represent the future of leadership, and EWNJ is honored to celebrate them and their achievements," said Diane Dunn McKay, EWNJ Scholarship Chairperson. "We are confident they will excel in their careers, and it gives us great pride to know that our support helps them continue their education and pursue professional opportunities."

EWNJ's Graduate Merit Award Program is the largest provider of scholarships for women who are non-traditional graduate students in the state. Scholarships help students ease the financial burden of graduate school costs. The organization actively pursues ways to advance women leaders from those beginning their careers to seasoned executives. The non-profit organization has been leading the way to create a pipeline of diverse women leaders in New Jersey for over 40 years. Members comprised of C-suite executives and board members will tell you the lack of qualified and accomplished women leaders is a myth.  As the organization celebrates the merit scholarship recipients, they continue to work to increase women leaders. EWNJ defines a non-traditional student as one returning to school after a career break, completing degrees later in life, or coming from diverse educational or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Presidential Award recipient Talin Medzadourian Araian was honored to be recognized. This fourth-year Doctoral student and Counseling Psychology major at Felician University returned to graduate school to pursue her passion for psychology and advocacy after a prior career in pharmaceutical sales. "Receiving this award from Executive Women of New Jersey is both an honor and a profound affirmation of my journey," Medzadourian Araian said. "It represents resilience, growth, and the power of reinvention, returning to school after a prior career to pursue my passion for psychology and advocacy."

About Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) – www.ewnj.org
Founded in 1980, Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) is the state's leading organization dedicated to advancing women into senior corporate leadership and board positions. Through research, advocacy, and strategic programming, EWNJ promotes gender equity in business and builds a pipeline of future leaders. As the largest provider of scholarships to non-traditional graduate students in New Jersey, EWNJ has awarded more than $1.5 million over the past 30 years through its Graduate Merit Award Program. EWNJ's biennial Seat at the Table report is the only publication in New Jersey that tracks the representation of women in corporate boardrooms and executive suites, offering data-driven insights and elevating the voices of women shaping the future of leadership. To learn more about EWNJ's scholarship program or to support future recipients, visit https://www.ewnj.org.

Correction: Several edits have been made throughout the release.

SOURCE Executive Women of New Jersey