Trenton Catholic Academy scholarships winners hold their plaques on Jan. 29, 2014. Pictured are TCA president Sr. Dorothy Payne, winner Michael Thomas, winner Tyler Soto, Maria Vasquez, winner Karen Segura, Mario Cruz (who is accepting the award for Michael Hurtado) and Diocese of Trenton Vicar of Catholic Education Fr. Douglas Freer.
Four Trenton Catholic Academy were awarded scholarships in honors of alumnus First Lt. Omar Vazquez.
Lt. Vazquez credited the high school — formerly called McCorristin— with giving him the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond. Unfortunately, an explosive in Pakistan ended his life at the age of 25 in April 2011.
To assist other students in realizing their potential, Lt. Vazquez’s family established an annual scholarship fund at TCA.
To qualify, students submit essays on how they were inspired by Lt. Vazquez’s life and love of his country. Maria Vasquez selects the winners.
This year’s winners are sophomore Michael Thomas, freshman Karen Segura, eighth grader Michael Hurtado and seventh grader Tyler Soto (7th).
Maria Vazquez presented each student with a $850 scholarships at a mass celebrated on Jan. 29.
Lt. Vazquez was a 2003 graduate of McCorristin High School. He received a history degree from Rider University in 2007 and earned his master’s degree in liberal studies from Rutgers-Camden University in 2009. He received numerous decorations and awards during his two years in the Army.
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