Ali Raza Husaini, who graduated from Hightstown High School in June, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship in an essay contest sponsored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov presented a certificate to Ali at the Township Council’s June 26 meeting, honoring him for his winning essay in the statewide Louis Bay II Future Municipal Government Leaders contest.
Ali’s essay was one of many submitted for review by the Scholarship Committee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The committee members chose 15 finalists and winnowed down the list to three winners, who each received a $1,000 scholarship.
The contest is named for Louis Bay II, who was the mayor of Hawthorne for 40 years. Bay also served on the Hawthorne school board and on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The goal of the contest is to raise awareness of municipal government and the role it plays in people’s lives, which is reflected in the essay contest’s theme, “What My Municipal Government Does Best.”
“My township has been instrumental in challenging me to be a leader that seeks out unique solutions to better the community around me,” Ali wrote in his essay.
Ali, who was a student member of the East Windsor Township Economic Development Committee, wrote that at his suggestion, students in the Hightstown High School Art Department created a sculpture that was placed at a key intersection between two major highways. The sculpture is intended to attract more consumers and businesses, he wrote.
Students in the high school’s wood shop made new signs marking the entry into East Windsor, also at Ali’s suggestion. The signs will make the township more conducive to business activity.
“My township has taught me to mobilize others in a community-wide improvement effort,” Ali wrote, adding that the township has inspired in him the leadership skills needed “to be on the front lines of change and not take a back seat.”
Mironov was pleased an East Windsor student won one of the three scholarships. Another Hightstown High School graduate was named a winner last year.
“I am very proud for East Windsor Township to be recognized again. We have an extremely high caliber of high school students,” Mironov said, adding that many students are interested in government.
She praised Ali for serving as a student representative on the Economic Development Committee. Municipal officials encourage students to sit on advisory boards and committees.
“It’s a delight for us” that the students participate, Mironov said.