Hudson raises flags for Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month. To mark the occasion, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and the Board of County Commissioners hosted Hudson County’s 2nd annual Autism Acceptance Month flag raising at the Brennan Courthouse.
“As we celebrate Hudson County’s 2nd annual Autism Acceptance Month flag raising, we renew our drive and commitment to removing the stigmas that surround autism. We continue to uplift our beloved autism communities of Hudson County,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “Through programs, events and celebrations, Hudson County brings together positive resources and services that better assist and provide the inclusive, supportive and accessible community autistic children and adults need to thrive.”
The City of Bayonne also joined with Whole Spectrum Autism and Infinite Therapy Solutions to hold a flag-raising ceremony for Autism Acceptance Month. Whole Spectrum Autism champions autism acceptance and inclusion. Infinite Therapy Solutions offers professional therapy for children.
Secaucus student wins top National Honor Society scholarship
Brianna D. Paulino, a senior from High Tech High School in Secaucus, is one of 25 winners chosen from nearly 17,000 applicants of National Honor Society’s (NHS) top scholarships and is a finalist to win the $25,000 scholarship.
Paulino is an advocate for the arts and accessible education. She is the founder of The Cleverly Creative, an online youth-led organization dedicated to assisting youths globally to improve their art and writing skills while providing a platform to share their creativity freely. She has established workshops, editing services, and creative publication opportunities, reaching and impacting over 5,000 youths globally.
Paulino is also creative director of The Authors of Tomorrow, establishing programs to provide opportunities that will help students in various ways. She is student council president and the newly appointed New Jersey State Director of Saphron Initiative, an organization centered on advocating and implementing accessible education to marginalized communities in Title I schools.
Chosen from nearly 17,000 applicants, the National Honor Society (NHS) is awarding $2 million in scholarships to 600 NHS students. The program is supported by NHS’s parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which also administers the National Association of Student Councils.
The scholarships recognize students who exemplify scholarship, service, leadership and character. One national winner will receive $25,000 while four others will receive $10,625 for embodying each pillar.
In addition, 20 finalists each earn $5,625 scholarships and 575 semifinalists receive $3,200 scholarships.
Stevens Institute of Technology appoints new chief online learning officer
Stevens Institute of Technology announced the appointment of Arshad Saiyed as the inaugural Chief Online Learning Officer and Dean of Professional Education, effective April 15.
In this new role, Saiyed will handle the establishment of the College of Online and Professional Education, an independent academic unit dedicated to delivering high-quality, technology-infused online programs.
Saiyed has more than 20 years of expertise in digital transformation within higher education. Throughout his tenure as an advocate for tech adoption in academia, he has championed integrating technology into education to enhance quality, affordability and global reach.
Saiyed joins Stevens from Northeastern University in Boston, where he directed the Experiential Digital Global Education (EDGE) unit as Associate Vice President for Digital Education and Innovation since 2020. Saiyed built Northeastern’s digital services into a revenue center and has launched corporate partnerships.
Before joining Northeastern, Saiyed was assistant dean for Online Programs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He spent 18 years at Illinois’ Gies College of Business in various capacities related to online programs and digital strategy, including the creation of the innovative iMBA program, one of the world’s largest online Master of Business Administration programs. In just four years, under Saiyed’s guidance, the iMBA program grew to 3,200 students from an initial enrollment of 114.
Saiyed holds an engineering degree from Gujarat University, India, and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Hoboken and New Jersey Devils team up for upgraded hockey rink
Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the Hoboken Recreation Division have announced a partnership with the New Jersey Devils to rehab the City’s “Johnny Ray McDonald, Jr. ‘Diddle’ Hockey Rink” and create new recreation programs.
The revitalization of the facility at the Multi-Service Center will come at no cost to taxpayers, as the Devils have committed up to $230,000 for improvements to the rink and new equipment.
Proposed improvements include the removal and disposal of the old boarding system, patching and leveling of the rink surface, the installation of a dasher board curb footing and a new dasher board and new rink flooring.
Funded by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, the donation also includes up to $10,000 to engage part-time coaches and staff to assist the Division of Recreation develop programming at the rink for ball hockey clinics, girls’ hockey initiatives, adult leagues and game play for children and adults.
This refurbishment is part of several other initiatives by the Devils and future opportunities funded by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund that help grow the game including the newly formed Devils Gaming Group and Esports Lounge this season.
Throughout the 2023-24 NHL season, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League are celebrating 10 years of the Industry Growth Fund (IGF), which was established to create opportunities to help grow the game of hockey both on and off the ice.
Over its first decade, the IGF has dedicated more than $180 million to develop programming, create initiatives, host events and provide education that drives awareness and bring hockey to communities across North America.
Jersey City native serves with U.S. Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Security Force
Seaman Hector Torres and Petty Officer 3rd Class Rahmel Gonzalez, both natives of Jersey City, are currently serving with Maritime Security Squadron 2, which is responsible for protecting the Navy’s maritime platforms and port infrastructure.
The U.S. Navy owns many large submarines, ships and aircraft carriers that need to be protected when operating at sea and close to the shore. A special group of sailors is charged with protecting these Navy investments.
The Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF) operates ashore, at sea and in the waters of harbors, rivers, bays and across the littorals. The primary focus of MESF is to conduct maritime security operations. They do this by providing port and harbor security as well as security for high-value units, like aircraft carriers and submarines, on coastal waterways and ashore.
North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue conducts hiring ceremony
North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue (NHRFR) hired probationary firefighters at a swearing-in ceremony at the Waterside Restaurant on Monday, April 8. Twenty-two firefighters were hired in total, four of whom are veterans, as well as the third female firefighter in NHRFR’s history.
In addition to Mayor Turner, also in attendance was North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, as well as a number of NHRFR board members, administrators, officials, and family members of the new firefighters.
The full list of new firefighters includes Nicholas J. Garcia, Josue J. Gonzales, Pablo D. Cabera, Devereaux M. Blanco, Adrian Escobar, Damien J. Damore, Enes Hoti, Mariah L. McLean, Kenneth Llano, Joshua A. Rivas, Michael J. Gonzalez, Mumin K. Awadeh, Christopher M. Lopez, Anthony Tapia, Damian D. Corredor, Gabriel Hernandez Jr., Nicola C. Mitarotonda, Ronny Campoverde, Jose A. Ramos III, Joseph M. Rovito, Jonathan A. Sorto, and Tanner W. Miick.
North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue covers the North Hudson towns of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and West New York.
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