Mary Pat Christie Awards Spirit of Hero Scholarship to Basking Ridge Student

A Basking Ridge student was among four Somerset County residents recently awarded the Spirit of Hero Scholarship from New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie.

The Spirit of a Hero Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service and volunteerism, according to New Jersey Heroes. The funds are used to assist New Jersey students pursue post-secondary education opportunities.

Abhiram Karuppur, of The Pingry School, who suffers from poor eyesight, collected more than 400 pairs of eyeglasses after learning of the organization, New Eyes for the Needy, which distributes donates and re-purposed glasses around the world at no charge, according to the Office of the Governor.

Additionally, he volunteers at the New Eyes for the Needy sorting facility. Karuppur will be attending Princeton University and studying chemical engineering in the fall.

“This is our third year for the Spirit of a Hero Scholarship program and I am continually amazed by the character and commitment demonstrated by our young people in taking on serious issues impacting communities throughout New Jersey,” Christie said. “With the Spirit of a Hero Scholarship, we are recognizing and honoring these good deeds while helping these young adults to achieve their career goals.”

Since New Jersey Heroes was founded in 2013, it has awarded $335,000 in scholarship funds to 67 students across New Jersey through the Spirit of a Hero program.

(Photo courtesy of the State of New Jersey Office of the Governor)