Manalapan Student Named Governor’s STEM Scholar

MANALAPAN, NJ — A Manalapan high school student is now among the most talented STEM students in New Jersey with her induction into the 2024-2025 class of Governor’s STEM Scholars (GSS).

Kriti Malhotra, a Manalapan High School junior, was selected from over 1,000 applicants throughout the state. 111 scholars representing 21 counties were chosen and represent “some of the highest achieving students in New Jersey.”

According to the Governor’s STEM Scholars website, the program is a public-private partnership between the Research & Development Council of NJ, the NJ Office of the Governor, the NJ Department of Education, the NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the state’s leading research companies.

The GSS Program works to sustain and strengthen New Jersey’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) talent pipeline by introducing the state’s STEM students to the R&D and STEM ecosystem. By doing so, GSS hopes to establish a relationship between these students, STEM and New Jersey.

“New Jersey’s legacy of innovation is fueled by exceptional talent, and the Governor’s STEM Scholars is at the forefront of nurturing that talent,” said Anthony Cicatiello, president of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey. “These scholars are not only the future leaders in STEM, but they also represent the diversity and brilliance that defines our state.”

According to her GSS profile, Kriti Malhotra is a junior in the Science & Engineering Program at Manalapan High School.

She previously won the Freehold Regional High School District 2023 Hackathon “Hack of Distinction” Award and currently works as an international business intern, helping businesses in Northern Nigeria thrive by finding innovative solutions for day-to-day problems.

This year, she was a state semi-finalist for National American Miss 2024 and won first place in public speaking, as well as an invite to the national pageant.

In her free time, she works as an assistant dance teacher, a volunteer martial arts teacher, and serves as a member of the Manalapan Teen Leadership Committee, amongst other clubs and activities.

Following graduation, Malhotra aspires to study business and technology while also using her skills to give back to her community.

“Through this program, we’re laying the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries that will continue to drive New Jersey’s economy and enhance its position as a global leader in research and development,” Cicatiello said.

Currently, New Jersey has the highest concentration of engineers and scientists per square mile in the United States, according to the NJ Economic Development Authority.

Recognizing this rich talent pool, GSS aims to serve as a vital bridge for STEM students to connect with research and STEM professionals within the industry, academia and government sectors.

Through conferences, field trips and research, scholars are able to explore professional opportunities that can jumpstart their future STEM careers.

Throughout the duration of the program, scholars attend four conferences to explore the STEM sectors of the industry, academia and government. For the 2024-2025 class, these conferences will be held at Rutgers University, Montclair State University, the NJ Institute of Technology and Kean University.

Additionally, scholars can build relationships with diverse STEM professionals by attending field trips and fireside chats at NJ companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Kenvue, Panasonic, PSEG, and Mars Wrigley.

GSS scholars will also participate in an engineering design research project that will enhance their analytical and 21st-century skills.

“Through the Governor’s STEM Scholars, New Jersey STEM students are able to learn from and engage with some of the state’s top STEM and R&D professionals, enhancing the students’ knowledge and understanding of career opportunities and introducing them to the STEM economy in New Jersey,” said Alise Roderer, director of the Governor’s STEM Scholars. “With this career knowledge and exposure, we are setting these high school and college students on a path to achieve excellence in jobs of the future.”

In the 2024-2025 GSS class, 62% of scholars identify as female and 89% are students of color. When these scholars graduate in May 2025, they will join an alumni cohort of nearly 1,000 scholars.

To qualify for GSS, applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA, be a high school sophomore through doctoral-level student at a NJ-based high school or university, and demonstrate a strong passion for STEM.

To learn more about the Governor’s STEM Scholars Program, you can visit their website.