Paramus High School Alumni Association Awards its Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarships to Four Graduates

The Paramus High School Alumni Association (PHSAA) awarded the Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarship to four seniors this spring at the high school’s annual Senior Scholarship and Academic Awards Program on June 11. The awards of $1,250 each went to Kaitlyn Cassella, Sofia Evelich, Lina Nam and Zainab Qureshi.

The recipients were selected for demonstrated leadership and service to the high school and the wider Paramus community. Stan Cohen, Association president, presented the awards to the deserving students, who may use the money for any education-related costs, including tuition, textbooks or other fees associated with their studies in the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarships were made possible by donations from Paramus High School alumni.

“The Alumni Association thanks all the generous donors who support the scholarship fund which enables us to recognize PHS graduates who embody the spirit of Ken Tashian, who was dedicated to the high school and wider Paramus community,” said Cohen. “As always, the recipients exemplify outstanding service and leadership.”

Unlike other scholarships awarded for academic or athletic performance, the Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarship primarily recognizes students who are highly engaged in the Paramus High School and Paramus community, participating in clubs and nonprofit organizations, working to improve the lives of others, and often holding leadership positions in their extracurricular activities.

The 2025 scholarship recipients

Kaitlyn Cassella will attend The Ohio State University in the College of Food, Agricultural & Environmental Science and major in food science & technology. She participated in and held leadership positions in several sports and special interest clubs, National Honor Society and held various volunteer and work positions at the high school and wider community, including program participation that improved the lives of young children and communities in Africa.

Sofia Evelich will attend Quinnipiac University and major in sports communications. She has held leadership and committee roles in several clubs and Paramus Spartans Football Cheer, and volunteered for many in-school events and activities and the Paramus Recreation Department. She was honored by the NJ Craniofacial Center of Morristown Hospital in recognition of the extensive injuries and recovery she endured following a tragic bus accident in 2018 and received the NJSCA Award of Resilience in 2021.

Lina Nam will attend University of Maryland and major in journalism. She has mentored and advocated for foster youth and vulnerable children, volunteered with a global nonprofit rescuing dogs from South Korean high-kill shelters, was a student ambassador for College Board’s BigFuture program and helped younger students prepare for the SAT/ACT tests. At PHS, Lina held various leadership positions with the orchestras, Music Honor Society, and NJ ProStart, and organized a school-business pop-up shop.

Zainab Qureshi will attend Stevens Institute of Technology and major in biology. She interned and volunteered at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, earned the Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her service and collaborated with nonprofits on mental health research. At PHS, she was the Student Representative to the Board of Education, served as Model UN Secretary General, co-founded the Muslim Students Association, promoted student volunteerism, and participated in many school and community events.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarship may do so online at the Paramus Spartans website at https://www.paramusspartans.net/Scholarship.htm.

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About the Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarship

The Ken Tashian Memorial Scholarship is the first scholarship created by the PHSAA. It is awarded to a Paramus High School senior who embodies its namesake’s Spartan spirit, through activities that benefit the school and/or wider community. Tashian was a gold medalist in the Bergen County Wrestling Tournament, organizer of many class reunions, and creator of the ParamusSpartans.net website through which thousands of alumni network, connect, memorialize classmates, find class pictures, get links to download yearbooks and explore PHS and Paramus history and memorabilia. Tashian created, managed and funded the website on his own for a decade.

About the PHSAA

The PHS Alumni Association's mission is to preserve and promote fellowship among present and future alumni, and to support and strengthen the school’s educational mission for the benefit of its current students. The association maintains a comprehensive alumni database and maintains an online presence for alumni and faculty via the website, ParamusSpartans.net, Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ParamusHighSchoolAlumniAssociation/) and group (www.facebook.com/groups/ParamusSpartans). It recognizes significant contributions of alumni to the community, helps promote class reunions, and provides undergraduate scholarships.