The New Jersey Hall of Fame sponsors an annual essay contest open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 12. Students can nominate potential inductees, living or deceased, whether someone famous or an ordinary person who did extraordinary things.

Contest Rules

Con-sponsored with the NJEA, the Hall of Fame Essay Contest solicits entries in February and March of each year. A panel of teachers reads the essays and selects the best ones in each of two categories: middle school and high school. The NJHOF Board of Commissioners then reviews the best and makes a selection of the winners.

2009 Essay Contest Winners

Kiera O’Gorman
A top student at Memorial Middle School in Point Pleasant, Kiera nominated novelist Judy Blume in her essay written for Mrs. Ellen Keelan’s Language Arts Class. Kiera was also a winner this year of a national writing contest sponsored by Scholastic Books. Out of more than 1,000 entries, the judges voted Kiera’s as the most representative of the spirit of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Rebecca Guzman
An honor roll sophomore at Belleville High School, Rebecca distinguished herself out of the thousands of essays submitted this year. Writing for Mrs. Suzanne Lewandowski’s English Class, Rebecca wroth persuasively and effectively to nominate Richard and Maureen Kanka to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

2008 Essay Contest Winners

Emily Tu
Fair Lawn resident and Thomas Jefferson Middle School student Emily Tu wrote her prize winning essay for Mrs. Maria Wheeler’s Seventh Grade English Class. Not only is Emily an honor student, she is a medal-winning competitive swimmer and polished violinist and flutist.

Joanie O’Sullivan
Now a senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, Joanie wrote her prize winning essay about 9/11 hero Todd Beamer for Mrs. Erin Adler’s history class. A top all-around student, Joanie was responsible for creating a computer lab for a school in the Philippines. She plans to attend George Washington University in the fall.

The 2008 Essay Contest concluded on April 1st with thousands of essays submitted. We will soon be announcing the winners of the contest and announcing the start of the 2009 Essay Contest.

The Board of Commissioners of the New Jersey Hall of Fame salutes the winners of the 2007 Essay Contest.

Brandon Cedeno

West New York resident and Memorial High School student Brandon Cedeno wrote his prize winning essay about his older brother George Cedeno, a four-year U.S. Marine Corps member. As part of Mrs. Myra Schnur’s Freshman English Class assignment, Brandon’s was handpicked by his teacher as one of the best to submit to the competition. Out of more than 1,000 entries, the judges voted Brandon’s as the most powerful and most representative of the spirit of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Click here to read Brandon’s essay.

Jessica Cutler

While an eighth grader at the Millstone Stone Middle School, Perrineville resident Jessica Cutler was assigned her essay by her teacher Arlene Agulnick as part of a creative writing assignment. Jessica nominated her grandmother Rita Palumbo in an inspiring tribute to her strength and tremendous spirit. She had the opportunity to read the essay at a press conference with Governor Corzine in October and her grandmother was there to feel the pride in the room. Jessica accepted her award t in memory of Nanny Rita who passed away this winter. Click here to read Jessica’s essay.