NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. — The Sharing Network Foundation has awarded scholarships to 12 high school seniors from across New Jersey who have shown exceptional commitment to raising awareness about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The 2025 graduates were recognized during a ceremony at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence. Each recipient was honored for their academic achievements, community involvement, and advocacy efforts rooted in personal experiences with organ and tissue donation.
Scholarships were made possible through several of the Foundation’s dedicated family and partner funds, including the Daniel S. Buckiewicz Scholarship Fund, Hearts for Emma Partner Fund, Jim Rhatican Scholarship Fund, Missy’s Miracle Scholarship Fund, and Riley’s Path. These funds were created in memory of donors and in celebration of transplant recipients and advocates.
Among the recipients is Thomas Ekberg of Wall Township High School, who helped lead donation advocacy efforts after his mother donated a kidney to his aunt. Gabrielle Johnson of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School was honored for her longtime involvement following the sudden loss of her mother, an organ donor. Other honorees include transplant recipients, student club leaders, and youth who turned personal tragedy into lifelong advocacy.
Student advocates recognized for lifelong impact of donation
The full list of 2025 scholarship recipients includes:
- Thomas Ekberg – Wall, NJ (Wall Township High School), attending The College of New Jersey
- Gabrielle Johnson – Scotch Plains, NJ (Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School), attending UC Santa Barbara
- Julia Rowniewski – Wallington, NJ (Applied Technology High School), attending Villanova University
- Frank Furnari – Oak Ridge, NJ (Jefferson Township High School), attending County College of Morris
- Christopher Kolb – Warren, NJ (Gill St. Bernard’s), attending University of Notre Dame
- Greta Clausen – Short Hills, NJ (Millburn High School), attending Union County College
- Lily Coniglio – New Providence, NJ (New Providence High School), attending Boston College
- Brian Lippman – New Providence, NJ (New Providence High School), attending Boston College
- Paige Henrikson – Andover, NJ (Lenape Valley Regional High School), attending East Stroudsburg University
- Reilly Hoagland – Toms River, NJ (Toms River High School East), attending University of Alabama
- Thomas Olski – Brick, NJ (Brick Township High School), attending Rutgers University – New Brunswick
- Eryn Rubenacker – Wharton, NJ (DePaul Catholic High School), attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Since launching its scholarship program in 2011, the Sharing Network Foundation has awarded more than $140,000 to 74 students who have helped educate communities and honor donors and recipients through advocacy and outreach.
