AC High School Senior Jacy Craig Wins 2015 Academic Achiever College Scholarship
Law Firm of John W. Tumelty Announces $1,000 Scholarship Winner
AC High School Senior Jacy Craig Wins 2015 Academic Achiever College Scholarship
Noted South Jersey criminal defense lawyer John W. Tumelty is proud to announce the winner of his law firm’s first-ever 2015 Academic Achiever College Scholarship. Jacy Craig, a senior at Atlantic City High School, will use the $1,000 prize this fall toward tuition at the University of Florida where she plans to pursue a civil engineering degree.
Jacy is one of several dozen high school seniors in Atlantic and Cape May counties who entered the scholarship essay contest sponsored by the Law Firm of John W. Tumelty. Three finalists were chosen in early May by the law firm staff and announced through the firm’s social media channels.
“We are so happy to announce Jacy Craig as the winner of our scholarship essay contest,” said Mr. Tumelty. “Her essay was inspiring and truly epitomizes the type of student we were hoping to support with this $1,000 scholarship. On behalf of my entire team at the Law Firm of John W. Tumelty Law, we congratulate Jacy not only on winning this essay contest but on knowing where she wants to go with her education and her commitment to helping the community.”
In her essay, Jacy wrote: “As a senior in high school, I have my whole life ahead of me. I can be anything I want whether it’s a doctor, lawyer, or even an astronaut. I can take my life in any career choice I want, but there’s one in particular I have in mind. My goal is to become a civil engineer. It is the broadest spectrum of engineering, but I can do a lot with a degree in that particular engineering field.”
Contest entrants were asked to write and submit a 300 to 500 word essay answering this multi-part question: What are your career goals and how will a college degree help you achieve those goals? The essay contest was open to high school seniors in Atlantic and Cape May counties in New Jersey who were seeking to enroll in a four-year college in the fall of 2015. The two other essay contests finalists are Priya Brahmbhatt, a senior at Absegami High School, who will be attending George Washington University; and Hunter Irvin, a senior at Egg Harbor Township High School, who will be attending Chestnut Hill College.
Jacy says she plans to pursue a career in bridge design or water resources because she wants to help develop her community. She plans to enter the five-year engineering program at the University of Florida this fall, fast-tracking her education plan so she graduates with both undergraduate and master’s degrees. She was eager to answer the second part of the essay question. “A college degree would allow me to become a civil engineer. It is not a simple job, and requires a lot of math and science. By pursuing a degree in college, I would obtain all my requirements to follow my goal of becoming a civil engineer.
In her essay, Jacy explained the lack of availability of fresh water and its impact on people throughout the world. “Only 2.5 percent of all water is fresh water and drinkable. Meanwhile, there are seven billion people in this world, and eventually we will run out of water for all of them. We are depleting our aquifers and water reserves faster than the water can be replenished. This will cause a major issue in getting fresh water to places that do not have easy access to it.”
Her plan as a civil engineer is to solve this severe, worldwide problem. “My goal is to help those that need water and find a solution to the depleting fresh water,” she wrote. “By working with desalination, getting salt out of salt water to make it drinkable, I hope to speed up this process to make fresh water more readily available. However, I cannot do this without a college degree, which would allow me to follow my dreams as a civil engineer, and help those around me.”
A longtime resident of South Jersey, a former Atlantic County prosecutor and a local businessman for more than 35 years, criminal defense lawyer John W. Tumelty launched the $1,000 scholarship essay contest because he knows the power of a college degree. He believes, in this economy, smart, hard-working students can use some help paying for that important education.
“To make your way in the world today you need a college education. Unfortunately, with tuition prices rising annually, paying for college these days is difficult for many families in Atlantic and Cape May counties,” said experienced criminal defense lawyer, former Atlantic County prosecutor and longtime South Jersey resident John W. Tumelty. “I believe all students should have an opportunity to pursue their academic goals,” he said.
ABOUT THE LAW FIRM OF JOHN W. TUMELTY
The Law Offices of John W. Tumelty is a highly respected law firm with a rich tradition in South Jersey. Mr. Tumelty is a former state and county prosecutor who has investigated and prosecuted major felony crimes, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, white collar crimes, and serious drug crimes. If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in Atlantic City or anywhere in South Jersey, contact Mr. Tumelty for a free consultation about your charges by calling 609.385.4010.
