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Drawn to Public Service, He Found a World of Experience at Rutgers

Nicholas Pellitta

Nicholas Pellitta was in high school when he decided to pursue politics.

The Hunterdon County native participated in the YMCA’s Youth and Government program and served in the highest student role, youth governor of New Jersey. He went to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong conference, meeting students from across the nation, interacting with government officials, and getting a taste of what it’s like working in public service.

Congratulations to Honors College Students: Eriel Santagado, Brian Shushkovsky, Katie Wingert, and the Women's Rowing Team

Rutgers Big Ten Medal of Honors
PISCATAWAY - Rutgers University student-athletes Anthony Ashnault and Sarah Johanek were presented the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor Tuesday evening at the fifth annual RAwards at the Rutgers Athletic Center. The red carpet event recognized, via both awards and videos, the many accomplishments of the Scarlet Knights this season on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

Giving Back: An Alternative Answer to Freshman Angst

New Orleans
Global citizenship is about recognizing yourself as part of a larger community, realizing that our actions are important and that we have a role to play. We should be asking ourselves, how can I harness my time, energy, and abilities to serve the greater good and make a meaningful, sustainable impact? Alternative Breaks provide some of these answers. You learn what interests you and where your strengths lie in a hands-on, immersive, supportive setting so you can continue to make a difference. And I could not be more grateful for an opportunity to do so, and to meet such wonderful people along the way.

HC Student Creates ''Smart Jewelry'' to Fight Sexual Violence

Annie Zhang works on developing "smart jewelry" in the College Avenue Makerspace located within the Honors College at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Photo: Courtesy of Nick Romanenko
Annie Zhang works on developing "smart jewelry" in the College Avenue Makerspace located within the Honors College at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Photo: Courtesy of Nick Romanenko
As Annie ('19, Bloustein/HC) reflects on her experiences at Rutgers, she believes that the most important takeaway is Merakhi, a company that she created with her fellow Honors College students to develop smart jewelry that prevents sexual assault and saves lives.

Rutgers Senior Heads Student-Led Rocket Launch

Timothy Nuber, Photo by Nick Romanenko

Whether it’s landing the first human on the moon, launching the first satellite into orbit or capturing the first images of Mars, space exploration has long been a competition led by a handful of organizations vying to become “the first.”

But a Rutgers student said this competitive atmosphere deters some of the brightest minds who could make innovation happen faster, so he decided to start his own space effort.

A Gifted Science Student Discovers her Mission

Avina Rami learning about compassion while studying spinal cord injury
Avina Rami was always strong in science. She graduated from Biotechnology High School in Freehold, New Jersey, a magnet school where the academic program is intensely focused on biology, technology, and engineering. But it was at Rutgers, in the W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, where Rami, a graduating senior in the Class of 2019, found the calling that would drive her research and exert a profound influence over the direction of her undergraduate work.

Congratulations to the Fourth Annual Honors College Changemaker Award Recipients

Caroline Kratka and Samuel Snyder - 2019 Changemaker Award recipients

Each year, the Honors College recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to service—an integral part of our mission. Please join us in congratulating and thanking this year’s outstanding Changemaker Award recipients, who have served in their communities in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and beyond:

Caroline Kratka