2026 New Jersey Scholarship Celebration

Think Big New Jersey Expands Student Impact with More Scholarships

Through partnerships with five regional Boys & Girls Clubs, Think Big New Jersey awarded more than $18,000 in “Think Big Expect More” scholarships to 12 students for the 2025-26 academic year. Think Big New Jersey launched its scholarship program three years ago and last year awarded scholarships to 10 students.

Think Big scholarship recipients are eligible for additional scholarships as they pursue their educational path. Of the 12 students who received 2026 scholarships, five are returning scholarship recipients.

Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year

One Think Big scholarship recipient was Boys & Girls Clubs of Paterson & Passaic Youth of the Year. When Nadir Johnson walked into the Paterson Clubhouse, he thought he was heading into another interview for a scholarship from Think Big. What Nadir didn’t know was that Think Big for Kids had already made the decision.

As Nadir, who is headed to NYU in the fall, walked out to the lobby to meet the Think Big’s Karen Lucero, she was waiting with a giant check bearing his name – and the news that he was already their scholarship winner. This was the kind of moment that reminds us exactly why the work we do matters.