Rose Marie Walano, a senior at Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township. Rose Marie plans on attending New York University where she will major in Journalism and English. Rose Marie has an excellent academic record and numerous recommendation letters. Her father is a deceased Mail Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Rahway.

The purpose of the GFOA of New Jersey's Scholarship is to encourage and promote the advancement of education by providing scholarships and other assistance in institutions of higher learning to children of deceased or disabled persons who have worked in government in the State of New Jersey.

This year's awards continue GFOA's scholarship program which granted two awards in 2006, four awards in 2004, four awards in 2003, five awards in 2002, three awards in 2000, three awards in 1999, two awards in 1998, one award in 1997, one in 1996 for a total of $36,500.

Awards shall be made primarily on the basis of financial need, but may take into account prior academic performance. Initially, no single student will receive more than $2,500 in financial assitance, but this amount may expand in the future as the amount of available funds increase. The award will be paid directly to the qualified educational institution and there will be no limitation governing its use except that the individual must be an enrolled student for the year in which the scholarship is awarded and the amount is limited to $2,500.00 per individual per year up to a maximum of four years.