Mayor Marty Small, Sr. and members of the Mayor Marty Small, Sr. Scholarship Committee announced the graduating high school recipients of the 2026 scholarship during a ceremony at Atlantic City High School, where students were recognized individually as their names were read aloud and they were personally congratulated by the Mayor.
“When we talk about creating opportunity and addressing educational disparities in our community, we back those words up with action,” said Mayor Small. “Higher education has become increasingly expensive, and we want to do our part to ease that financial burden for Atlantic City families. One of the most rewarding parts of this program is personally calling recipients to tell them they earned a scholarship. The emotions on those calls remind us of why this program matters.”
This marks the fourth consecutive year of the Mayor Marty Small, Sr. Scholarship. This year, 46 scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors pursuing college degrees, two scholarships were awarded to residents pursuing trade school education, and 10 scholarships went to residents pursuing master’s degrees or doctoral degrees. Applicants in the postgraduate category will be notified this week regarding their selection status. Each of the 58 scholarships is worth up to $10,000.
Funding for the 2026 program includes $520,000 from the American Rescue Plan and $60,000 through the City of Atlantic City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. During the program’s first three years, Mayor Small dedicated $1 Million annually through the American Rescue Plan’s Addressing Educational Disparity category. Due to the reduced funding available this year compared to previous years, eligibility was limited to residents who had not previously received a Mayor Marty Small, Sr. Scholarship.
Applications were reviewed and scored by the scholarship committee comprised of City employees and community members. Mayor Small was not involved in the selection process. As part of the application process, candidates were required to submit an essay describing a person, place, or experience in Atlantic City that helped shape who they are and influenced their future aspirations, along with additional supporting materials.
The full list of 2026 scholarship recipients will be posted on www.acnj.gov after all awardees have been notified.
