25 Mar ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION 2025 Althea Gibson Leadership Awards are Presented to Essex County Schools of Technology Students Ayliana Hernandez, Chelsey Perry and Hilary Samo And Essex County College Students Laela Lawal and Towela Mwale
Published on March 25, 2025
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., hosted the County’s Annual Women’s History Month Program in the Essex County Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building on Tuesday, March 25th. The theme of this year’s ceremony is “Students of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow.” During the ceremony, 2025 Essex County Althea Gibson Leadership Awards were presented to Ayliana Hernandez from the Essex County Donald Payne, Sr. School of Technology, Chelsey Perry from Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology, Hilary Samo from Essex County Newark Tech, and Laela Lawal and Towela Mwale from Essex County College.
“Through their academic achievements and contributions to their local communities, these remarkable young women are on the road to success. Each is unique in their own way, having a profound impact on their schools. Striving for their goals and never letting anything stop them is part of what has driven them to reach the level of success that they have achieved thus far in their lives,” DiVincenzo said. “These young women have made tremendous contributions and are establishing themselves as leaders of our future generations,” he added.
Ayliana Hernandez, a senior at Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology with a 4.1 GPA, has excelled academically through dual enrollment courses at Seton Hall University and Essex County College. She is passionate about law and aspires to pursue a B.S./J.D. in Diplomacy and International Relations & Law or Political Science. Outside of her academics, she is actively involved in a wide range of extracurriculars, including Yearbook, National Honor Society, Mock Trial, MentorU Connect, volleyball, cheerleading, softball, and STEAM workshops. As a Payne Scholar and Borlaug Scholar, she has also coached and choreographed for her elementary school’s cheerleading team. Ayliana credits much of her motivation and values to her aunt, who has taught her the importance of resilience, listening to others and always striving for more. Her aunt’s unwavering support has shaped her determination to help others, a value she carried into her experience at the Global Youth Institute, where she presented research on food insecurity in Mexico. With aspirations to become a lawyer, she hopes to focus on wrongful convictions or immigration law, fighting to keep families together and advocating for justice.
“This award is not just about me. It is a reflection of the many women who paved the way and continue to inspire us,” Hernandez said.
Chelsey Perry is a senior honor roll student at West Caldwell School of Technology. Chelsey’s passion for basketball has driven her to hone her skills and make an impact on the court, which has certainly paid off as she is starting guard for the girls’ Varsity team. This season, she was ranked second in the state as one of the top scoring leaders, averaging an impressive 26.7 points per game. Chelsey credits her family for her resilience and her determination, both in the classroom and on the basketball court. Her father was born in Jamaica before moving to America at the age of nine, while her mother was born in California before relocating with her family to New Jersey. Both of her parents pursued higher education, but financial challenges prevented them from completing their studies. Their experiences have deeply inspired Chelsey to work hard and chase her dreams. Chelsey has been accepted into several universities for their business programs and looks forward to choosing a school that will allow her to continue flourishing academically and athletically. Chelsey’s grandmother was also a prominent influence in her life. “Every time I step onto the court, I carry the spirt of my grandmother with me. She always told me, ‘Never be a follower, always be a leader., Those words have shaped my mindset, pushing me to be the best version of myself both as a person and a player,” she said. She recalls that one of her proudest moments in her athletics career was when she scored 45 points against Orange High School and her takeaway is that the game was not about numbers, but rather about proving to herself that hard work, discipline and passion can lead to greatness. “I never expected to become the top scoring leader in Essex County, but I know this is only the beginning. Every practice, every game, every sacrifice is for something bigger than myself. It’s for my family, my grandmother’s legacy, and for the belief that resilience and dedication can take you further than you ever imagined. With my grandmother watching over me, there is nothing I can’t accomplish”, she continued.
“Attending West Caldwell Tech has been a different experience for me. They provided a nurturing environment and welcomed me like family,” Perry said.
Hilary Samo, a senior at Newark Tech, has soared academically over her four years at the school. She is currently ranked 5th out of 109 students in her class and has maintained a 4.34 GPA. Her academic excellence is further exemplified by her membership in the Health Occupations of America (HOSA), National Honor Society, the Black Student Union and Student Council. Her involvement in these organizations demonstrates her intellectual curiosity, commitment to her peers, and desire to make a positive impact in her community. Beyond the classroom, Hilary has been an active participant in the school’s athletic program, excelling as a member of the Varsity Basketball team. Her athletic achievements, combined with her senior peer mentoring role and service on the Morning Announcement Committee, showcase her well-rounded talents and her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities. Her dedication to her community is equally impressive. She has dedicated her time to serve on student panels, distribute food at the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, and support boys’ basketball games. These experiences have shaped her development of empathy, problem-solving skills, and served to better understand the world around her. Hilary’s academic achievements have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the 2021-2022 Perfect Attendance Award, 2021-2024 High Honor Roll, 2024 Worker of the Month, and the 2023 OSHA-10 Certification. Hilary is an exceptional student who possesses academic prowess, leadership qualities and community engagement. She is best known for her positive impacts both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Newark Tech has played a big role in helping me develop as a leader. I take pride in giving back to my school and community. This award is reminder of my responsibilities to keep growing and helping people,” Samo said.
Laela Lawal is a student at Essex County College majoring in Biology, Pre-Med program. She will be graduating this May with a GPA of 4.0 in a very demanding program. Her goal is to study neuroscience at a prestigious university. She is awaiting her acceptance responses from Johns Hopkins University and Washington University to continue her academic dreams. During her years at Essex County College, Laela has been an active member of the Student Government Association (SGA), first as Secretary and then as Parliamentarian. This past year, Leala decided to focus her leadership growth in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society where she currently holds the position of Vice President of Service. Laela has demonstrated full devotion to service to the Essex County College student body and the surrounding community. Even with a very demanding class schedule, she has continued to maintain membership and participate in the Biology Pre-Med Club and currently serves as the President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA). As a part of her responsibilities as a club leader, she has not only participated in multiple on and off campus events, but has also established numerous fundraisers and awareness events for the respective clubs. Outside of her college commitments, Laela finds the time to volunteer at her Masjid. She assisted in organizing the annual NIA Masjid Day of Dignity, in partnership with the Islamic Relief USA Association which serves the community though an all-encompassing day of services to distribute items in need. In recognition of Laela’s academic achievements, she was selected to represent Essex County College on the 2025 All USA-New Jersey Community College Academic Team and has recently been named as one of the 2025 Jack Kent Cooke Scholars semifinalists. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a highly competitive Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship that provides up to $55,000 per year for Community College graduates to complete their degree at an accredited U.S. college or university. Laela is among 467 semi-finalists from across the United States competing for one of these coveted scholarships.
“I am truly honored to stand before you today. To be selected is a reward for the strength we have within us. Previously, women were told that they had no place, but women always have been a catalyst for change and transformation,” Lawal said.
Towela Mwale is a Biology, Pre-Med student at Essex County College. She is an aspiring neurosurgeon with a solid foundation in biology and hands-on experience in leadership, research and community service. She has maintained a 3.7 GPA and has been recognized for academic excellence and leadership. Among her recognition is an academic achievement award from the Biology, Chemistry & Physics Division in the fall of 2025 and she has also earned a spot on the dean’s list every semester. Towela has been an active member of Phi Theta Kappa since the fall of 2023 and has served as the Secretary of Communications, handling communication between students, PTK officers, advisors and administration, while also facilitating and regulating the PTK inbox. She has also overseen fundraising events and Phi Theta Kappa’s project that promotes student engagement and inclusivity. In addition, Towela worked with the Vice President of honors in action and helped organize and lead a mental health awareness event on campus that involved more than 50 mental health professionals, students, faculty and advisors. She is also a member of ECC’s Biology Pre-Med Club and the National Society of Black Engineers, helping promote diversity and inclusion in STEM through meetings, workshops and research opportunities. She also volunteers at a day care center in West Orange assisting children in developing scientific creativity. She was chosen to the one of the college’s student ambassadors for 2024-25, helping new and current students navigate student life. As a result of her dedicated on-campus and community involvement, Towela received a PTK Appreciation Award for her dedication to the chapter and was selected to represent ECC on the 2025 All USA-New Jersey Community College Academic Team and in the running for the All-USA National Academic Team. Towela plans to transfer to Rutgers University-Newark for the fall 2025 semester, where she intends to continue her pre-med studies in neurosurgery at either Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons or UCLA Medical Center. Her hard work has left a lasting impact on the Essex County College campus, improving the college experience for current and future students.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized with this award. My journey through life has been determined and gratifying because of the challenges I have overcome. Because of this, I realize that no dream is too ambitious,” Mwale said.
The invocation was given by Rev. Madelyn Perez from Newark Community Church. Choral selections were performed by Isabella Cruz, a student who attends the Essex County Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology.
The Annual Essex County Althea Gibson Leadership Awards are dedicated to the memory of the late professional tennis and golf legend, who was the first African American to win the Wimbledon Tennis and U.S. Golf Championships. In 1957, Ms. Gibson became the first African American to win the All-England Championship. That same year she became the first black woman to be voted by the Associated Press as its Female Athlete of the Year. The Althea Gibson Foundation exposes children in the inner city to the games of tennis and golf and provides recreational activities for students during the summer.
The Women’s History Month Celebration is part of a year-long cultural series created by County Executive DiVincenzo to highlight the diversity and various ethnic groups in Essex County. Other cultural celebrations are African American Heritage, Irish Heritage, Italian Heritage, Jewish Heritage, Latino Heritage and Portuguese Heritage.