FTHS grad to be honored by memorial scholarship

Freehold Township

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The Provident Bank Foundation is paying tribute to Nicholas Novielli, a 20-year-old Rutgers University student who died four years ago, with the establishment of a $1,000-a-year scholarship offered to college-bound seniors at Freehold Township High School.

Jack Novielli, Nicholas' father and the chief information officer at The Provident Bank, said the scholarship is primarily offered to students who participate in the school's Consumer Bowl team, a statewide educational competition. Nicholas was a founding member of his high school's team.

"We wanted to keep this for students who might possess a certain quality but who might be bypassed by normal scholarships," Novielli said. "Nick had a genius-level IQ, but he was not a fan of the more traditional type school work. His teacher looked at people like Nick as diamonds in the rough."

Nicholas Novielli, who graduated from Freehold Township High School in 2000, was inspired to join the newly created Consumer Bowl by his teacher, Lydia Wagner.

Jack Novielli said the experience was profoundly positive for his son, one in which a true bond was formed between teacher and student.

"It brought out qualities that were hidden below the surface in areas of teamwork, socialization, creative partnering and academics," Jack Novielli said.

Wagner is in charge of selecting a scholarship candidate. If there are no graduating seniors on the Consumer Bowl team, the scholarship will be awarded to a member of the Future Business Leaders Association.

Kendall Warsaw, executive director of the Provident Bank Foundation, said Nicholas' memory will live on through the scholarship.

"Nicholas will be remembered not only by the Provident Bank family but through all those who will be helped by the Nicholas V. Novielli Scholarship," Warsaw said.

The Provident Bank Foundation was established in 2003 to enhance the quality of life in New Jersey through support of not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other organizations that provide services in communities served by The Provident Bank.

Since its founding, the foundation has provided nearly $10 million in grants for programs focusing on education, health, wellness, recreation, the arts, social and civic services.