James R. Leva Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The James R. Leva Scholarship Award is sponsored by New Jersey Utilities Association (NJUA) to assist NJUA member company employees who are employed in New Jersey, or members of their families, in pursuing their higher education goals.  The scholarship is named for James R. Leva, NJUA President from 1990-1991, whose professional achievements serve as a model for those who seek to advance themselves professionally through continuing education. 

Each year, NJUA is awarding the James R. Leva Scholarship to one (1) NJUA member company employee, legal spouse or civil union partner, or child of a parent employed by an NJUA member company in New Jersey that is or will be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university located in New Jersey.  The scholarship award is a one-time award for up to $4,000. If awarded to an NJUA member company employee, the award is intended to cover educational expenses not covered by his or her Company’s tuition assistance policy, if any. If awarded to a spouse or dependent, it may be applied only to tuition. 

Eligibility 

• The working NJUA member company employee must be a full time, regular employee of a NJUA member company working in New Jersey, who has at least six months of service with that employer. If these criteria are met, the employee, his or her legal spouse or civil union partner, or legal dependent child is eligible to be considered for this award.

• Applicants or their qualified dependents must enroll or be enrolled in an approved course of study at an accredited junior college, college or university located in New Jersey.

Selection process

Award recipients will be selected by a committee composed of members of the NJUA Human Resource Policy Committee.  Committee members will not review applications of any employee or dependent of an employee from their own Company. In addition, Committee members must disclose to the Committee any relationship they have with any applicant and will be disqualified by the Committee from considering an applicant if there is a relationship. The Committee will select recipients on the basis of academic performance, future potential, school and community participation, work experience, career and educational aspirations and goals, unusual personal or family circumstances, recommendations submitted and the quality of the candidate’s essay.  The scholarship award recipient will be notified by end of July each year. NJUA regrets that it is unable to notify all applicants of its decision.

How to apply

You can apply by clicking the “Complete Application Online” button below. If mailing, complete and send the application, an official copy of your most recent high school transcript and, if currently enrolled in college, your most recent college transcript; an essay (see section VI of the application for details); and two (2) letters of recommendation (see section VII of the application for details) marked PERSONAL and CONFIDENTIAL, to NJUA at the following address: 154 West State Street, 1stFloor, Trenton, NJ 08608.  It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure documents are postmarked by the deadline listed on the application.   

Questions? Please email csweeney@njua.com.

NJUA member companies

The NJUA member companies are: Aqua New Jersey Inc., Atlantic City Electric Company, Atlantic City Sewerage Company, Elizabethtown Gas, Gordon’s Corner Water Company, JCP&L/ A FirstEnergy Co., Middlesex Water Company, New Jersey American Water, New Jersey Natural Gas, Public Service Electric & Gas Company, Rockland Electric Company, South Jersey Gas, Veolia and Verizon New Jersey.