Good Samaritan Award Scholarship Given to 8-Year-Old Reese Ronceray for Saving His Friend from Drowning

Hackettstown, N.J., July 2, 2010 – Centenary College has announced that it will present a "Good Samaritan Award" to Reese Ronceray, an 8-year-old boy from Long Valley, N.J., who saved his friend from drowning in a lake on June 5, 2010.  "The Good Samaritan Award" will entitle Reese to a $10,000 annual scholarship after he graduates from High School if he meets Centenary’s admissions criteria and chooses to become a student at the College.

Reese, who has taken swimming classes at Centenary College for three seasons, made international headlines when he saved 5-year-old Andrew Gentile from drowning during a private party.  Reese had credited his swimming ability to classes that he had taken at the College and to an episode of Nickelodeon’s "SpongeBob SquarePants" that he had watched.

Reese will be presented with this Award at Centenary College in Hackettstown, N.J., at 2 p.m. July 14, 2010, by the President of the institution, Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite.

"Reese is a member of the Centenary community, and his demonstration of heroism needed to be recognized in a significant manner," says Dr. Lewthwaite.  "We felt that by rewarding him with the Good Samaritan Award, it would be indicative of how truly courageous he is and acknowledge the magnitude of what he did that day.  Centenary College values the importance of community service, and Reese accomplished the ultimate form of it through a life-saving action."