SHORT HILLS, NJ - Towne Realty Group, based in Short Hills, New Jersey, recently presented $1500 in scholarship awards to three local graduating high school seniors. Recipients were Ruslan “Russ” Volyar, from Millburn High School in Millburn, New Jersey; Gianni Mejia, from Summit High School in Summit, New Jersey; and Akil Edwards, from West Orange High School in West Orange, New Jersey.
Ruslan Volyar grew up in the Ukraine and came to the United States when he was in the 5th grade. He is a 2016 graduate from Millburn High School. While in high school he was the Co-President of Studio 462, Millburn High School's Broadcasting Network and Production Studio. He will be attending Rutgers University in the fall and he hopes to study Biology or Computer Science. He plans to pursue a Medical Degree.
Gianni Mejia is a life-long resident of Summit, New Jersey. He is a 2016 graduate of Summit High School. Gianni played on the Summit ice hockey team, as well as holding jobs at both Marco Polo Restaurant and the Summit Pool. 
Gianni is a very good student, and he will be using his TRG scholarship award this fall at the University of Scranton.
Akil Edwards has always been a student of the West Orange Public Schools, since Kindergarten. A 2016 graduate of West Orange High School, he studied robotics, was a member of the National Honor Society, belonged to study groups for AP physics and AP chemistry, and was an active member of the West Orange Swim Team. Akil will begins his freshman year at Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he plans to study chemical engineering.
Contributors to the Scholarship Fund were Realtor-Salespersons Stephanie Mallios and Suzanne Emrich, residents of Short Hills, NJ; Realtor-Salesperson, Marcia Hicks and Broker of Record, Barbara Birkitt, both from Summit, NJ; and Realtor-Salespersons Fran
Kurtis and Elaine Ehrenkranz, residents of West Orange, NJ. Matching contributions were given by Towne Realty Group’s owners, Karen Bigos and Daniel Cannizzo.
Over the last ten years, Towne Realty Group has awarded over $12,000 to 15 graduating students from Millburn High School, Summit High School, Columbia High School, and West Orange High School. All recipients were chosen based on their academics, and involvement in extra-curricular activities and the community. Since Towne Realty Group opened in 2006, they have donated over $100,000 to various charities and community organizations.