Christine Gloth, NJ Youth Soccer
New Jersey Youth Soccer is proud to officially recognize Ellison Errington (Morris Elite Soccer Club) and Drew Roskos (Delran FC) as recipients of this year’s Jeanine Willis Scholarship. NJ Youth Soccer awards this annual scholarship to deserving college-bound high school seniors who participated in the NJYS State Cups Program.
The Jeanine Willis Scholarship was established by NJ Youth Soccer to honor the numerous contributions that Jeanine Willis made to youth soccer in the State of New Jersey and beyond. She was the first NJYS Executive Director, served as a member of the NJYS Board of Directors and is also a member of the NJYS Hall of Fame.
Ellison Errington says that her time with NJ Youth Soccer as a player and referee has helped her become the person she is today. After playing for NJYS teams for more than a decade, soccer has taught her how to maintain a positive attitude, demonstrate respect for others, to always be thoughtful, and the importance of sportsmanship. She has an expanded perspective of those principles after having the unique opportunity to experience NJYS State Cups as both a player and referee. Beyond playing and officiating the game, she has also given back to the Morris Elite Soccer Club community as a youth coach and mentor. As Errington prepares to continue her academic and athletic career at Franklin and Marshall College this fall, she will take with her the skills she has learned through the game of soccer.
“I am honored to receive the Jeanine Willis Scholarship from NJYS, and I am grateful that all my hard work, along with the support of my parents, coaches and Morris Elite Soccer Club, have earned me this accomplishment. The award of this scholarship will help me continue my soccer career and studies at Franklin and Marshall College,” said Errington. “Soccer has been more than just a sport for me. It has been a combination of continuous learning and personal growth, shaping not only my athletic abilities but molding the confident person I am today. The experiences gained from being part of NJYS will undoubtedly serve as a compass for navigating the challenges that lie ahead for me in college and beyond.”
Drew Roskos says that his youth soccer journey has provided him with purpose and direction in all aspects of his life. Some of the top qualities he has learned from the game include self-discipline, how to be a team player and the value of hard work. He has used these skills to lead by example as the captain of the Delran High School Soccer Program during his junior and senior years. During his high school career, he helped his team become two-time Group II State Champions, and he was also named a three-time High School All American. Roskos has been playing with Delran FC since he was five-years-old and helped his team lift two NJYS State Cup Championships. Off the field, he is an active member of Delran High School’s National Honor Society, trains younger soccer players, wrestles in his town and participates in local park clean-ups, all while getting excellent grades. This fall, he will continue as a student-athlete at Bucknell University.
“I am truly honored to be a recipient of the Jeanine Willis Scholarship,” said Roskos. “Being a part of NJYS and playing for the Delran Gunners travel team for over nine years provided me with amazing soccer memories with my teammates and coaches that I will cherish forever.”
NJ Youth Soccer recently held its 2024 NJYS Annual Awards Dinner Presented by RWJBarnabas Health, where many players, coaches and guests of the soccer community were on hand at the Pines Manor in Edison, N.J. With more than 1,000 attendees, the event saw a capacity crowd for the annual celebration.
To find out more information about New Jersey Youth Soccer or to contact us directly, please email communications@njyouthsoccer.com. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer