STARS Spotlight
Laila Metwaly, ‘21 Laila Metwaly, of Fairview, an NJ STARS student, felt that the NJ STARS program helped her focus on her education without thinking about financial burdens. “The NJ STARS program and scholarship played a significant factor in my decision to attend Bergen Community College,” said Metwaly. “The NJ STARS program allowed me to be able to fully focus on my education and academics at Bergen, as the financial limitations of attending College were alleviated. It allowed me to truly succeed and flourish within my journey and experience at Bergen.” While enrolled at Bergen Community College, Metwaly worked in the Office of Student Life and as a peer writing tutor for the Cerullo Learning Assistance Center. She served as the director of service for PTK, participated in a research group on COVID-19 epidemiology and collaborated as part of the College’s STEM program.
Following in the footsteps of a dozen Bergen Community College alumni, Metwaly was one of four class of 2021 graduates that earned the most prestigious award for community college students – the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship, which provides up to $40,000 per year for each student to complete a bachelor’s degree. In 2021, only 72 students in the U.S. earned this scholarship. Dr. Friedman said, “I am incredibly proud of Bergen Community College’s newest Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholars. It’s rare for a community college to have a student receive this prestigious honor. To have four receive it in the same year speaks to the incredible aptitude, character and resolve of Bergen students. This life-changing scholarship will help them continue on a path for success.” Metwaly was eligible to graduate from Bergen after three semesters but forfeited her NJ STARS II scholarship to enroll an additional semester so she could complete the academic year leading her class of 2021 as Student Government Association President, and close the Commencement 2021 ceremony when she performed the ceremonial shift of tassels.
“I have always been fascinated by the science field and knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the biology or medical field,” said Metwaly. "I aspire to be a Genetic Counselor because it is a career that focuses heavily on assisting and helping others. It incorporates two aspects that I have an incredible passion for, science and service.
After successfully graduating from Bergen Community College with an Associate's Degree in Biology, Metwaly transferred to Rutgers University in New Brunswick and is majoring in Biological Sciences.
As Director of Service in PTK, she served the student body and the Bergen community, as well as motivated other students to volunteer. Service is extremely important to me because due to the service of others, I am where I am today. So, I want to give back. I want to make sure that the kindness and support that has been shown to me, I can give to someone else in a myriad of ways.”
● 2020-2021 Student Government Association President ● 2020-2021 Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Epsilon Phi Chapter Director of Service ● 2020 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholar ● Ceremonial Shift of Tassel at Commencement 2021 ● Phi Theta Kappa Graduate • Graduated with a 3.84 GPA • Rutgers University, New Brunswick Campus B.A. in Biology/Biological Sciences by 2023
When the Presidential search committee formed to lead the vetting, interview and selection of candidates and the hiring of our new president, Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., Metwaly stepped forward as Chairwoman of the Academic Affairs Committee of the SGA, applied and was selected as the only student on the 15-member committee.