The Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund was first established on June 23, 2006 by Bernadette Bannister on hearing about the death of her niece Jennifer Cakert. We became a non- profit corporation on November 15, 2006.

Click here to download the Scholarship Application Form. NEW AWARD NOW AVAILABLE:

ELISA BROSKI GRAPHIC ART AWARD FOR $1,000. COLLEGE LEVEL ONLY!

CONTACT CYNTHIA WALKER FOR CRITERIA. jan-aischolar@comcast.net

Thank you letters:
Click here to view scholarship recipient's thank you notes.
Click here to view The New Jersey Governor's School of the Art's thank you letters

April, 2007

Atlantic City International Airport Art Port Student Show

$450 for College level - Judy Alton, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

$250 for High School level - Gerardo Marin, Atlantic City, N.J.

$150 for High School level - Brian Gallagher, Galloway, N.J.

May 23, 2007

N.J. Governor's School of the Arts

$90 for medals for 2006 Outstanding Students

N.J. Governor's School of the Arts

$948.00 to buy Photography Equipment

June 8, 2007

$100 each to 4 students at Atlantic City High School - Photography 

Kimberley Boettcher, Ventnor, N.J.
Katie Boyd, Brigantine, N.J.
Gerardo Marin, Atlantic City, N.J.
Victor Moreno, Atlantic City, N.J.

June 8, 2007

Ventnor Middle School, Ventnor, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Memorial Creativity Award -$250 savings bond -
Victoria McCue, Ventnor, N.J.

June, 2007

Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.
Jennifer Cakert Creative Writing Award

$250 - Zoe Rosenberg, Margate, N.J.

January, 2008

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway in Cape May , N.J.

$600 - Rachel Bunting, Mt. Laurel, N.J.

May, 2008

2nd District 27 th Annual Congressional Art Competition

First Place $350 - Suzann Petrongolo, Sewell, N.J.
Second Place $250 - Nikki Liao, Galloway, N.J.
Third Place $150 - Alfonso Jimenez, Bridgeton, N.J.

Fourth Place $100 - Rocio Martinez, Ventnor, N.J.
Hon. Mention $75  - Nikki Liao, Galloway, N.J.

May 21, 2008

N.J. Governor's Awards in Arts Education

Six Medallions to the N.J. Governor's School of the Arts for Excellence,

$100 each went to the 2007 Outstanding Scholars

Creative Writing - Jenna Devine (Presidential Scholar),Lebanon, N.J.
Dance - Kruti Shah, Morganville, N.J.
Music - Robert Tsai, Millington, N.J.
Theatre - Michael Schwitter, N/A
Video/Film Production - Wayne Alford, Jr., Somerset, N.J.
Visual Arts - Fiona Murray , N/A

June, 2008

Ventnor Middle School, Ventnor, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award $500 Savings Bond - Chesea Mealo, Ventnor, N.J. 

Jennifer Cakert Instrumental Music Award $500 Savings Bond - Luis Ramirez, Ventnor, N.J.

June, 2008

Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Creative Writing Award  - $350 Emma Shakarshy, Margate, N.J. 

Jennifer Cakert Photography Awards 4 @ $150
Katelyn Boyd, Brigantine, N.J.
Stephanie Gilliard (2), Atlantic City, N.J.
Julia Grigorov, Ventnor, N.J.

June, 2008

Three $1000 College Scholarship (Fall/Spring) 
Brittany Lemenager, Brigantine, N.J.
Mark Menzie,Atlantic City, N.J.
Michael Molinari, Brigantine, N.J.
June, 2008

N.J. Governor's School of the Arts

$1000 to the Video Division and Visual Arts Division

October, 2008

Silent Auction Proceeds for artists $308

December, 2008
$250 to Felix Borges - recognition - Art Educators of N.J., Ventnor, N.J

Atlantic City Art Center:
10 $15 gift cards to Tyrone Hart's art class
$50 cash award to Tyrone Hart, Jr. Atlantic City, N.J.

January, 2009
Winter Prose & Poetry Workshop in Cape May. N.J. - $670
Emma Eisenberg, New York, N.Y.
April, 2009

Richard Stockton College of N.J.- "Jennifer Cakert Writing Award"
Poetry - 1st Place - $125 - Maxine Patroni, Margate, N.J.

Poetry - 2nd Place -  $50 - Christopher Moore, Ventnor, N.J.
1st Year Essay -  $125 - Laura Alexander -  Metuchen, N.J.
Undergraduates - 1st Place - $125 -  Brige Shinn, Brigantine, N.J.
2nd Place - $50 -  Crystal Coombs, Villas, N.J.
3rd Place - $25 - Will English, West Keansburg, N.J.
May, 2009
Atlantic City Contempory Ballet Fundraiser
$500 "Jennifer Cakert Dance Award"
Jessyca La Sure, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.
2nd District 28th Congressional Art Show
First Place - $350 - Svetlana Ivanoff, Vineland, N.J.
2nd Place -  $250 -  Dana Zarin, Alloway, N.J.
3rd Place  - $150 -  Danielle Shindel, Ocean City, N.J.
4th Place -  $100 - Brandon Obermeier, Cape May, N.J.
Hon. Men. - $ 75 - Shannon Greene, Ocean City, N.J.

June , 2009

Ventnor Middle School, Ventnor, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award $500 Savings Bond - Fabiana Vasquez, Ventnor, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Music Award $500 Savings Bond - Sara Hussen, Ventnor, N.J.

Chelsea Heights School, Atlantic City, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award $500 Savings Bond - Moneeba Khan, Atlantic City, N.J.

Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Creative Writing Award $350 - Lauren Strenger, Margate, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Music Award $350 - Sha-Ree Lloyd, Atlantic City, N.J.

4 $150 cash awards in Photography

Estefania Giraldo, Atlantic City, N.J.

Sabrina Levan, Margate, N.J.

Rocio Martinez, Ventnor, N.J.

Jaylesha Wilson, Atlantic City, N.J.

Charter Tech School for the Performing Arts, Somers Point, N.J.

$500 college scholarship - Alexandra London, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

$500 college scholarship & $100 cash award - Benjamin Ciccarelli, Mays Landing, N.J.

Three $1,000 College Scholarships (fall/spring)

Emilly Capille, Port Republic, N.J.

Joseph Carney, Jackson, N.J.

Adam Winnie, Ann Arbor, Mi.

Four $500 College Scholarships

Samantha Barriento, Ozone Park, N.Y.

Danielle Ford, Holmdel, N.J.

Sara Frazzano, South Plainfield, N.J.

Brenna Housman, Flemington, N.J.

October, 2009

Proceeds from Silent Auction to artists $610

January, 2010

Winter Prose & Poetry Workshop, Cape May, N.J. $850

Christopher Moore, Ventnor, N.J. First Place

Meghan Privitello, Ventnor, N.J. 2nd Place

April, 2010

Art Award $175

Amanda McCabe, Margate, N.J.

Richard Stockton College of N.J. "Jennifer Cakert Writing Awards"

Poetry - 1st Place -$125 Stephanie Cawley, Cape May Court House, N.J.

Poetry - 2nd Place - $75 Kimone Hyman, Bridgeton, N.J.

Non-Fiction - 1st Place - $125 Laura Panepinto, Old Bridge, N.J.

Non-Fiction - 2nd Place - $75 Brege Shinn, Brigantine, N.J.

1st Year Non-Fiction - $125 William Collins, Toms River, N.J.

May, 2010

VentFort Hall - Lenox High School Art Show, Lenox, Ma.

1st Place $250 -  Grace Muchnik, Lenox, Ma.

2nd Place $150 - Alyssa Sorrentino, Lenox, Ma.

3rd Place $100 - Megan Carberry, Lenox, Ma.

4th Place - $75 - John Gervasi, Lenox, Ma.

2nd District 29th Annual Congressional Art Show

1st Place - $350 - Nikki Liao, Galloway, N.J.

2nd Place - $250 - Mariana Diosa, Atlantic City, N.J.

3rd Place - $150 - Sabrina LeVan, Margate, N.J.

Hon. Mention $75 - Itzel Melchor, Bridgeton, N.J.

College Scholarships

$1,000 College Scholarship for Art

Zachary Doelp, Sewell, N.J.

Michael D'Ippolito, Hawthorne, N.Y.

June, 2010

Gabriella Makuc, Lenox, Ma. $350 Music

Atlantic City Ballet "Summer Solstice"

$500 "Jennifer Cakert Dance Award"

Rondayln Coble, Egg Harbor City, N.J.

$500 "Jennifer Cakert Music Award"

Jacob Ellsworth, Dorothy, N.J.

College Scholarships

$1,000 College Scholarship for Music

Adam Shaber, Linwood, N.J. Mainland High School

$l,000 College Scholarship for Art

Nikki Liao, Galloway, N.J. Abesegami High School

$1,000 College Scholarship for Art

Rachel Smith, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J. Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.

$1,000 College Scholarship for Film

Caitlin Elbon, Pilesgrove, N.J. Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creative Writing Award"

$350 Brett Uhing, Brigantine, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Art Award"

$350 Naima Chowdhury, Ventnor, N.J.

Jennifer Cakert Photography Awards

6 @$200 each

Best of Show: Bianca Elliott, Atlantic City, N.J.

Still Life: Misal Fatima, Atlantic City, N.J.

Landscape: Sam Fuerman, Atlantic City, N.J.

B & W: Robbie Hawes, Atlantic City, N.J.

Manipulative: Sabrina LeVan, Margate, N.J.

Portrait: Justa Velez, Atlantic City, N.J.

Ventnor Middle School, Ventnor, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award"

$500 Savings Bond -  Jonathan Manno, Ventnor, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award"

$500 -  Lilibeth Valdez, Ventnor, N.J.

Chelsea Heights Middle School, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award"

$500 Savings Bond - Michelle Hillario, Atlantic City, N.J.

Charter Tech School for the Performing Arts

$500 College Scholarship for Vocal

Quashona Smith, Atlantic City, N.J.

$500 College Scholarship for Music

Ky'shawn Wyman, Pleasantville, N.J.

Brigantine North Middle School, Brigantine, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award"

$500 Savings Bond - Theresa Burns, Brigantine, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award"

$500 Savings Bond - Abigail McKay, Brigantine, N.J.

October, 2010

Silent Auction proceeds to artists $866

JANUARY, 2011

WINTER PROSE & POETRY WORKSHOP, CAPE MAY, N.J.

Armin Tolentino, 1st Place $760, Newark, N.J.

Jeff Markovitz, 2nd Place $225, Philadelphia, Pa.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

$1,000 Scholarship - Boston Conservatory for Music

Carly Kastel, Margate, N.J.

APRIL, 2011

Richard Stockton College of N.J. "Jennifer Cakert Writing Award"

Poetry - 1st Place - $175 -  Stephanie Cawley, Cape May Court House, N.J.

Poetry - 2nd Place - $100 - Linh Phan, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

Non-Fiction - 1st Place - $175 - Jenna McCoy, Seaville, N.J.

Non-Fiction - 2nd Place -  $100 - Stephanie Cawley, Cape May Court House, N.J.

1st Year Non-Fiction - 1st Place - $175 - Jody Roberts, Marlton, N.J.

2nd Year Non-Fiction - 2nd Place - $100 - Michelle Gracias, Matawan, N.J.

MAY, 2011

College Scholarships

$500 Scholarship - Visual Arts - Richard Stockton College of N.J.

Emily Albertson, Egg Harbor, N.J.

$500 Scholarship - Music - Absegami High School

Nora Farghaly, Galloway, N.J.

$1,000 Scholarship -  Photography/Music - Shawnee High School

Patrick Nolan, Medford, N.J.

$500 Scholarship - Photography - Columbia High School

Jack Sorokin, South Orange, N.J.

$500 Scholarship - Music - Holy Spirit High School

Carolyn Thomas, Absecon, N.J.

$500 Scholarship - Film- Absegami High School, Galloway, N.J.

Drew Doelp, Galloway, N.J.

$1,000 Scholarship - Photography - School of Visual Arts, N.Y., N.Y.

Ryan Shorosky, Manchester, N.J.

$1,000 Scholarship - Music - Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.

Aliya Weinstein, Margate, N.J.

$1,000 Scholarship - Photography - Richard Stockton College of N.J.

Katelyn Boyd, Brigantine, N.J.

2nd District 30th Annual Congressional Art Show

1st Place - $350 - Tanner Egan, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

2nd Place - $250 - Jacob Tasker, Millville, N.J.

3rd Place - $150 -  Ryan Van Dongen, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

Hon. Mention - $75 -  Lamirah Archie, Atlantic City, N.J.

JUNE, 2011

Atlantic City High School, Atlantic City, N.J.

Photograpy Awards 5 @ $200 each

"Still Life" & Portrait" Teyonna Lee, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Manipulated" Joseph Haefle, Brigantine, N.J.

"Landscape" Amy Trinh, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Best of Show" Saqib Zaman, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Art Award" 2 @ $350 each

Chelsea Mealo, Ventnor, N.J.

Naveeda Naseem, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award" $350

Douglas Solowey, Ventnor, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creaive Writing Award" $350

Leah Sinderbrand,               N.J.

Brigantine North Middle School, Brigantine, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award" $500 Savings Bond

Elaina Schweiker, Brigantine, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award" $500 Savings Bond

Katie Lund, Brigantine, N.J.

Chelsea Heights Middle School, Atlantic City, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award" $500 Savings Bond

Umma Ahmed, Atlantic City, N.J.

Eugene Tighe Middle School, Margate, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award" $500 Savings Bond

Rebecca Lilienfeld, Margate, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award" $500 Savings Bond

Dylan Neustadter, Margate, N.J.

Ventnor Middle School, Ventnor, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Creativity Award" $500 Savings Bond

Abigal Anmuth, Ventnor, N.J.

"Jennifer Cakert Music Award" $500 Savings Bond

Gavin Stecher, Ventnor, N.J.

Atlantic City Ballet "A Midsummer Night Dream"

$500 Cash Award - Karen Fetterman, Reading, Pa.

College Scholarships

Charter Tech School for Performing Arts, Somers Point, N.J.

$500 Scholarship for Vocal

Sarah Ciccarelli, Egg Harbor City, N.J.

$500 Scholarship for Film Making

Luke Culleny, Brigantine, N.J.

$500 Scholarship for Instrumental

Zachary Lantin, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.

Elisa Broski Graphic Art Award $1,000

Whitney Harrall, Moore College of Art,  Millville, N.J.