Bayonne Student Named 2026 Spectrum Scholar, Earns $20,000 Award

Victoria Okonkwo of Bayonne was named a 2026 Spectrum Scholar, earning a $20,000 scholarship along with mentorship and professional development opportunities.

Okonkwo, a student at Stevens Institute of Technology studying Business & Technology with a focus on Finance and Information Systems, is one of 15 college students nationwide selected for the sixth class of Spectrum Scholars. She is one of two recipients from New Jersey, alongside Rebecca Vitorino of Newark.

The two-year program pairs financial support with one-on-one mentorship from a Spectrum employee, networking opportunities, and the chance for a paid internship. Since 2020, the program has granted more than $2 million in scholarships to over 100 students with financial need.

Okonkwo said the recognition was about more than financial support. “Being selected as a Spectrum Scholar means having a company not only invest in my education, but also in the communities I hope to continue serving,” she said. “It is a reminder that the work we do for others has value and that service can create lasting change.”

She said the scholarship will allow her to focus on her studies and career goals. “With that support, I will be better equipped to use technology and business to solve real-world problems and create opportunities in underserved communities,” Okonkwo said.

Okonkwo said that in five years she hopes to be working in a role where she can use technology and business to solve meaningful problems, while growing a nonprofit or mission-driven company focused on underserved communities.