By Donald Gilpin
The 101:Fund, which has been granting need-based support to Princeton High School graduates since 1970, will be providing $351,000 in scholarships in the coming academic year to 79 students. This is a record response in the face of the rising challenges of paying for a college education and a sharp increase in applications for support.
“This year is an enormous year for us, both with the number of kids we’re supporting and the amount of money,” said 101:Fund President Tony Klockenbrink. “With the current political environment and the attack on universities, education is a great thing to support, and this community steps up consistently for education.”
He went on to note a significant uptick in the number of students in need and in the number and amount of contributions from the community, citing in particular the support of Princeton University, which has provided a grant of $100,000 in each of the past two years.
Klockenbrink also emphasized the impact of the Mackey Memorial Scholarship, which was added this year, as well as the Scott McVay Petrone Memorial Scholarship, and the Mary Ryan Timmons Memorial Scholarship.
“I’m very proud of what the organization has done, with bigger awards and a lot more students, and what the community has done,” he added. The 101:Fund scholarships are based entirely on financial need, and the organization’s goal is to support all qualified applicants.
At last month’s awards ceremony, The 101:Fund announced that they would be funding 38 new students and 41 returning students in the 2025-26 school year, with most award amounts increased from $3,000 to $4,000 and Mercer County Community College (MCCC) awards increased to $7,000 per year.
The 101:Fund has also expanded its mentoring program, with 23 scholarship winners and 17 mentors, who are volunteers from the Princeton community.
Mentors fill a variety of different roles, said Klockenbrink, who frequently exchanges text messages with his mentee. “We act almost in the role of a parent,” he said, “being an advocate for them more than anything, helping to remove obstacles for them, especially for English as a Second Language students whose parents don’t have that college experience. Some kids need very little help. Others need a lot more help.”
Transportation, he added, is a challenge for many students. Just getting to MCCC from Princeton can be difficult without a car.
At last month’s awards ceremony Benjamin Brobbey, 2019 PHS graduate who received 101:Fund support as he earned his degree in electrical engineering at Drexel University before graduating in 2024, spoke about the impact of the award on his journey in education.
“The award you are receiving tonight is not just of monetary value,” he said. “Rather it is a resource that allows you a network of people you can rely on for advice and support. The 101:Fund scholarship contributed to allow me the peace of mind and the ability to pursue my passions to be who I am today.”
Other recent 101 award recipients echoed Brobbey’s sentiments. “Attending university would not have been possible without the help of this organization,” said one student approaching their senior year in college.
“I want to thank the 101:Fund for its patience and continued support,” said another student currently in college. “Your belief in my potential means a lot to me. I am committed to maintaining a strong academic performance moving forward.”
The awards event, held in the PHS Black Box Theatre, was attended by members of the all-volunteer 101 Board, PHS staff, local officials, and other supporters.
Klockenbrink reflected on the accomplishments of the Fund and the value of the scholarships. “I think it is about leveling the playing field for students to help remove financial burdens so that they can succeed in college,” he said.
He continued, “I know that my two children were very fortunate to have the support of two parents going from PHS on to college, and if I can help other kids in that fashion I’m very motivated, very excited to do that. There’s a ton of financial need and this is critical, whether they’re going to a two-year or four-year school.”
He added that he expects to see the challenges and the accomplishments of 101 grow in the coming years. “I think the need is going to increase for sure,” he said. “We will push harder, and I’m confident that the community will continue to step up in bigger and bigger ways.”