2026 AAA South Jersey High School Scholarship Contest Winner Announced
Erin was selected as the recipient of this year’s scholarship out of more than 300 entrants.
Jun 3, 2026 | Community
VOORHEES, N.J. (June 2, 2026) – AAA South Jersey is happy to announce the winner of our 2026 High School Scholarship Contest, Erin Hans!
Erin, a senior at Washington Township High School, was awarded the $2,500 scholarship for her essay on travel, which you can read below. Erin was selected as the recipient of this year’s scholarship out of more than 300 entrants.
“I feel like I have a lot of thoughts on my mind, so I always felt the need to write them down. My mom said I was a good writer from super early on so I kind of just stuck with it. But I find joy in it. I feel like it's super peaceful and therapeutic to get everything down,” Erin said.
Erin plans on attending Rowan University in the fall to study nursing. Eventually, she aspires to be a travel nurse and work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Scholarship contest entrants were asked to write a 500-word essay on the follow topic:
For generations, AAA has been part of countless journeys. Travel isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s about the stories we collect along the way. Think back to a trip that changed you—maybe a family vacation that brought you closer together, or a solo adventure that taught you something unexpected. Or imagine a future journey you dream of taking, one that could transform your perspective. In your essay, tell the story of that experience: what moments stand out, what lessons you discovered, and how it shaped -- or could shape -- the way you see the world.
So where would Erin like to travel in the future?
“There's so many. I don’t even know. Maybe Switzerland? Croatia,” she said.
The annual AAA South Jersey Scholarship Contest is open to high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college or technical school. To be eligible, the student must reside and attend school in Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland, or Salem Counties.
Every student who enters a qualified submission receives a free, one-year AAA Basic Student Membership.
Read Erin’s full essay below. If you are wondering, the cat in Erin’s essay is named Jalen. Yes, after Jalen Hurts.
