01-05-2025
Here's how Passaic will honor memory of city woman who died in Jet Set nightclub collapse
The city of Passaic will create a scholarship in memory of Jennifer C. Contreras, the 23-year-old local woman who died in the April 8 Jet Set nightclub disaster in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The scholarship will help local youth with costs associated with obtaining cosmetology certification, officials said.
"It's been added to the city's current training program," Mayor Hector Lora said. "We have a partnership with Passaic County Community College. The scholarship will cover the full cost of the program."
Contreras was among 231 people confirmed killed when the roof at the iconic nightclub collapsed. Seventeen of the deceased were Americans, published reports said. At least four were from New Jersey, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way said in April.
Before she left for Santo Domingo, Contreras was planning to open her own beauty shop in the city. She was a graduate of Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne.
Her brother Anthony said she had been in Santo Domingo to complete a certification class on eyebrow micropigmentation.
Lora said he announced the scholarship last month at a vigil held outside Contreras' home on Passaic's Hammond Avenue.
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The scholarship will help both residents and local businesses, the mayor added. The latter, he said, would get trained workers for their shops.
The initial $10,000 in funding for the scholarship will come from government Urban Enterprise Zone funds, but the mayor also hopes to gain support from local businesses and residents.
For instance, one hope is that local hair salons or barbershops will sponsor individuals and assure employment after program completion.
It can cost between $8,000 and $18,000 to obtain certification from private beauty schools and community colleges.
The city will help but will require the money to be paid back if recipients don't finish the training, Lora said. How much each scholarship provides will depend on circumstances.
Cosmetology is among the various job training opportunities the city offers with the assistance of schools like Passaic County Community College. The city also assists with training for phlebotomy, pharmacy assistant, security and commercial drivers' licenses.
The city's Urban Enterprise Zone website will be posting the scholarship application shortly, Lora said.
This article originally appeared on Passaic scholarship to honor resident who died at Jet Set nightclub
