A Hackettstown resident, Clauson overcame developmental delays to excel in his studies—and win a full, four-year scholarship to Centenary University.

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, Oct. 7, 2025—Alexander Clauson has triumphed over many hardships in his life. Born prematurely with developmental delays, he struggled to keep up with his peers and was bullied in middle school. Yet, the Hackettstown resident never gave up. Doubling down on his schoolwork, Clauson raised his academic proficiency to excel in his classes, achieving honor roll and acceptance into the National Honor Society at Hackettstown High School.

            This fall, he enrolled at Centenary University and was named the 2025 Hackettstown Scholar. The designation awards a full, four-year tuition scholarship to a Hackettstown High School graduate. Called the Hackettstown Partnership Scholarship, the award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement, as well as service to the community. Clauson’s selection for the competitive scholarship was announced at a Hackettstown High School senior awards event shortly before graduation last June. “That was a life-changing moment for me,” recalled Clauson. “I was over the moon excited, and my parents and two sisters were so proud of me. The scholarship means that I can use the money I would have spent on tuition to help other people.”

            A commitment to serving others runs through every aspect of Clauson’s life. In high school, he took part in a host of community service projects—including several on the Centenary University campus—as a member of the Key Club. He was also active in supporting the football team, assisting in the weight room and providing moral support on the sidelines of games and practices. 

In addition, Clauson was a member of Hackettstown High School Unified Sports, a coed program for special education students to participate in athletics with their classmates. He played soccer and basketball, and also qualified for the Special Olympics in track and field. “That was such a special experience,” Clauson said. “The sports program is more about having fun and less about competition. I was proud to be part of it.”

At Centenary, Clauson is taking the first steps toward his career goal of working as a special education teacher: “So many of my own teachers and classroom aides were very supportive. They had compassion, patience, honesty, and respect. They taught me to put in a really good work ethic. Now, I want to be the kind of person who helps my students, too.”

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY                                             

Centenary University offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. Under the leadership of President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D., the University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies and first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.