Three Centenary University Students Honored at New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Awards Ceremony
June 8, 2026
Centenary University | Hackettstown, New Jersey
Students were recognized among New Jersey’s top clinical interns from educator preparation programs across the state.
Three Centenary University students were recognized for excellence at the New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern & Cooperating Teacher Awards Ceremony, held at Montclair State University.
The awards ceremony, co-sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, annually recognizes outstanding clinical interns from educator preparation programs across New Jersey. This year, 57 clinical interns were honored, with three students nominated by each participating institution.
Centenary University’s honorees are:
- Francisco Mata of Whitehouse Station, N.J., Elementary K-6 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities.
- Madison Trevaskiss of Hampton, N.J., Family and Consumer Sciences, Teacher of Students with Disabilities, and Preschool through Grade 3.
- Jennifer Monteiro of Whitehouse Station, N.J., Elementary K-6 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities.
“The students selected exemplify the values and aspirations of our education program,” said Robert Battistini, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education and Humanities at Centenary University. “They will be teachers we wish our own children could have. With teachers like these, the future of New Jersey is bright indeed.”
The recognition reflects Centenary’s longstanding commitment to preparing educators who are ready to make an immediate impact in classrooms throughout New Jersey. Through extensive fieldwork, clinical practice, and close faculty mentorship, Centenary education students gain the experience and confidence needed to serve diverse learners and meet the evolving needs of today’s schools.
Centenary University offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in education at its campus in Hackettstown, as well as at more than 75 professional development sites throughout northern New Jersey. More than 100 principals, superintendents, directors, and supervisors, including many of the principals in Warren County, have earned or are currently pursuing a Centenary University degree, creating valuable networking opportunities for the university’s graduates.
ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
Centenary University was founded in 1867 by United Methodists and offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. 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.
