Full Release by Robert Florida

NEWARK, NJ—NJIT women's soccer player Jenny Cislo and women's fencer Jennifer Ligo are one of five students awarded internships and scholarships from Merck, offering the students an invaluable experience at one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

The internships are competitive and coveted, and it's uncommon for Merck to select five students from one University. Merck usually selects only a student or two from top U.S. Universities. But the NJIT students, all of whom major in chemical engineering, impressed Merck recruiter Joseph Hinksmon, who came to NJIT to interview the five.

Jenny Cislo, a chemical engineering major enrolled in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College, selected NJIT for the chemical engineering program and the opportunity to play Division I soccer. 

The junior defender earned 2013 Madness Independent All-Conference first-team honors, starting every match this season (19) while scoring her first collegiate goal on October 4 at Delaware State.

Jennifer Ligo, a chemical engineering major enrolled in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College, pursued chemical engineering for the opportunity of going into pharmaceutical or environmental engineering which at the time were my top choices. However, since then Ligo has taken a strong interest in environmental studies and green technology.

Ligo, a junior on the NJIT women's fencing team whose weapon is saber, will represent NJIT in the 2014 Mid-Atlantic/South Regional Fencing Championships on Saturday, March 8.