"Cultivate grit."

That was some of the advice the area's competitive young scholars in the Lehigh Valley and the Hunterdon, N.J. area got from the Dean of Temple University's Beasley School of Law.

She wasn't talking about something for breakfast. JoAnne A. Epps, Ph.D., was talking about the characteristic of sticking to the pursuit of the goal even when it gets tough.

"Focus on your pursuit of success – however you define it – with passion and perseverance. In other words, cultivate grit."

She said grit is the best predictor of success in long-term pursuits; more than IQ, talent, socioeconomic position or family history.

Epps was in Bethlehem Township's Blue Event Center as the keynote speaker at Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo, PC law firm's 20th annual "Best of the Best" scholarship award ceremony recently.

Partners from the law firm passed out scholarships to outstanding or "Best of the Best" high school seniors at the breakfast event.

The scholarship program awards the "best" two female high school seniors and "best" two male seniors selected from a list the firm previously winnowed from applications.

All students selected from their high school received a $618 scholarship.

Four students selected as a Best of the Best awardee each received $1,168 plus $100 to the charity of their choice.

The Best of the Best four scholarship awardees were Parkland High School's Hannah Kim, Easton High School's Connor Mellett, Jared Bogdan, South Hunterdon Regional High School (New Jersey) and Warren Hill High School's (New Jersey) Adesola Sanusi.

The two Best of the Best students selected for their community service received $868 each. They also received $500 each from Team Capital who helped sponsor the event.

Additional sponsors included Digital Justice, R. P. Mills, Intercontinental Development, Dennis and Deane Feeley Altemose Family Foundation and Veritext.

C. F. Martin & Co., Petrucci Family Foundation, Lehigh Gas Corporation, Courtyard by Marriott Bethlehem and OAA Orthopedic Specialists also were sponsors.

Shopright of Greenwich, Printex, Kelly Jeep Car Dealer, Sacred Heart Hospital and Abraham Atiyeh contributed as sponsors.

Other sponsors included Diamond Nation, LCC, Health Quest of Central Jersey, LLC, the Palace at Somerset Park, Abraham Kassis, Piddock Company, Sally Slifer, Tuskes Homes, Dr. Marc and Aliette Abo, Dun Twiggar and Flemington Furs.

The Best of the Best program also donated $100 in the name of each student to the charities of their choice.

The "Best of the Best" competition drew applicants from 37 high schools in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey.