The Hudson Arts and Science Charter School administrative team has convened to determine a way to show their support to honor the memory of Jersey City police detective and NJ charter school graduate, Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago. The school will be holding a ceremony on Thursday, October 6th at 9:30 am to dedicate the gymnasium/auditorium of Hudson Arts and Science Charter School, 131 Midland Avenue, Kearny, NJ to the memory of Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago. This date falls during the NJ Department of Education state-mandated WEEK OF RESPECT. The ceremony is open to the school community; breakfast will be served prior to the ceremony for the family of Detective Santiago and representatives of the Jersey City and Kearny Police Departments, local government officials, community leaders and clergy, and representatives of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association, and is sponsored by the iSupport Education Foundation.
The glimpses of Detective Santiago’s life shared with us evidence a young man with incredible academic success and a desire to serve others by heroically embracing a career in law enforcement. Family and friends are quoted as saying that he had dreamed of being a police officer since he was a boy, seeking to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. When Santiago accomplished his dream in December of 2013 and joined the Jersey City police force as a rookie officer, he asked to serve in the city’s toughest district. Detective Santiago graduated from CREATE Charter High School in Jersey City; he was an avid sports fan and a gifted athlete, earning the recognition of All-County Goalie in soccer for two years. He was also a member of the school dance team, and was one of three students from Hudson County to earn the 2008 RISING SCHOLARS award. The entire charter school community mourns the loss of such a gifted scholar and a young man who made our educational community so very proud; this dedication is intended to honor a fallen officer, a brilliant scholar, and an inspiration to the next generation of students to hail from Hudson County.