Kimberly Ann Santaromita (Courtesy photo)
Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
A Hillsborough High School graduate and second-year student at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education was chosen by the Hillsborough chapter of an Italian-American service and heritage group to be their public representative for 2017-18.
On Aug. 10, the Hillsborough chapter of UNICO National announced that Kimberly Ann Santaromita was chosen as its Miss UNICO Hillsborough for 2017-18.
According to the group, Santaromita is pursuing her master’s degree in education for grades K-6 and is currently maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. As an undergrad at Rutgers, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in education and graduated with a 3.7 GPA.
During her time at Rutgers, Santaromita also competed on the Rutgers University Equestrian team for two years in both English and Western pleasure teams.
Prior to her collegiate efforts, Santaromita took two years of Italian language courses at Hillsborough High School. She ultimately traveled to Italy in order to “experience its rich culture and further connect with her native roots,” according to the organization. While there, she visited Florence, Venice, Rome, The Vatican and Capri.
Having been selected as the latest Miss UNICO Hillsborough, Santaromita said she was proud to be the organization’s representative.
“I am very proud of my Italian heritage and it is very important to me
because it connects me with my grandparents and my father,” Santaromita wrote to the UNICO chapter.
According to the Hillsborough native, her paternal grandparents hailed from Italy. Her grandmother was born in a town near Bari called Palo del Colle, where she lived until she and her family emigrated to the United States when she was 10 years old. Santaromita’s grandfather, she said, hailed from Naples and Sicily.
Each year, the Hillsborough chapter chooses its Miss Hillsborough UNICO based on criteria of academics, community service, arts and music, sports and an Italian heritage.
A potential candidate must also be comfortable speaking in public and must be 18 to 25 years old. She must also be familiar with the goal of UNICO and be able to attend the John Basilone Parade in Raritan on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Santaromita will make her first public appearance as Miss UNICO Hillsborough at the Hillsborough Rotary Fair Family Fun Day for families with children and young adults with disabilities on Sat., Aug. 19 from 1–4 p.m. in the Lowes Parking Lot.
