The Julie Berntsen Memorial Scholarship of Dreams Inc - In loving Memory of Michael Bononno 07/19/2026.

The Julie Berntsen Memorial Scholarship of Dreams Inc will be raising funds starting 07/19/2026 for the 2027 Graduating Senior Class. All funding will be in the loving memory of Michael T. Bononno.

Michael T. Bononno 07/29/1970 - 07/19/2026

Michael T. Bononno was a loving father, an adoring husband, and a man who never met a room he couldn't fill with warmth and laughter. He had a deep passion for fishing and being out on the open water. On any given weekend, you could find him out on his boat, later preparing fresh tuna for loved ones and friends, a cigar in hand and a Patrón with a Heineken back close by.

That same passion and drive led him to become a local business owner, founding his own electrical company, MTB Electric. His love of sports carried over into coaching the Long Valley Raiders, where he helped shape young men not just as football players, but as people — teaching them discipline, toughness, and how to show up for one another.

He will be missed, and his memory will stay with everyone he touched, forever.

About the Scholarship

My name is Tyler Berntsen. During my freshman year at West Morris Central High School, I lost my mother to breast cancer. She was a woman of extraordinary values — someone who lived by the belief that we should always give back and help those in need.

In the years that followed, my community wrapped around me and my family in ways I will never forget. Friends, neighbors, coaches, teachers, fellow students, and teammates all showed up for us during the most painful chapter of my life. Their kindness carried me forward, and my mother’s values kept me grounded. When I graduated college, I knew it was my turn.

How This Scholarship Began

As a senior at West Morris Central, I was humbled to receive two scholarships on Senior Scholarship Night — an event where the community comes together to invest in students taking their next big step. That night planted a seed. I reached out to Joey Wagner at West Morris Central with an idea: a scholarship in memory of my mother, dedicated to graduating seniors who had also suffered the devastating loss of a parent.

The Julie Berntsen Memorial Scholarship of Dreams was born.

Since 2015, at least three students have applied every single year. In 2026, there are four applicants — each with a different story, but the same heartache.

What Makes This Scholarship Special

Applicants are asked to write an essay reflecting on the lessons they learned from the parent they lost, and how that parent’s values fuel their drive to pursue their dreams. Year after year, these essays are a powerful reminder that love doesn’t leave us — it propels us forward.

This year’s four scholars are pursuing studies in Criminology, Nursing, Finance and Business, and every one of them is reaching for their future with the values and encouragement of a loved one who is no longer here to see it — but whose influence is present in every step they take.

Why We Need Your Help

In 2026, the Julie Berntsen Memorial Scholarship of Dreams Inc. is committed to providing scholarship funding to all four applicants, supporting their tuition, room and board, and books. But to do that, we need to grow.

I would not be where I am today without the support of this community. Now I’m asking that same community — friends, neighbors, coaches, teachers, and colleagues — to help me pay it forward for four remarkable young people who deserve every opportunity to succeed.

If you can give, please give. If you can’t give, please share.

Every dollar moves these students closer to the dreams their parents believed in.

With gratitude,

Tyler Berntsen, Founder

The Julie Berntsen Memorial Scholarship of Dreams Inc. — a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.