Vivyana Onna Memorial Scholarship Honors Late ACIT Graduate, Awards First Cosmetology Scholarships

A family’s grief became a gift for two young cosmetologists recently, as the Vivyana Onna Memorial Scholarship awarded $500 each to two graduating students from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology’s cosmetology program for the first time in the program’s history.

The scholarship was established by Vivyana’s parents, Alexandra and Gregory Hickman, to honor their daughter, who was killed in a pedestrian accident on Route 73 in Berlin, Camden County, on December 1, 2025. Born on December 2 2001, Vivyana was 23 years of age, she was a standout student who graduated as the top cosmetologist in ACIT’s class of 2020, earning a full-time job offer from Maria‘s Salon in Vineland, NJ, before she walked across the stage.

“She was passionate about helping others and took great pride in transforming her clients’ visions into reality,” her mother said during the ceremony. “Her long-term goal was to return to ACIT as a cosmetology instructor.”

Though born prematurely, Vivyana demonstrated determination and resilience early in life, earning academic honors and challenging herself through advanced coursework before finding her true calling in ACIT’s cosmetology program. She enjoyed her last years at the Last Triangle salon in Williamstown, NJ. "Vivy is extremely missed, and I am happy to be representing the Last Triangle in honor of her," says Clarissa Kahana, hairstylist and daughter of the owner of the Last Triangle.

The scholarship was designed with a specific purpose. A path that often goes unfunded, the scholarship is to support students who enter the cosmetology workforce directly rather than pursuing higher education.

“Scholarships are usually given to students who pursue higher education, and sometimes not all students do that,” Vivyana’s mother explained. “With cosmetology, it’s very expensive to begin — to have the professional kit you need when working in a salon.”

This year’s 2026 recipients are Samantha Ocampo Arizmendi and Gianna Gonzalez, both of whom plan to build careers in the beauty industry.

Arizmendi, who specializes in nails and makeup, said she plans to put her award toward eventually opening her own salon. Gonzalez hopes to become a traveling makeup artist and hairstylist, and also plans to earn her barbering license.

For Arizmendi, the moment carried unexpected personal weight. She recalled once meeting Vivyana during a demonstration at the school and admired her determination to come back and teach.

“She was very passionate about what she did,” she said. “She kind of motivated me. I want to come back and show upcoming cosmetologists what it takes to just believe in yourself.”

The Hickman family has raised $1,775 toward their goal of $10,000 in scholarship funding for ACIT’s cosmetology program. Any money not awarded this year will roll over to next year’s recipients. The family also is working toward establishing a formal nonprofit to expand the fund in Vivyana’s name. Donations can currently be made through their GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/4957ad419.

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