Mercer Times

First Lady Tammy Murphy has announced the special guests who will join Governor Phil Murphy at the 2024 State of the State Address. The Governor will deliver his speech outlining the vision for New Jersey's future, focusing on affordability, progress, and inclusivity.

Governor Murphy expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming address, stating, “The special guests joining us at this year’s State of the State Address reflect the ongoing – and highest – priorities of our administration: lowering costs, raising wages, and creating boundless opportunities for every family, especially the next generation of New Jerseyans."

First Lady Tammy Murphy also shared her excitement, saying, “Phil and I are privileged to be joined by this group of exceptional individuals from across our state. Each of these New Jerseyans exemplifies the values at the heart of the administration’s work to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey."

The special guests include a diverse group of individuals such as Sabrina Charles, a senior honors student at Rutgers University School of Nursing, Alex Chen, a senior at Essex County Donald M. Payne Senior Tech High School, and Jose Flores, the executive chef/general manager of El Gordo Restaurant.

Other notable guests include Eddie Freeman, a United States Army reserve veteran, Andrew Gregory of The Gregory Brothers musical quartet, and Emily Gutierrez, a second-year English teacher at the J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy.

Yenjay Hu, a senior at Westfield High School and co-founder of Vote16NJ, will also be in attendance, alongside Anjali Krishnamurti, a Harvard College student and executive director of Vote16NJ, who has been leading the fight to lower the voting age to sixteen in New Jersey.

Dr. Rupal Mansukhani, a Clinical Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, Ulysses McMillan, a former inmate turned entrepreneur, and Cristina Tone, the Deputy Director of the Neighborhood Help Center for the New Jersey Community Development Corporation, will also be among the special guests.

Brian Venturo, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of CoreWeave, and Jason Williams, a Special Education and History major at Kean University, will round out the group of distinguished individuals who will be present at the State of the State Address.

The presence of these special guests aims to highlight the diverse talents, achievements, and contributions of individuals across various sectors in New Jersey, showcasing the state's commitment to progress, inclusivity, and a brighter future for all residents.