The female body recovered from the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge on Wednesday was College of New Jersey senior and tennis captain Paige Aiello, Aiello's sister Erin confirmed today.

Aiello, 22, had been missing since April 9 when she left her family's Hillsborough home. Her purse was found that night on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge and a month-long search ensued.

Her body was discovered Wednesday afternoon near the 158th Street shoreline of Manhattan, about one mile south of the bridge. The body was confirmed to be Aiello's this morning.

Erin Aiello said Hillsborough police notified the family at their home today, leaving around 1 p.m.

Aiello would have graduated from TCNJ in Ewing next week.

"She was a really sharp, bright young lady," Vice President for College Advancement John Donohue said today.

College officials are planning to honor Aiello during graduation ceremonies. Aiello completed all her required coursework and will be considered as a TCNJ graduate, Donohue said.

"She earned her degree," he said.

A statement was being sent out to the campus community informing them of the news.

"It's been a rough couple of weeks, needless to say, here," Donohue said.

Aiello had been under severe stress leading up to her disappearance, her family has said. Concerns about her well-being led her to resume living at home in Somerset County rather than at an on-campus apartment as she entered the final weeks of the semester.

Erin Aiello had said her sister was a "driven kid" who had been accepted into Rutgers law school and was planning on attending this fall.

Searches by both the Aiello family and Hillsborough police at the home did not turn up any note or communication from Paige Aiello, Erin Aiello said. Authorities have said they found no immediate signs of foul play in her disappearance.