Rewarding those on a different path EMACC scholarships awarded to eight nontraditional students By gloria stravelli Staff Writer Photos by Chris Kelly For the fourth year in a row the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation awarded $1,000 scholarships to eight nontraditional students. Pictured above are two recipients, Randolph Murray Jr. (l) of Long Branch and Garcia Tilson (r) of Eatontown. Pictured at right are three other recipients, Earth Nieves of Parlin, Kristin Chandler of Rumson, and Maryann Church of Lincroft. Randolph Murray Jr. gave up the traveling life of a singer two years ago to take another path. Murray of Long Branch took the advice of his pastor and became a teaching assistant at The Arc of Monmouth for an individual with developmental disabilities, and found his life’ s work. Currently a junior majoring in special education at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, Murray’s choice was affirmed this week by the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation, which awarded him a $1,000 scholarship Monday. "We feel so proud to be able to distribute this money to people who are so deserving," said Linda Milstein, foundation chairwoman, who presented the awards at the Red Bank Woman’s Club. Earth Nieves "These are people who are going to school, working, who have many, many commitments, and still give back to the community as well," she said. For the fourth year, the chamber’s Educational Foundation awarded $1,000 scholarships to eight students who might not otherwise qualify for aid. Since it was established in 1998. the foundation has awarded $24,000 to students in vocational training programs in the trades, transitioning students who have completed two years at a junior or community college and are transferring to a four year institution, and to returning students who are over age 25 and are returning to school after an interrupted academic career. In addition to Murray, recipients are Garcia Tilson of Eatontown, Kristin Chandler of Rumson, Earth Nieves of Parlin, Shana Rose Caruso of Tinton Falls, Maryann Church of Lincroft, and Debra Ann Lyons and Christine Ruane of Middletown. Kristin Chandler Murray has wide experience in working with people with disabilities. At ARC of Monmouth’s Dorothy Hersh High School, he has been a camp counselor for autistic people, a teaching assistant and reading tutor for an ARC client whose progress under Murray’s guidance has been remarkable. "It’s exciting to be a part of his life," said Murray of Jonathan, 16, who he tutors one-on-one. "He has the tenacity to want to learn and be a part of society. He’s taught me so much and shown me potential isn’t about what you read on a paper. Every person has a different potential." After a year of Murray’s tutelage, Jonathan was named the most improved student at Hersh last year. "We have 20 students and everyone in the class has some kind of disability," Murray noted. "It’s really neat to see them go through the same things other children do. They’re just normal kids with a few disabilities. I’ve been taught more than anyone else." Maryann Church Sponsored by Kay Grady of The Arc, he plans to go on to graduate school. "I have seen young people turn their lives around; yes, I have," said Tilson, who is a counselor assistant in the adolescent unit of New Hope Foundation. "They come in through the juvenile justice system and get treatment and rehabilitation, and they leave really looking forward to a future they never had before," Tilson said. Tilson is working toward a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Monmouth University in preparation for a career as a probation officer. The third-year recipient is sponsored by Roger Somers of Arrow Limousine. Caruso will use the funds to continue nurse’s training at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. She began her studies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District and plans to go on to Rutgers University for her BSN. She has been active in high school and community activities and as a nursing home volunteer. Her sponsor is Dr. Brian McAndrew of the vocational school district. "There aren’t many scholarships out there for students in the middle of a school career," noted Chandler who studied journalism at Fordham University in New York, and Brookdale and will continue those studies at the University of South Carolina. Chandler has been a reporter for both her high school and college newspapers and was a journalism intern at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Milstein, of Brookdale, was her sponsor. Awardee Church also is pursuing a nursing career at Brookdale and will transfer to Rutgers in the fall. A dean’s list student and member of Phi Theta Kappa, she holds down a job as receptionist/cashier at Butch’s Car Wash in Red Bank whose owner, Bill Siegert, is her sponsor. This year’s award is the third for Lyons who is working toward a career in law. She manages to fill three full-time life roles and still pursue her career as a student at Thomas Edison State University. Lyons is a wife, mother and full-time paralegal at the law firm of Goldring & Edwards in Tinton Falls. She is sponsored by Horton Hickerson, a certified public accountant. Also a repeat winner, Nieves said her 2001 award paid a good portion of the cost of books and tuition at Rutgers University. Nieves is a psychology major and has a full-time job as front-desk clerk at the Tinton Falls Courtyard while still finding time for volunteer work. This fall she will work with autistic children. Her sponsor is Kiernan Newman of the Marriott chain. A licensed and certified social worker and home administrator, Ruane found that much of her already completed undergraduate work was part of Brookdale’s nursing program. After six years as a social worker, the last four at Meridian Health System, she is set to realize her goal of becoming a nurse. She was nominated for her scholarship by Meridian’s public affairs officer, Christine Burke, who is also chairwoman-elect of EMACC. Murray seemed to speak for all the scholarship winners when he said his aim is to make a difference in the lives of those people he works with. "I’m going to take the time I have on earth and do whatever it takes," he said, "so you will know that I was there."