NJ students: Tanisha Garrett awarded scholarship
The NJ Sharing Network Foundation has awarded a scholarship to Tanisha Garrett of Plainfield, for her passion and dedication to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation. Garrett was presented with her scholarship award at the NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence during a ceremony with her family members in the Landscape of Life Meditation Garden.
Garrett is a 2022 graduate of the Union County TEAMS Charter School in Plainfield. She plans to attend Albright College in the fall. Her connection to organ and tissue donation and transplantation began in 2014 when her oldest sister, Talea, passed away following a seizure.
“I remember walking into the hospital room, and I was overcome with emotion as I saw Talea laying in the bed unable to breathe without assistance,” said Garrett. “At the time, I did not quite understand everything that was happening. With the caring support of NJ Sharing Network, our family made the decision to share the gift of life. Talea became a donor hero, saving the lives of three people who were waiting for a transplant.”
Since that difficult time, Garrett has been inspired to help raise awareness about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor. For the past four years, she has actively participated in the Sharing Network Foundation’s 5K Celebration of Life. She has also volunteered for NJ Sharing Network during several community events and activities, including the YMCA Health and Wellness Fair and the New Providence Street Fair.
“We are delighted to provide scholarship support to amazing students, like Tanisha, who have powerful connections to organ and tissue donation and transplantation,” said Amanda Tibok, interim executive director, Sharing Network Foundation. “We know Tanisha and all of our scholarship recipients will continue to be strong leaders in educating others about donation and transplantation throughout their college years and beyond.”
The Sharing Network Foundation’s scholarship program provides an opportunity to recognize and award graduating high school seniors who advocate for and/or whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The scholarship award earned by Garrett focused on recognizing an outstanding student from one of NJ’s diverse, urban communities where the need for life-saving organ transplants is greatest. The award was made possible by NJ Sharing Network’s Employee Giving Campaign, underscoring the dedication and commitment of team members to the organization’s mission. Applicants were measured on academic achievement, community and volunteer efforts, extracurricular activities and advocacy for organ and tissue donation. The application process included a thorough review by a committee of NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board members.
The scholarship award was presented as NJ Sharing Network prepares to kick off its 2022 #DonationNeedsDiversity initiative to empower multicultural communities to become more involved in saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation. Celebrated in August, National Minority Donor Awareness Month honors the generosity of multicultural donors and their families, while also underscoring the critical need for people from diverse communities to register as organ and tissue donors. The national initiative features an entire month of local, regional and national in-person events and activities. NJ Sharing Network stresses the importance of National Minority Donor Awareness Month and the #DonationNeedsDiversity campaign.
Some statistics include:
66% of those currently waiting for a life-saving transplant in New Jersey are people of color.
African Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos are three times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease.
“Each year in New Jersey, thousands of lives are saved and enhanced through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Clearly, this is something to celebrate. However, there is an urgent need to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation to help save more lives in our diverse communities of New Jersey,” said Joseph S. Roth, president and CEO, NJ Sharing Network. “Although organs are not matched according to race and ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are large numbers of donors from multicultural communities.”
E. Denise Peoples, hospital and community services specialist, NJ Sharing Network, is a double-lung transplant recipient and a Newark resident who works throughout the year to promote NJ Sharing Network’s life-saving mission in local schools, faith-based organizations and community associations. “We have all experienced how health issues such as hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure have impacted those around us — our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. That is why there is a greater need than ever for transplants among our racial and ethnic minorities. We need the active support of our community members to help educate others and dispel any myths and misinformation about organ and tissue donation,” said Peoples.
According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are more than 100,000 Americans — nearly 4,000 of whom live in NJ — waiting for a life-saving transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 75 people. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
Mount Saint Mary Academy
Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung congratulates the 61 students recognized by the College Board as AP Scholars. The 2022 AP Exam results allowed 25 students to be named as AP Scholars with distinction, 15 students were named as AP Scholars with honors and 21 students were named as AP Scholars.
The College Board recognizes AP Scholars with Distinction as those students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of three or higher on five or more exams. Students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams are recognized as AP Scholars with honors. AP Scholars are those students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP Exams.
Elizabeth Roper, director of college counseling and AP Coordinator, said Mount Saint Mary Academy provides the opportunity for students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade students to take an AP course, and traditionally, 90% of the students have the experience of an AP course by the time they graduate. Students are also offered online AP courses via One Schoolhouse.
“The continued record of success our students have on the exam is a reflection of their dedication as well as the quality teaching of our faculty,” she said.
“AP courses and rigor allow students to be well-prepared for college level academic work. While admission professionals may favorably review a student’s transcript with AP courses, most valuable is that students are entering college with a deeper understanding of the subject material and are more confident and can actively further engage in their learning,” said Roper.
“AP courses and exam scores may allow a student to gain college credit (scores of three or higher may be eligible for college credit, depending on the college/university),” she said. “AP courses and exam scores may also provide a student to have advanced standing at their college and offer more flexibility in her course scheduling to pursue a double major, a minor, study abroad opportunities and internships. In addition, academically motivated young women continuing their studies on to a masters or professional level may have an opportunity to begin their studies earlier than their peers. And finally, as Mount students may seek global educational opportunities, AP courses and exam scores can be instrumental in international university admission.”
Also: A senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, Ankita Mallik of Scotch Plains has spent six weeks — from June 21 to July 31 — as a 2022 Democracy Summer Fellow with her campaign assignment to Congressman Tom Malinowski in his Basking Ridge office. She will continue her work as an intern until the end of the summer. Mallik's participation in this program joins more than 60 campaigns of Democratic members of Congress for a summer of education, organizing, and progress.
“I have greatly valued my participation in the Democracy summer program,” she said. “I have had the chance to listen to many amazing speakers on various topics concerning our democracy. Paired with this program, I have been working as a fellow with Tom Malinowski's Congressional Campaign. Working as a fellow has helped me gain insight into political campaigns, further my interest in politics, and improve skills involving public-speaking and canvassing. I am grateful for this opportunity.”
Mallik, who is interested in pursuing a career in political science, is the vice-president of junior state of America chapter at Mount Saint Mary Academy. She also competes in events public forum debate and oral interpretation on the speech and debate team. Mallik serves as co-president of society of women engineers at the Mount where she is taking AP Government and Politics and AP United States History.
Also: Jordyn Collie, a senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, was a New Jersey Regional Leadership Council Officer at the Operation Smile International Student Leadership Conference from Monday, July 18, to Sunday, July 24. The event was held at the University of Miami.
“During a fun-filled week of listening to inspiring keynote speakers, I met new people among 200 students from 18 different counties, who shared the same passion for service and volunteerism as I do,” said Collie, a resident of Fords. “Not only did I learn what it means to be a true leader, but I will definitely put those skills to good use in the immediate future.”
"As a senior going into college next year, I plan to continue my love in the health and science/medical fields, while maintaining my affiliation with Operation Smile and bringing awareness to the great things that the organization does for so many people in need of their services worldwide,” she said.
At Mount Saint Mary Academy, Collie is the president of the Future Medical Leaders Club and vice president of the Society of Women Engineers Club.
Raritan Valley Community College
A team of six students from Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) in Branchburg’s Arts & Design department recently participated in the creation of three large murals for Signify at its North American headquarters in Bridgewater. Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is a global company pioneering in researching and discovering the potential of light to deliver meaning and positive change to people. The company reached out to RVCC’s Arts & Design department because it wanted to have student artists create the company’s murals.
The RVCC students were led in the project by Professor Ji Yong Kim, foundations and painting coordinator in the Arts & Design department. The three mural designs were developed by RVCC students over three months — and painted over a period of six days — in consultation with representatives from Signify.
Each mural wall focuses on a specific theme that highlights various aspects of the company. The first wall, featuring a plugged-in Earth and Sun, highlights the sustainability aspect of Signify’s activity. The second and third walls focus on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goals achieved by Signify. In these images, many hands from different backgrounds come together to support a glowing sapling on the second wall. The sapling evolves into a fully-grown tree on the third wall. The tree is part of an urban park, where people are interacting and engaging in various activities in harmony with the tree. Taken together, the three walls reflect the great societal benefits derived from the interconnectedness of sustainability and DEI that underlie Signify's global operations.
The six RVCC student artists who created the design and painted the murals are Christina (Zanara) Dean, Ryin Galaini, Delia Mchendry, Israel Garcia, Lindsey Scheier and Sarah Lopez.
To learn more about programs in RVCC’s Arts & Design department, visit www.raritanval.edu/academic-programs/academic-departments/arts-and-design.
Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University (TESU) and Mercer Street Friends will host a Back-to-School Readiness Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 315 W. State St. in Trenton.
During the event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., backpacks, school supplies and food bags will be distributed. Furthermore, with the help local organizations such as Henry J. Austin and Zufall Health, event staff will be providing vaccinations, physicals, and dental screenings and treatment. Walmart will provide eyeglass cleanings and adjustments while United Way of Mercer County will provide information on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) assistance, tax preparation and more. Additional partners include the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services; New Jersey Department of Children and Families; Trenton Health Team; and Success Unisex Salon.
This fair represents the university’s ongoing commitment to the Trenton community. In May, Thomas Edison State University’s Division of Community and Government Affairs distributed free food and COVID-19 vaccinations to Trenton community residents. More than 5,000 pounds of free food were provided to more than 300 families and individuals.
And, since February, TESU’s nursing students and alumni have represented the university in the city’s ongoing community vaccine efforts. After being mobilized by the Trenton Department of Health last February for its vaccine clinics, students and alumni have assisted in staffing vaccine clinics at community centers, firehouses, churches, schools, assisted living and homebound facilities as well as healthcare and social service institutions in the city.
No registration is necessary for the Back-to-School Readiness Fair; however, all supplies and services are on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, email community@tesu.edu.
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Union County College
Union County College in Cranford held its commencement ceremony for the class of 2022 on Wednesday, May 25. More than 500 hundred graduates celebrated the achievement at the college’s Cranford campus. Two ceremonies, which were led by Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin, were held to honor the graduates. This was the first in-person ceremony since January 2020 and the first time holding the ceremony on campus in more than a decade.
Union County College Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel welcomed the graduates and their families on behalf of the college’s boards. Each ceremony featured a speaker from the graduating class. Luana Rampelotti of Hillside, gave remarks at the first ceremony and plans on attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Jacob Ashton, of Winfield Park, spoke at the second and plans on attending Columbia University.
Several students were recognized for both their academic and extracurricular achievements. The Post-Day Memorial Award was created more than 50 years ago in memory of two Union County College students who were killed in a car accident while driving to their graduation. This notable award is given to students that exemplify the college’s ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service. At the first ceremony, the Post-Day Memorial Award was presented to Mark Farag of Elizabeth, and George Stephens of Kenilworth. At the second ceremony, the Post-Day Memorial Award was presented to Sophia Morales of Linden and Alexander Hall of Scotch Plains.
The Alumni Award was presented to the graduating student with the highest GPA. Hazel Nderitu, of Elizabeth, received the Alumni Award with a 4.0 GPA.
“We are pleased to have our graduates back for in-person Commencement for the first time in more than two years,” said McMenamin. “Many of these students started with us virtually, and it is great to see them here to receive their diplomas. They have worked hard during their time at Union, while facing additional stresses caused by COVID-19. We have seen them grow into leaders, achieve many successes, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them.”
Student and School news appears on Saturdays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com
Carolyn Sampson is Executive Office Assistant for the Courier News, The Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com, and handles the weekly Student News page.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ students: Tanisha Garrett awarded scholarship
