IN OUR SCHOOLS

Piscataway students learn about business from high school leaders

Staff Report
@MycentralJerey

Martin Luther King Intermediate School students learned about entrepreneurship from their High School Heroes recently. The 54 Piscataway High School student volunteers worked with PHS teacher Greg Michaels and Junior Achievement (JA) to prepare a special day to get students thinking about business opportunities at an early age.

As part of the Junior Achievement High School Heroes program, Piscataway High School Senior Shreyas Bhise works with fourth grade students at Martin Luther King Intermediate School in Piscataway. The students study entrepreneurship and how to combine positive traits of entrepreneurs with a geographical area that offers the right climate, industry and transportation options to build a successful business.

Trained by Rutgers Business School Professor of Finance Ron Richter and Stephanie Rae Chou of Junior Achievement, and followed by hours of preparation and practice, the High School Heroes delivered standards-based financial literacy lessons to almost 500 fourth and fifth grade students.

The King students prepared for the day in both Language Arts and Social Studies classes, identifying character traits of entrepreneurs, as well as climates and industries across the United States. They were ready for the challenges their Heroes brought to them.

Working in teams, King students were assigned a region of the country and entrepreneurs with specific traits. They were then tasked with using what they learned to create a business model that would best use both the region and the business skills of their entrepreneurs to achieve success.

“I didn’t expect the kids to get involved so easily. They took the initiatives and got into the activities right away,” said PHS Junior Sheel Vakil.

PHS Sophomore Chyna Jackson learned something about herself. “Today helped me gain confidence. Speaking in front of kids is a little easier than it is in front of adults. I even learned more about regions in the US from them.”

PHS Teacher Greg Michaels looks forward to replicating the program. “What I really love about High School Heroes is all the winners: the 495 MLK students, their 22 classroom teachers, and our 54 PHS ‘Heroes’ who invested over 500 hours to prepare and deliver top-notch, standards-based financial literacy lessons. I really look forward to taking this program to the other K-8 schools in Piscataway, with the continued support of Administration. I’d also like to thank Junior Achievement of NJ and their corporate partners for their generosity in making this possible at virtually no cost to the District.”

The program will be replicated at Arbor Intermediate School later in the school year.

Belmont University

The following Central Jersey residents at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, were named to the fall dean's list: Denali Dunuwila of Princeton, Michelle Egnasko of Edison, Michael Lagunovich of Dayton, Sierra Pasquarella of South Plainfield. Students must have a grade-point average of 3.5.

READ: The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond

READ: Education news from around the region

Campbellsville University

The following Central Jersey residents received their degrees from Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky, on Dec. 15:

Krishnakanth Pamarthi of Piscataway, master's degree in information technology management

Sarala Pathi of Bell Mead, master's degree in information technology management

Champlain College

The following Central Jersey residents at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, were named to the fall dean's list: Jacob Beckerman of Clark, Matthew Mcabee, Anthony Vultaggio of Cranford. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5.

Dunellen: Faber School

On Dec. 22 during a school-wide assembly Gary Lubisco Jr., Faber School principal, announced the teacher of the year, Laurie Mann.  

Laurie Mann named teacher of the year.

Mann has been an active member of Dunellen Public Schools since her first day in the building. She encourages all students to achieve their best whether they are in her class or not, according to a school news release. Even after they leave her room she still supports them by attending sporting events, graduations and other activities the students are involved in. 

“Mrs. Mann embodies what every teacher in Dunellen strives for," Lubisco said. "She is dedicated to the staff and students and cares for every member of the Dunellen Community. We are pleased that she is our Teacher of the Year.”

Mann was very surprised at this announcement and thanked all the teachers and students for their continued support and helping her succeed as a teacher.  

Graceland University

Ruth Balut of Old Bridge was named to the fall president's list at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Students must have a grade point average of 4.0.

Kean University

The Kean University Human Rights Institute celebrated the 10th anniversary of the end to capital punishment in New Jersey by honoring former Governor Jon Corzine and New Jersey Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, who led the fight to abolish the death penalty. Corzine and Lesniak came together at Ursino Steakhouse & Tavern on Kean’s campus on Sunday, Dec. 17, exactly 10 years after Corzine signed the bill that took the death penalty off the books.

Kean University President Dawood Farahi, Ph.D., stands with former Governor Jon Corzine and New Jersey Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, who received certificates of appreciation from the Kean Human Rights Institute for their roles in the abolition of the state's death penalty 10 years ago.

“Since Governor Corzine signed that momentous legislation, there have been six other states that have followed our lead,” Lesniak said. “The death penalty still exists in the rest of the country, but we are making great progress.”

Students from Kean’s Human Rights Institute presented Corzine and Lesniak with certificates of appreciation.

“It’s not always easy for politicians to do what they know is right and what they believe in. There are all kinds of pressures,” Corzine said. “The death penalty is really the starting point in the criminal justice system because the system has incredible biases built into it. We have a job to do, if we really want to change this.”

The event was a fundraiser for Equal Justice USA (EJUSA), a national organization that seeks criminal justice reform.

“We are working to transform responses to violence across the United States and the criminal justice system so that we can break cycles of trauma and elevate healing over retribution,” said Shari Silberstein, EJUSA’s executive director.

Families who lost loved ones to murder were on hand to tell their stories and urge an end to the death penalty across the country.

“The families of the victims have told us that the death penalty is not helpful to them,” said Lesniak. “It does not help their healing. To eliminate the possibility of executing an innocent person, there needs to be a long, extensive trial and appeals. All that does is drag families of murder victims through the process over and over again.”

Kean President Dawood Farahi welcomed Corzine, Lesniak and the families to Kean, noting that the university is a leader on human rights issues.

“Our Human Rights Institute at Kean University promotes awareness of human rights violations around the world and seeks solutions to end the atrocities,” Farahi said. “Last year at HRI, we explored the issue of mass incarceration, and we will continue to provide a forum for ideas to change the lives of people in New Jersey and around the world.”

Misericordia University

A Misericordia University student-faculty research team from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program recently made the scholarly presentation, “The Efficacy of Kinesiology Taping in the Treatment of Women with Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema: A Systematic Review,’’ at the American Physical Therapy Association NEXT Conference and Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts. 

The Misericordia University Doctor of Physical Therapy student-faculty research team. Left to right: Rachael Harding of Ringwood, Kathryn Heffner of Somerset, Aryn Zimmerman of Murrysville, Pennsylvania and Amy Trembach-Ball, P.T.., Ph.D., associate professor of physical therapy, made the scholarly presentation.

The student researchers, Rachael Harding of Ringwood, Kathryn Heffner of Somerset, and Aryn Zimmerman of Murrysville, were advised by Amy Tremback-Ball, associate professor of physical therapy. 

NEXT is the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) annual national conference. The leading-edge event for physical therapy professionals offers timely topics, the latest trends in technology, and exclusive access to the profession’s top leaders. Conference presenters are noted experts and the sessions directly benefit attendees by providing advanced learning and best practices, according to APTA.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Misericordia University is a 6½-year professional program in which students receive a bachelor's degree and a doctor of physical therapy degree. Undergraduate students complete the requirements for their bachelor's degree during their first 3½ years of study in programs like biology, business administration, health care management, psychology, sport management, and more. Students accepted into the Misericordia program as first-year students are guaranteed to progress into the graduate program as long as they are in good academic standing.

Misericordia also accepts transfer students into the doctoral program. Academically qualified students with a bachelor's degree can complete the doctorate degree in three years.

For more information about the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Misericordia University, call 570- 674-6400 or visit www.misericordia.edu/pt

Quinnipiac University

Alexandra Goldstein of East Brunswick was induced into Alpha Eta, national honor society for health science, at Quinnipiac University in North Haven, Connecticut.

Thomas Edison State University

Merodie A. Hancock was unanimously elected the fourth president of Thomas Edison State University in Trenton by the institution’s Board of Trustees at a special Dec. 20 board meeting. She will take office on March 5.

Merodie A. Hancock selected as President of Thomas Edison State University.

“Thomas Edison State University is such a respected pillar among adult-serving institutions in the United States and has been at the forefront of offering degree pathways for busy, working adults since its inception in 1972,” said Hancock, who currently serves as president of SUNY Empire State College in New York. “I hold dear this mission, and am honored to take on the presidency of such a pivotal university.” 

University Board Chair Brian T. Maloney said Hancock’s record of accomplishment and commitment to innovation and excellence made her an ideal choice to lead Thomas Edison State University.

“We are honored and excited to have Dr. Hancock as our new president. She has the experience, expertise and vision to lead Thomas Edison in today’s challenging marketplace,” said Maloney, who chaired the university’s presidential search committee. “Dr. Hancock has dedicated her distinguished career to expanding access to higher education for adults, including active military service members and veterans, and is a national leader in meeting the unique needs of nontraditional students.”

Hancock has served as president of SUNY Empire State College since 2013. She is responsible for the overall operation of the institution’s 35 locations throughout New York, the worldwide Center for Distance Learning and eight international sites and oversees the teaching and learning of the college’s 20,000 students, as well as the employment of 1,700 faculty and staff and active engagement with 70,000 alumni. 

Timothy Christian School

Timothy Christian School will host an open house on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the school at 2008 Ethel Road in Piscataway. Visit www.timothychristian.org or call 732-985-0300, ext. 110, to register.

Timothy Christian School is committed to providing the finest Christ-centered education from Pre-K through 12th grade. According to a news release, the school seeks to challenge students through rigorous academics in a diverse and loving community to develop a world-view based on God’s word. The school works to meet the learning needs of all of its students through a rich curriculum and diverse teaching techniques. 

In addition to its fine arts, STEM and robotics programs, athletics is a rich tradition at Timothy, offering nin sports and 23 teams to middle and high school students. Athletics is also offered to elementary students through the school's Junior Tigers Program. Timothy Christian is a member of the NJSIAA and the Greater Middlesex Conference.

Tri-County Scholarship Fund

More than 30 Tri-County Scholarship Fund (TCSF) recipients and students from DePaul High School of Wayne, Paramus Catholic High School of Paramus, and Mary Help of Christians Academy of North Haledon, recently received a VIP campus tour of Rutgers University hosted by Rutgers alum, Reema Puri, vice president, human resources, Nevakar of Bridgewater, and Prudence Pigott, president of Tri-County Scholarship Fund of Far Hills.

Also in attendance at the tour was TCSF Trustee Fran Howard of Bedminster. In addition, representatives of the Douglass Residential College for Women at Rutgers University also met with the TCSF students. Founded in 1981, TCSF provides scholarships for many of New Jersey’s most financially disadvantaged children, enabling them to attend accredited K-12 private and parochial schools.

Tri-County Scholarship Fund students tour Rutgers.

Female TCSF high school seniors may apply for a special scholarship at Douglass that was endowed by TCSF Co-founder and former CEO of Allied Signal, Ed Hennessy and his wife Ruth, who graduated from Douglass Residential College for Women at Rutgers University.

Union County College

Union County College students met with PSEG Foundation Program Officer Maria Spina and PSEG Lead Senior Consultant/Principal Wireless Solutions Architect Jeffrey Katz to thank them for their $5,000 donation towards their PSEG Foundation Scholarship and supporting the Union County College Foundation.

Left, Union County College Foundation Executive Director Doug Rouse, PSEG’s Maria Spina and Jeffrey Katz (center), Union’s President Margaret M. McMenamin (third from right) surrounded by Union students.

“PSEG is proud to support the development and enhancement of educational programs that inspire students to increase their understanding and interest in science, technology, engineering, and math,” said Maria Spina PSEG Foundation Program Officer. “We are happy to continue to support Union County College as they continue to provide resources for students who are increasingly broadening their knowledge.”

Three years ago, the PSEG Foundation established their scholarship to support Hispanic students majoring in STEM programs. A total of $15,000 has been donated for the scholarship. In addition, PSEG has been a generous sponsor of the Foundation’s annual Golf Tournament and of the “Close the Gap” Campaign, an initiative that was established to help shrink the ever growing achievement gap that exists for African American students. The financial assistance provided through the campaign has helped African American students complete their degree on time.

“We are thankful for major corporations who invest in our students and help provide them with the access to an excellent education. Thank you for supporting Union students. With your assistance, the College can continue to ‘transform our community…one student at a time,’” Union’s President Margaret M. McMenamin sadi.

For more information on how you can support the Union County College Foundation, call 908-709-7505 or email foundation@ucc.edu

York College of Pennsylvania

The following Central Jersey residents received their degrees from York College of Pennsylvania on Dec. 20:

Kelly Peck of Monroe Township, bachelor's degree in early elementary/special education, cum laude

Matthew Walsh of Monroe Township, bachelor's degree in business administration.

Student and School news appears Fridays. Email:hntmetro@mycentraljersey.com