New "Non-Traditional" $1000 Scholarship for RHS '08 Grad Announced and then Doubled to $2000
January 2008.
BERNARDS TWP. – For some Ridge High alumni, high school friendships never die. In November, members of the Class of 1967 honored Ridge friends who have passed away by launching the Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship (Ridge AMS), and "erecting" a Virtual Memorial.
So generous were donors - Ridge alumni from various classes as well as RHS friends - that after just two months, organizers have doubled the first Ridge AMS scholarship from $1,000 to $2,000. Future awards will depend on contributions and earnings. The Ridge AMS scholarship is unusual in that it rewards a graduating RHS senior for character, determination and non-traditional achievements, rather than GPA and test scores. While grants may go to college-bound students, they could also help high caliber applicants pursue the arts or non-academic endeavors after graduation. Funded by donations and administered in partnership with the Bernards Township Education Foundation, contributors can post messages of remembrance on the Ridge AMS "Virtual Memorial" at http://RidgeAMS.googlepages.com.
The scholarship fund began as a memorial to John Peterson, RHS '67. Less than two years after graduating, Peterson was killed in Vietnam. "He died before his potential could be realized," notes Ed Lincoln, an Ridge AMS founder and Class of 1967 valedictorian. "John was a great guy who should have had a wonderful future. We owe him." Peterson was admired for his warmth, optimism and perseverance, and for overcoming hardships to tackle life with joy. Classmates decided to make his virtues - determination and nontraditional achievements - the criteria for scholarship recipients. "What John had was character," says Lincoln. "That's what this scholarship will reward."
"We also wanted to recognize other Ridge friends who are gone," says Carol Mason Schoenig, another Ridge AMS founder and 1967 class president. "We were surprised to find there was no award like this. Reaching out to the Ridge community, we've been deeply touched by the outpouring of support and affection for alumni who have passed away. We hope this year, and in years to come, we can make a significant difference in the future of a Ridge graduate who demonstrates the kind of character John had."
Parents, alumni and friends of Ridge High can visit http://RidgeAMS.googlepages.com. The website's Virtual Memorial is filled with thoughts and remembrances of donors about classmates and teachers who have passed away. "In the first two months, three dozen messages were posted," observes Chris Sullivan, Ridge AMS founder and 1967 Student Council President. "Entries range from humorous to touching and poignant. These are people we grew up with," adds Sullivan, who developed the web site. "We all have a story to tell about them."
Ridge seniors interested in this scholarship can learn more at the website, or from their guidance counselors. The Ridge Guidance staff will recommend scholarship winners, who will be confirmed by a Ridge AMS committee.
Organizers donate all expenses associated with Ridge AMS, including legal counsel, website development, logo design, and brochure production and mailing. One-hundred percent of donations go to scholarships.
Ridge AMS's partner, the Bernards Township Education Foundation, is a not-for-profit organization focused on program development and process management for public education, community outreach, and leadership formation.
Copyright © 2008 The Ridge Bridge.
