BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
Staff Writer

Kristen Chandler

They juggle the demands of jobs, family and school, but the recipients of the seventh annual scholarships awarded by the Educational Foundation of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce have one thing in common.

"The common factor, absolutely, is perseverance, I would say, and initiative," said Lynda Rose, EMACC president. "The strong survive, and they’re all survivors."

Raising families, overcoming disabling injuries, putting studies on hold to help ailing family members are all part of the life experience of the nine extraordinary students chosen to receive scholarships in 2004.

This year’s scholarship recipients, who each received $1,000 awards, are: Kristen Chandler and Kaitlin Wolkom, both of Rumson; Kevin Hall, Red Bank; Emily Hayes, Little Silver; Deborah Horan, Tinton Falls, Dana Tango, Eatontown; Jessica Hubbard, Neptune; Krista Keleigh, Point Pleasant; and Jennifer Christensen, Brick.

Jessica Hubbard

The awards ceremony took place June 17 at the Navesink River-front home of attorney Dr. Florence Forgotson, a 70-year member of the chamber.

According to Rose, this year there were close to 20 applicants who met the scholarship criteria, posing a dilemma for the selection committee.

"Every one of them qualified this year," she said. "That’s not always the case, but this made it particularly difficult to select only nine."

Several of the recipients are repeat winners, and that is by design, noted Rose.

Emily Hayes

"We like to let them know we’re still behind them, that they have consistent support. A lot of them have mentioned to us that what means so much to them is the show of faith," she added. "Receiving $1,000 is handy, but it’s the show of faith that’s really sustaining."

The scholarships awarded by the EMACC Educational Foundation are earmarked for nontraditional students taking alternate routes who might otherwise not qualify for financial aid to continue or complete their studies.

Each of the recipients has a special circumstance that is not addressed by traditional scholarships like returning to college after raising a family or pursuing vocational studies.

The EMACC scholarships define eligible students as those who are attending vocational school, have completed two years of study at a junior or community college and are transitioning to a four-year institution, and students over 25 years old who are returning to school after an interrupted academic career.

Kevin Hall

Since its establishment in 1998 the chamber’s educational foundation has made scholarship awards totaling $42,000.

A three-time recipient, Chand-ler will complete her senior year at the University of South Carolina, where she is a journalism major and has consistently made the dean’s list.

"It’s such an honor to have received the scholarship three times," said Chandler, whose sights are set on graduating in December and securing an internship with a newspaper or magazine.

"The scholarship has made a major difference in the cost of my education, and I really am gratified for the continued support of the chamber," she said.

Kaitlin Wolkom

"This is such an excellent scholarship because it doesn’t have the traditional parameters. I’ve always worked and I’ve never had much time for volunteering, so a lot of scholarship options were closed to me. This scholarship for nontraditional students opens it up to a lot more applicants."

She was nominated again this year by Linda Milstein of Brookdale, who is a member of the educational foundation board.

Second-time recipient Wolkum was a vocational student who is continuing nursing studies at Brookdale. When she learned of the nursing program offered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District, she opted in.

Like many of the scholarship recipients, she gravitated to a helping profession.

Deborah Horan

"I can’t explain it; I was drawn to this work," she said. Her choice was affirmed last year, she said, when she worked at a nursing home and at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank as part of her studies.

"The scholarship will help even with little things like books," she said, noting that the cost of a single text can be as high as $150. Wolkum was sponsored by Catherine Dillon of the vocational school district.

Hall, a second-year scholarship recipient, works as an addiction counselor in Asbury Park and is aiming to earn a teaching degree by 2005 via online studies with Thomas Edison State College. He plans to change direction and work with young children in an urban school, ideally in Asbury Park or Neptune, and said the scholarship affirms the choice he is making.

"Financially the scholarship is a tremendous help," Hall said, "but equally as important is having your community support you in that way. I know I’m doing the right thing, but sometimes I ask myself, ‘What am I doing?,’ and it’s like having my community say, ‘You’re doing the right thing.’ "

Dana Tango

His scholarship sponsor is Carol Cook of Weichert Realtors.

Hayes’ high school education was interrupted by brain injuries sustained in a serious accident when she was 16 years old. Now she is planning to apply her own experience to helping others overcome disabilities.

"I had physical and occupational therapy, so I know the difference you can make a difference in people’s lives. I want to help people regain independence, I like that aspect of it," said Hayes, who will be a junior this fall at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where she is majoring in occupational therapy. Her scholarship sponsor is Janice Volk of Sports Care & Physical Rehabilitation.

Horan took time off from studies to raise four children and is a returning student majoring in social work at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.

Krista Keleigh

"I love helping people; I think it’s a calling," said Horan, who is a deacon at her church and has worked as a substitute teacher for special-needs students. With two children in college, she said the scholarship "has helped me tremendously with pursuing my career." Horan’s sponsor was Tinton Falls Mayor Ann McNamara. Tango is majoring in biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in preparation for a career in forensic pathology.

Tango’s determination is evident in the fact that she completed both 11th and 12th grades in a nine-month period at MAECOM. "It was a lot of hard work," acknowledged Tango, whose mother is disabled.

"The scholarship will be a big help with expenses like books, transportation and classes," she said.

At Brookdale, Tango has helped to revitalize the Biology Club and is an enhanced member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating from MAECOM, she earned an associate degree at Brookdale before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to enter the field of forensic pathology and contribute to finding a cure for diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer.

Tango was sponsored by Theresa Horney of the Monmouth Ocean Education Services Commission.

Being a caregiver while attending college classes took its toll on Hubbard’s grades.

"My grades reflected the fact that I was caring for an ailing relative while attending Brookdale," she said. "But I picked up the pieces and did really well."

She will begin junior year at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Pomona this fall, where she is a chemistry major planning to pursue a doctorate in epidemiology.

Once a special education student, Hubbard is preparing for a career in the public health field and has volunteered as an EMT and worked with the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She was sponsored by Elaine Klett of Brookdale.

Keleigh took a two-year hiatus from studies at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, where she is a returning student majoring in psychology with plans to become a counselor.

"I always felt drawn to this field, and when I got to college, I found this path," explained Keleigh, who has worked with runaways at Harbor House in Toms River. "When you go through your own problems in life, you tend to look at things differently." Her scholarship sponsor is Roseann Weber of the American Cancer Society.

Christensen is a psychology major at Arcadia University, Glenside, Pa. She was sponsored by Dr. Peter Burnham, president of Brookdale.