Submitted by: Rob Kinch
Higher education today comes, unfortunately, with an even higher price tag. Many of our current high school students are faced with having to limit their college choices to only those they or their families can afford. “To be able to attend a highly competitive college without incurring enormous debt is a dream that every counselor has for our students,” attests RHS Guidance Counselor, Cynthia Goldman. That dream has now come true for five RHS juniors who have been awarded placement in the NJ SEEDS College Scholars Class of 2017.
Founded in 1992, New Jersey SEEDS is a statewide nonprofit organization that changes the lives of high-achieving students from low-income families by transforming their educational opportunities. The SEEDS’ College Scholars Program is a 17-month immersion experience, beginning in the students’ junior year, designed to prepare and place these top-performing, low income students from designated public high schools in highly competitive colleges with sufficient financial aid. College Scholars participate in academic classes with New Jersey SEEDS each Saturday during the spring of their eleventh grade year and throughout twelfth grade. In addition, students take part in a three-week residential session on a college campus during the summer before their senior year in high school. Courses focus on three primary areas: academics and writing, college application support, and life skills.
Rahway’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Patricia Camp, finds tremendous merit in this program and in its positive impact on students. “As a first generation college-educated person, I understand that what can be missing is the cultural understanding of getting into, and being successful in college. NJ SEEDS provides an intensive program that will provide our children with the college cultural understanding – this will serve them well in supporting their dreams of a higher education.” To this end, high school Vice Principal Dr. Cary Fields devotes much of her time in search of similar programs which would help students turn their dreams of attending a highly competitive university into a reality. “Providing the tools for our students to prepare themselves more easily for achieving entrance to and success in a challenging academic arena is a goal very dear to my heart.”
The Rahway High School Guidance Department is proud to announce that current juniors Louis Maller, Seth Holguin, Oliver Pierre, John Goodman, and Alexis Burgess were among the 22 students from 11 high schools in 9 cities admitted into the SEEDS College Scholars Class of 2017. It is clear that this award has impacted each of them in very personal ways. Mr. Muller was “proud to have been nominated” and “gave 110% of myself to earn acceptance.” He adds, “This means everything to me…my future, my life…without this I wouldn’t know where I’d be.” Ms. Burgess “never thought this could happen”, and that the financial assistance would help her “realize my plans for becoming an engineer.”
The entire Rahway community unites in offering its congratulations to these new NJ SEEDS Scholars and wishes them the highest level of success. School Superintendent Dr. Camp is “personally proud of our students who entered this competition and very excited for our 5 students who have been accepted.” Her praise continues, “Great job by Dr. Fields and Ms. Goldman in guiding our students through the competitive selection process!”
(above, front, l-r) Vice Principal Dr. Cary Fields, Louis Muller, Alexis Burgess, Guidance Counselor Cynthia Goldman. (back, l-r) Oliver Pierre, Superintendent Dr. Patricia Camp, Seth Holguin. (not pictured) John Goodman
