Billy Staples, BEST Inc. co-director, shares an
inspirational story with 2009 BEST scholarship
recipients.
Photo by Diana Morse
By Alice More
Special to Lehigh Valley Source
Bethlehem, Pa.--It means simply: helping students in need of financial assistance fulfill their goal of a college education.
BEST Inc., a nonprofit founded in 2008 by Staples and organization co-director Judy Tierney, gave its first scholarship awards to 28 Lehigh Valley area high school graduates recently. The presentation at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem was attended by recipients’ families and friends as well as scholarship benefactors and board members. The message to the recipients emphasized the program’s keystone of working hard toward achievement and giving back to the community.
Indeed, each scholarship recipient—most of whom will receive anywhere from $200 to $400 annually—accepts the money with accountability. Each is required to select a volunteer mentor who reports on his or her performance to the scholarship board; thus the payment for A and B grades. And each, upon completion of his or her studies, must return and work in their community for two years.
Giving back. That is what it is all about, said Staples, an educator, author, baseball aficionado, and self-described raconteur. “You have to pay things forward.,” he asserted. A Phillipsburg, N.J., native who taught school in Bethlehem for 13 years, Staples wrote “Before the Glory,” a book of inspirational stories of youth told by 20 of baseball’s compelling figures.
Co-founder Tierney reiterated the program guidelines. She said the scholarship funds go directly to the college, and recipients must maintain a 2.8 average. Criteria for eligibility include letters of recommendation, proof of need, an application, and a 250-word essay about personal goals. She noted that if a student does not fulfill the award contract, the money becomes a loan.
“We are trying to get the word out about the scholarships,” Tierney said, noting that they decided to start small and then broaden the reach through fund raising and grants.
Staples introduced program benefactors, Marlene (“Linny”) Fowler of Bethlehem and Bob and Lynn Johnson of Palmer Township. Staples said he met Fowler when he and his students were raising money for a student’s funeral and she offered financial assistance.
In congratulating the students and urging them to work hard, Fowler said there is a need in the community for more minority role models. “Everybody should be given a chance” for a college education, she said.
Johnson, who owns and operates Auto Sound Plus in Palmer Township, and was one of the first donors, lauded the program and plans for its expansion. He is among the planners of a fund-raising BEST College Scholarship Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Classic Aug. 23 and 24 at Water Gap Country Club in Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
Staples’ friend and program supporter Carlos Ojeda, an educator and motivational speaker, urged the graduates to “make their place in history.”
Recounting his own turbulent path to a college education and his father’s unwavering belief in his potential for success, Ojeda spoke emotionally of the impact of his father’s embrace on his college graduation day in 1993. It was a memory “that came rushing back,” when his father died, he said, and he searched frantically for a photo from the occasion. Last Father’s Day, his mother gave him a copy of the picture.
“It was a singular moment; I live it every step of the way,” he said. “This is that moment for you.”
Alice More is a freelance writer in Bethlehem.
Keynote speaker Carlos Ojeida Jr., MBA, director of
the Kutztown University Latino Business Resource Center
and motivational speaker, presented an amusing and
informative address to scholarship recipients.
Photo by Diana Morse
BEST Inc. supporter Marlene (“Linny”) Fowler of
Bethlehem welcomes students, scholarship recipients,
and guests to the organization’s first formal “meet
and greet” at Bethlehem's Banana Factory.
Photo by Diana Morse
Seated, from left, are 2009 BEST Inc. scholarship
recipients Alayna Sulick, Katelyn Marinelli, Stephanie
Heater, Kathy Dutan, Kiesha Custis-Adams, BEST
co-director Judy Tierney; BEST supporter Marlene
(“Linny”) Fowler; Ernestine Hunter, Samantha Diaz,
Kirsten Gehm, Maridarlyn Gonzalez, and Naomy Rosario.
Standing, from left, are scholarship recipients Kayla
Toncik, Cameron Weikel, Angela Perez, Steven
Paliswiat, Albie Moran, Braxton Bupivi, Jarrett
Johnson, Michelle McGeary, Brittney Oleniacz, and
Lincoln Powell. Photo by Diana Morse
Students from Nine Lehigh Valley Area High Schools Receive BEST Scholarships
Students from nine high schools in the Lehigh Valley region were recently presented scholarships at the first awards ceremony of Building Education Support Teams (BEST Inc.), a new, nonprofit scholarship program based in the Lehigh Valley.
College career choices of the winners range from business, architecture, and marine biology to criminal justice, health, and education.
Their schools of choice include East Stroudsburg University, Chestnut Hill College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutgers University, Pennsylvania State University, Berkeley College, Moravian College, Rider University, Centenary College, and Northampton Community College (NCC).
Graduates received scholarships ranging from $200 to $400 annually based upon maintaining a 2.8 grade average. Each has a volunteer mentor. And each recipient must return to his or her community to work for two years—something that recipient Melonie DeJesus said she wants to do even if not required. An education major, DeJesus said her goal is to “change at least one child’s life.”
Recipients are as follows: Erica Bissonnette, Alanna Brink, Braxton Bupivi, Lisa Fania, Kirsten Gehm, Jessica Harvatin, Stephanie Heater, Jarrett Johnson, Katelyn Marinelli, Lauren Martin, Michelle McGeary, Albert Moran, Brittney Oleniacz, Lincoln Powell, Alyana Sulick, and Coriane Wilson, all from Phillipsburg High School; Angela Achey, Cameron Weikel, and Ernestine Hunter; all from East Stroudsburg South High School; Keisha Custis-Adams from Dieruff High School; Samantha Diaz and Kathy Duton, both from William Allen High School; Victoria Gunther from Stroudsburg High School; Steven Paliswiat from Freedom High School; Angela Perez from Easton Stroudsburg North High School; Naomy Rosario from Liberty High School; and Kayla Toncik, from Nazareth High School.
The only non-Lehigh Valley recipient is Maridarlyn Gonzalez, who had graduated from Kensington Public High School in Philadelphia and was class valedictorian.
Those attending college are Melonie DeJesus, Edwin Leon, Katie Rivera, and Chris Vega, all NCC; Juan Hernandez, Maria Lopez, Jonathan Nivar, and Adam Hussein, all Kutztown University; and Rick Nuno, University of Pittsburgh.
— Alice More
BEST Scholarship Golf Classic Slated for Aug. 23 and 24
Lehigh Valley area golfers will have a unique opportunity in August to pit their skills against those of Baseball Hall of Fame Cubs pitcher Fergie Jenkins and dozens of former All-Star players with the Phillies, Mets, Yankees, Giants, Mariners, Cardinals, Orioles, Padres, and Red Sox.
The benefit event for college scholarship funding will be held Aug. 23 and 24 at the Water Gap Country Club in Delaware Water Gap, Pa.
The BEST College Scholarship Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Classic also offers baseball enthusiasts and collectors the opportunity for hole sponsorship. A $300 hole sponsorship includes tee sign with sponsor’s name and signed by all the players, and two tickets to the Celebrity Meet and Greet Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the country club.
BEST, a nonprofit Lehigh Valley-based program, was founded in 2008 to aid students in need of financial assistance to obtain a college education. Scholarship recipients are mentored throughout their education and required to return to the community to seek and accept employment for two years.
Golfers will tee off with some of baseball’s former top-notch players on the Pocono Mountains course Aug. 24. Opportunities for a single golfer at $150 and a foursome at $600 include a buffet breakfast, shotgun start/four-person scramble, open bar and dinner, sports memorabilia auction, and prizes and awards.
Among the sports greats donating their time for the event are Tony Balsamo, 1960s Cubs pitcher; Shawn Barton, 1990s Mariners/Giants pitcher; Joel Bennett, 1990s Orioles/Phillies pitcher; Steve Braun, 1980s Twins/Cardinals outfielder; Fred Cambria, 1970s Pirates pitcher; Al Chambers, 1980s Mariners outfielder; Doug Clemens, 1960s Cardinals/Phillies outfielder; Paul Fletcher, 1990s Phillies pitcher; Dick Gernet, 1950s Red Sox first baseman; Chuck Hinton, 1960s Washington/Indians outfielder; Fergie Jenkins, 1970s Cubs pitcher; Dennis Kinney, 1980s Padres pitcher; Steve Kraly,1950s Yankees pitcher; Joe Lahoud, 1970s Red Sox outfielder; Bob Lipski, 1960s Indians catcher; Ron Nischwitz, 1960s Tigers pitcher; Dickie Noles, 1990s Phillies pitcher; Bo Orlando, 1990s Steelers defensive back; Steve Rogers, 1980s Expos pitcher; Wil Royster, 1980s Orioles catcher; Fred Valentine, 1960s Orioles/Washington outfielder; Jon Warden, 1960s Tigers pitcher; Don Wert, 1960s Tigers third baseman; and George Yankowski,1940s Philadelphia/White Sox catcher.
For additional information, contact Judy Tierney, BEST Inc. co-director, at 610-504-4239 or e-mail juti43@rcn.com. Checks should be made payable to BEST Inc. and mailed to BEST Inc., P.O. Box 54, Phillipsburg, N.J., 08865.
— Alice More