Emmy Award-Winner Hosts MSU Scholarship Dinner
The Annual Scholarship Dinner – featuring student performances from the musical Hair – was held at and hosted by Montclair State University on April 25. This annual event supports the students with donor-funded scholarships in order to finance the educations of those who may otherwise be unable to attend MSU. All attendees were invited to dress in 1960s attire (in honor of Hair).
Additionally, the Rose and John J. Cali Award for Business Leadership was awarded to CEO of United Water and Suez Environnement North America, Bertrand Camus. Ellyn A. McColgan, alumna of ’75, received the Margaret and Herman Sokol Award for Alumni Achievement and Civic Leadership. McColgan is a board member and director of NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., serving on the Audit and Nominating and Governance committees. This was the first year that an alumna was honored at Montclair State University.
Also unique to 2015 was providing three MSU students the Carpe Diem Award. These students demonstrated great strength both academically and in campus involvement. I had the pleasure of speaking with all three recipients of this award: Richard Maya, Rebecca Haupt and Chelsea Durocher.
Senior Richard Maya says, “It’s surreal to be nominated. Transferring two years ago I never thought I’d be where I am today.” Maya is a peer mentor for the School of Business, a member of the Red Hawk Pride Society and a Student Government Legislator. Maya’s nominator remains anonymous.
Maya introduced me to Rebecca Haupt who is also a graduating senior. Dr. Rob Gilbert nominated Haupt, as did student peer Omar Mahmoud. Haupt is a Resident Assistant, an Ambassador for Undergraduate Admissions, and an employee of CAPS. “Receiving this award is proof that all of my hard work has paid off. I know I’m on the right track,” she says.
Also graduating in May with Haupt and Maya is Chelsea Durocher, a senior sociology major. Durocher is a member of the Smile Station, a program that works to end loneliness in nursing homes. She was proud to explain that several Smile Stations exist across the country, but Montclair started the first ever. She also tutors students twice a week in Spanish, sociology, English, and English as a second language. Durocher says, “I’m so ready for my future.” Her nominator remains anonymous.
Following the award ceremony was a student performance of Hair, directed by Gary John La Rosa. The musical opened with the show tune “Aquarius” and closed with “Let the Sunshine In.” The night concluded with a dinner at University Hall hosted by Emmy Award-winning anchor Steve Adubato, PhD, during which money was raised to provide additional scholarship support to students.
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