NJCTS awarded college scholarships and celebrated our top professionals, walk teams, Youth Advocate of the Year, and Faith W. Rice Legacy Award Winner at a special luncheon at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Bridgewater, NJ on Friday, June 2.
Academic achievement, community involvement and accomplishments all play a part in the NJCTS Scholarship Committee’s decision in selecting New Jersey high school seniors each year. This year’s recipients are going off the college’s like Rutgers Honors College, Columbia, and Case Western. Our Faith Rice Memorial Scholarship recipient, Tess Kowalski, will continue pursuing her Ph.D. in neuroscience.
Faith Rice Memorial Scholarship
Tess Kowalski
First Place Scholarship
Caitlin Fritz
Caroline Nieto
Parker Swift
Second Place Scholarship
Francesco Coffaro
Madelyn Golden
Joshua Hinman
Van Nostrand
Kyle Swords
Fatima Villagran
Honorable Mentions:
Cesar Arana; Delaney Eskow; Ethan Bassett; Jack Rochind; Jaiden Mendez; Jason Frolich; Mollie Mars
The NJCTS professional awards are designated for health care and education professionals in New Jersey who have had a positive influence on the Tourette Syndrome community through education, outreach or research efforts.
Healthcare Professional of the Year
Dr. Naomi Lubar
Hackensack Merdian Health
Educator of the Year
Jennifer Wishnick
Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District
The Youth Advocate of the Year award is presented to a graduating advocates who went above and beyond for NJCTS during their time in high school. NJCTS Youth Advocates are dedicated to improving awareness and breaking the stigma of TS by educating the public, medical professionals, and educators, and by supporting kids and families living with TS.
Youth Advocate of the Year
Kyle Swords
NJCTS conducts their virtual event, NJ Walks for TS, in conjunction with TS Awareness Month (May 15 to June 15) each year. To date, our walk participants have raised nearly $50,000.
Top NJ Walks for TS Fundraiser Teams
Team Sarah – Sarah Freeman
Trabilcy Tackles Tourettes V – Sofia Trabilcy
NJCTS Youth Council – Hannah Horner, Peter Franz Pendell
The Faith W. Rice Legacy Award is given to anyone who, like NJCTS founder Faith Rice, embodies an indomitable spirit and has been a vanguard in advocating and educating others about TS. This individual has gone above and beyond in research, education, healthcare, or in their community to ensure that the lives of those living with Tourette Syndrome have been enriched because of the accomplishments they have made. They are bringing an awareness of TS to a wider circle and advancing NJCTS’ mission.
Faith W. Rice Legacy Award
Cheryl Ludwig
