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Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey (TSANJ) Announces Awards for Outstanding Professionals and Students

At the Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey, Inc. (TSANJ) dinner held earlier this month, the association celebrated their best year yet: calls to their helpline increased by 1000%, more people than ever before attended their support groups and educational workshops, and they successfully launched the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome. In addition, TSANJ celebrated the work of professionals and students dealing with TS on a daily basis.

 

Faith Rice, Director of TSANJ, was on hand to award several outstanding members in the New Jersey area for their work and support in the Tourette Syndrome community.

 

“When teachers and health professionals go above and beyond their duty to help children dealing with Tourette Syndrome, they are making an amazing positive and life long impact on them and their families,” observes Rice. “It is not an easy task. Tourette Syndrome is an often complex and challenging condition to diagnose and treat.”

 

TSANJ awarded the following professionals for exceptional contribution to Tourette Syndrome community:

 

TSANJ Healthcare Professionals of the Year:

 

Debbie Ewtushek
School Nurse
Memorial Middle School
Point Pleasant, NJ

 

Dr. Chester J. Minarcik
Pediatric Neurologist
Morrestown, NJ

 

TSANJ Educators of the Year:

 

Rebecca Kwiatek
Teacher LD Class
Robert Hunter School
Flemington, NJ

 

John Cronin
Guidance Counselor
John Witherspoon Middle School
Princeton, NJ

 

TSANJ also announced its 2006 Scholarship Award winners. The recipients were selected from any New Jersey high school seniors, diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, who will be attending a college or trade school in the fall. The students were chosen on the basis of his or her academic record, recommendations, and essays or talents.

 

“The purpose of our annual award is to recognize students with TS who have excelled despite the challenges of their disorder,” explains Rice. “Plus, we hope the scholarship serves as an encouragement to further educate these truly amazing students.”

 

TSANJ’s Top Scholarship Award winner is:

 

Kyle Mumford, West Allenhurst, NJ
Senior at Ocean Township High School
Will attend either Emerson or School of Visual Arts
Submitted a Claymation DVD with an essay as his entry

 

Additional TSANJ Scholarship award winners are:

 

Oliver Eisler, Ridgewod NJ
Will be attending Penn State
Speaks English, Spanish & Czech
Submitted an essay as his entry

 

Joseph E. Zelanis, Haledon, NJ
Senior at Manchester Regional HS
Will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology
Submitted an essay as his entry