The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

Concepts &Thought Fulbright Award Will Allow Magnet School’s Meredith Beam

To Teach in Czech Republic By LYNN KOLIBABA

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

SCOTCH PLAINS — “Aren’t you the woman who was given the Fulbright,” goes the words to the Paul Simon song. Meredith S. Beam was a high school student when she first heard these lyrics and questioned her mother about their meaning.

Last month, she became a recipient of one of the prestigious grants awarded through the Fulbright Program.

Ms. Beam, now 28yearsold, is an English teacher at the Union County Magnet High School for Science and Technology in Scotch Plains. As a participant in the Fulbright Administrator and Teacher Exchange Program, she will leave this August to spend a year in the Czech Republic.

She will teach American Language and Literature at The Business Academy, a high school in Hondonin in the province of Moravia. Her counterpart in the exchange, Ingrid Moczerniukovà, also from The Business Academy, will spend a year in the United States, teaching Ms. Beam’s classes at the Magnet High School.

The Fulbright Program, the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U. S. Department of State. was established in 1946 to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the U. S. and the people of other countries.”

The Fulbright Administrator and Teacher Exchange Program, one of several programs through which Fulbright grants are awarded, involves oneonone exchanges of more than 230 administrators and teachers from K12 schools, community colleges and fouryear institutions in more than 30 countries worldwide.

To foster international exchange among students and teachers, both Ms. Beam and Ms. Moczerniukova will continue to communicate with their home schools throughout their year abroad. They will forge pen pal relationships and interact through email and a Web site Ms. Beam intends to launch to chronicle her experience.

“I’m eager to learn about another culture and bring that back with me to share. I know the experience will enhance my teaching,” said Ms. Beam, adding that the program has already broadened her horizons. “As I formulate ideas about how to represent the U. S. abroad, I’ve had to analyze things in my life and our

society from a new perspective.” Ms. Beam has garnered awards and honors throughout her academic and professional career. She graduated Phi beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Colgate University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in English and Creative Writing.

Coming from a family of pedagogues (her father and paternal grandfather are

college professors and an older sister is also a high school teacher), Ms. Beam always considered teaching as a career direction.

After completing her Master of Arts Degree in English from the University of Virginia in 1996, Ms. Beam enrolled in the New Jersey Alternate Route to Teacher Certification Program. This oneyear program enables outstanding individuals with degrees in other fields to become certified to teach in grades K12.

When the Union County Magnet High School first opened its doors in 1997, Ms. Beam was on the charter team of teachers. At the end of her first year, she was recognized for excellence through the Dodge Fellowship, awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education to a teacher who enters the profession through the alternate route program.

At the end of her first year, she received a Dodge Fellowship from the Geradine R. Dodge Foundation, an award that recognizes outstanding new educators who enter the profession through the state’s alternate route program.

This year, she was awarded the Teacher for the Year Award at the Magnet High School. Speaking about the rewards of teaching, Ms. Beam said, “It’s exciting to watch students grow and it’s wonderful having a job that I love.” Geoffrey W. Zoeller, principal of the Magnet High School said, “Ms. Beam has tremendous credentials. She’s dynamic and the kind of person you want in front of a class of very bright students. She keeps students interested, motivated and actively engaged in learning.”

Mr. Zoeller noted that their school will benefit in many ways from the exchange. “There will be a lot of curriculum articulation among teachers. Our students will benefit immediately from interaction with a teacher from another country and culture. We live in a global economy, to make our students competitive, it is important they have exposure to other cultures. The Fulbright Exchange will give our students a firsthand opportunity to participate in global exchange.”

The Union County Magnet School for Science, Mathematics and Technology is a fulltime engineering and design technology career academy that provides its student body with a full complement of college preparatory courses. Talented students from across the county apply each year for admission to the public high school.

Mr. Zoeller commented, “It will be interesting to see how we at Magnet use our technology to expedite educational exchange half a world away.”

In addition to teaching, Ms. Beam serves as the school’s National Honor Society advisor and coach to the debate team. She has also taught collegelevel classes which Union County Community College holds at her school.

Kimberly Cernak, a ninth grader from Westfield and a student at the Magnet School, was enrolled in one of Ms. Beam’s creative writing classes.

“We’re all excited for Ms. Beam,” she said, “but I wish I could have her for a teacher next year.”

Meredith S. Beam

Lynn M. Kolibaba for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Major John W. Carl Marks Halfway Point

For Deployment

WESTFIELD – Marine Corps Major John W. Carl, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Carl of Westfield, is halfway through a sixmonth deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit homebased at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Mr. Carl joined the Marine Corps in September 1985.

Guidance Counselor, Principal Honored By DECA at High School

SCOTCH PLAINS – Scotch PlainsFanwood High School Guidance Counselor Michele Ruscavage and Principal Dr. David Heisey were both recipients of DECA’s prestigious Honorary Life Membership Award.

Ms. Ruscavage was cited for her work as a guidance counselor, coadvisor to class officers, and her participation with DECA as a chaperone to their conference.

Dr. Heisey received DECA’s highest honor for his outstanding support of all students in the high school, and his encouragement of DECA in their many community activities.

Union Catholic Young Leaders Shine at Washington Event

SCOTCH PLAINS — Thomas McLeod a junior at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, recently attended the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC) in Washington, DC.

This unique leadership development program invites high school students — based on scholastic merit, community involvement, and leadership contributions — to interact with today’s national leaders.

NYLC scholars are given the opportunity to work through many issues facing Plainfield and the nation through a series of simulations, and to meet facetoface with their members of Congress, or members of their staff, and other influential personalities.

Thomas, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McLeod, has been active in the Service Club, and does tutorial afterschool work. He teaches basketball in the Holy Trinity Summer Camp in Westfield and has worked on the Youth Task Force of North and South Plainfield, which works on promoting unity between the Plainfields by finding common causes.

Thomas, who is known as “Virus Man” at Union Catholic, checks the computers at the school for viruses and helps with computer problems. He has helped wire a school in Newark for the Internet. He has also been very active in the Alma McLeod Foundation to help the homeless and at holiday time, worked at a food bank and delivered toys to those in need. He is now also active on the alumni committee of the Nation Young Leaders Conference.

Union Catholic Class of 1984 To Hold Picnic Reunion

SCOTCH PLAINS – Union Catholic High School Class of 1984 will hold a family picnic reunion on Saturday, October 7, from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. at Forest Lodge in Warren.

To attend, please contact Lisa Hofstader Thibault, 165 Harvard Road, Bolton, Mass. 01740 at (978) 7796846; Kelly Martin, 9 Bedminister Lane, Jackson, 08527 at (732) 8339695 or Union Catholic High School, 1600 Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains, 07076 at (908) 8891600, Extension No. 302.

GIFT OF APPRECIATION… St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Westfield recently recognized their graduating seniors for their ministries to the parish by presenting each with a gift of appreciation. Charles Banks, Minister of Music, noted that many of the class members began serving the parish as members of the children’s choir and had continued on in various capacities throughout their high school years. Sponsor Mary Walker thanked each pupil for his or her individual service. Pictured, left to right, are: Acolyte Michael Kivetz, Choir Member Christine Joe, Acolytes John Partridge and Jennifer Schembs, Head Acolyte Michael Todd and Sunday School Teacher Victoria Smith. Not pictured, are: fellow teachers Janet Cooper, Meredith Pastore and Josh Zawisklak and acolyte Jon Larsen.

Craig Long Accepted Into Collegiate Scholar

National Society

WESTFIELD – Craig Long of Westfield has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars and will be honored during a campus ceremony this fall at Syracuse University.

Randolph J. Russell Graduates Academy

WESTFIELD – Randolph J. Russell, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Russell of Westfield, graduated the Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Fla. in late May.

He will attend the University of Tampa and study to become a physician in the field of sports medicine.

Quinnipiac College Announces Dean’s List

Local students from Scotch Plains and Mountainside have been named to the Dean’s List at Quinnipiac College for the spring semester. Those students are: James J. Ciasulli, Elizabeth C. DeAnna, Jamie P. Oels, all of Mountainside, and Erik M. Glazner and Stephanie A. Quinn, both of Scotch Plains.

Michael Milberger Named to Dean’s List

At Lafayette College

SCOTCH PLAINS – Michael Milberger of Scotch Plains has been named to the Dean’s List for the 2000 spring semester at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.

Lisa Tobelmann Earns Degree at Houghton

WESTFIELD – Lisa Tobelmann of Westfield participated in commencement exercises at Houghton College in New York. Lisa graduated summa cum laude with a major in biology.

Westfielders Graduate Washington & Lee

WESTFIELD – Scott Michael King and Courtney Catherine Yevich, both of Westfield, have graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va.

Scott, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael King of Westfield, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Courtney, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Yevich of Westfield, earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She majored in Medieval and Renaissance studies and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Charles Murphy Garners Social Justice Award

WESTFIELD – Charles Murphy, a pupil at Delbarton School, received a Delbarton Medal for leadership in the social justice program.

Kristin Messina Attends Annual Girls’ Career Institute

WESTFIELD – Kristin Messina, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Messina, attended the Girls’ Career Institute (GCI) from June 1922 at Douglass College in New Brunswick. The purpose of the Institute is to encourage awareness of political and social problems and for the Delegates to consider their role in the coming years.

Kristin is a member of the National Honor Society and Optimist Club of Westfield. She is also involved in the

girls’ lacrosse team. She is an active member in the programs at St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church with helping the youth and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and a homeless shelter.

Jennifer Wilson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson, was selected as a Girls’ Career (GCI) alternate. After five years in the Westfield High School Marching Band, she is now the Drum Major, and a member of the Westfield High School Concert Choir, Chorale and Choraleers. She is a member of the Key Club, has volunteered at Children’s Specialized Hospital, Rahway Hospital and now Ashbrook Nursing Home.

Jennifer is an active member in her church youth group, participating in mission trips to Philadelphia to work with inner city children and to New York City, giving food to the needy.

The Delegates are sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Westfield, a member of the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs.

The Delegate and Alternate were chosen for this program by the faculty of Westfield High School.

Historical Society Gives Citations to Students

Six outstanding history students in Union County’s high schools have been presented citations and $150 each by the Union County Historical Society in ceremonies at the Third Westminster Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth. They were selected by the school principal, guidance director of chairman of the social studies department.

These local students include Valerie Wicks of Westfield High School and Kevin Grinberg of Scotch PlainsFanwood High School.

Each student was given the opportunity to detail something about his or her school, the college selected and career goals.

Valerie will study liberal arts at Bates College to become a teacher. Kevin will enter Brandeis University to study computers and public policy. www. goleader. com

In Congress, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America

WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation. WE hold these Truths to be selfevident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of GreatBritain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.