Schools

Local Business Groups Award Annual Scholarships

The Scotch Plains and Fanwood BPAs delivered the awards to four outgoing Scotch Plains-Fanwood High seniors.

The Scotch Plains Business Professional Association, along with the support of the Fanwood Business Professional Association, awarded scholarships to four outgoing seniors from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School during a special barbeque at La Grande Park Tuesday evening.

Surrounded by family and friends, Michael Bumiller, Allisa Riesenberg, Kristen Spirko and Erica Goldberg were recognized for their hard work and achievements over the past four years.

"When we do the scholarships here, we don't have any special criteria. [We're] just looking for a good student who's not necessarily the valedictorian," said Steve Goldberg, Scotch Plains BPA Vice President and scholarship advisor. "These students certainly meet that."

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He added that when choosing the award recipients, the groups look for students who have excelled in community service, extracurriculars and leadership positions.

And while it's not a requirement, Goldberg said the groups like to recognize students who are members of DECA, one of the school's business organizations. All of this year's recipients were active in DECA.

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The two groups, which have been awarding scholarships for more than 10 years, raise money for the awards through a dinner and dance they hold in the spring. In the time they've been doing it, Goldberg said, the groups have given out more than $30,000.

Bumiller, Riesenberg and Spirko were all the recipients of  $500 scholarships. Bumiller was active on the soccer team, DECA, FBLA and St. Bartholomew's Church. Riesenberg was a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, Spanish Club and the JCC Adult Board of Directors. Spirko was a part of the varsity gymnastics team, concert choir, yearbook staff and DECA.

"We're very proud," Bumiller's mother, Christine Bumiller, said. "I think all of the class of 2009 is really exceptional."

This year, the Scotch Plains BPA created an additional scholarship in memory of Ray Pardon, its former president who died in October.

The $1000 scholarship was awarded to Erica Goldberg (no relation to Steve Goldberg), a senior who was active in cheerleading, DECA, the Spanish Club, soccer and more, and will be attending Ohio State University in the fall.

"I'm excited," her mother, Caren Goldberg, said in reference to her daughter graduating and going on to college. "It's sad, but I'm not worried."

For the other three students, the transition from high school to college will be relatively easy. All three are attending the University of Delaware in the fall.

"The whole state's going to be going down to Delaware!" Goldberg said with a laugh when he read their schools of choice to the crowd.

"It's good to have a friendly face," Riesenberg said earlier.

For the parents of these students, graduation is particularly sentimental.

"We've known each others' kids for such a long time," Caren Goldberg said.

"I'm so excited to see everyone, where they are, what they aspire to do," Riesenberg's mother, Rhonda Riesenberg, added.

While Bumiller hasn't yet started shopping for his dorm, the three girls were already at least thinking about their new homes.

Spirko even purchased her bedspread from Target in December.

"It's green and brown, with polka dots," she said.


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