Following is a look at the four recipients of the 2018 Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship.
Charity-Temitope Daramola
Charity-Temitope Daramola has been named the first of four recipients of the 2018 Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship.
The scholarship is funded through donations made to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, established in their daughter’s loving memory to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
Along with her scholarship, Cyndi and Greg presented Charity, who will attend Wellesley College in Massachusetts, with a commemorative plaque and a bouquet of flowers at Woodbridge High School on Tuesday night.
The scholarship rewards Greater Middlesex Conference varsity student-athletes for their performance on the field and in the classroom, for their community service and for their ability to overcome challenges.
Those eligible for the scholarship were required to pursue their aspirations with passion, integrity, character and respect for others.
Earlier this month, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association honored Charity as a recipient of its prestigious Scholar-Athlete Award, which was presented to her during a luncheon at The Pines Manor in Edison.
“When we announced at the spring pep rally that Charity was the NJSIAA scholar-athlete, you could tell by the reception she got that she is well-liked and well-respected by her peers,” Woodbridge High School athletics director Joe Ward said.
“I think she demonstrates all the qualities that we wish for all our student athletes to possess. She combines everything you are looking for – the academics, the athletics, the community service and the leadership. She’s as well-rounded as they come.”
As a member of Woodbridge High School’s outdoor and reigning North 2 Group III championship indoor track and field teams, Charity has competed in the shot put, discus and javelin. She ranks in the top five percent of the high school’s graduating class taking advanced placement and honors level courses. Charity also performed extensive community service.
“She has impacted the lives of many around Woodbridge Township and the state of New Jersey,” Woodbridge throws coach Ramy Kased wrote in a letter of recommendation to our foundation’s scholarship committee on Charity’s behalf. “Charity is part of the Heroes and Cool Kids group from Woodbridge High that goes to elementary schools around the district to be positive role models for the younger generation of students and have a positive impact on their lives. She is also part of the Safety Ambassadors (which Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital sponsors), Women’s Empowerment and many other clubs that impact the community in a positive way.”
In addition, Charity has served as a children’s church student assistant, freshman mentor and on the Woodbridge Township Youth Leadership Council, whose mission is for young adults to engage in the operations of municipal government, to get involved in neighborhood and community issues and activities, develop and implement community projects, help the environment and support the arts.
“She’s passionate about what she does and she does it with a very positive energy,” Ward said. “I think that rubs off on other people.”
Marisa Tufaro, who would have been a high school freshman this year, died last year after complications from a heart transplant developed into a rare form of cancer, to which she succumbed following a valiant fight.
She was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. Despite keeping hundreds of doctor’s appointments and being hospitalized for more than two years, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Marisa was an honor roll student at Herbert Hoover Middle School and James Monroe Elementary School, where she served as student council vice president and was involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
The foundation is honored to be able to give back through its annual scholarship to the Greater Middlesex Conference, which has been among our nonprofit’s biggest supporters.
We are grateful for the role the league’s student-athletes play in assisting Middlesex County children and others in need.
Gennyka Liebenthal
Gennyka Liebenthal of Monroe Township High School has been named a recipient of the 2018 Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship.
The scholarship is funded through donations made to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, established in their daughter’s loving memory to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The scholarship rewards Greater Middlesex Conference varsity student-athletes for their performance on the field and in the classroom, for their community service and for their ability to overcome challenges.
Those eligible for the scholarship were required to pursue their aspirations with passion, integrity, character and respect for others.
Gennyka, an All-Conference selection in girls soccer and the reigning Central Jersey outdoor track and field champion in the javelin who recently qualified for the prestigious Meet of Champions, will continue her academic and soccer career at Kutztown University, where she plans to major in biology.
She is a four-year letterwinner on the pitch, as well as in outdoor and indoor track and field. Gennyka excels in the classroom, having made the the Principal’s List as an honor roll student while taking honors level courses.
“Gennyka is genuinely the kind of student that an educator and coach can only dream of teaching,” a member of the Monroe Township High School staff wrote in a letter of recommendation on Gennyka’s behalf for the scholarship. “(She) has a work ethic that is unmatched thus far in my teaching tenure. Not only have I come to find Gennyka to be an intelligent young lady, but she also has proven herself to be a kind, respectful and welcoming student to her peers, teachers and coaches. Perhaps the most impressive attribute Gennyka holds as a student-athlete is her compassion for others. Gennyka has been committed to helping her peers and the Monroe Township community throughout her time at our high school.”
Gennyka’s community service includes volunteering as a “Falcon Pal” to assist special needs students and volunteering as a soccer coach for students with physical disabilities. She was one of 16 students selected from a pool of 80 applicants to partake in the high school’s Teen Peer Educator Program, serving as a role model for the freshman class. Through the school district’s Heroes and Cool Kids program, Gennyka teaches middle schoolers about sportsmanship and making good choices. She has also volunteered with her youth ministry, making and serving lunches to the homeless.
Greg Tufaro, a sports writer for the Home News Tribune, and Frank Noppenberger, executive director of the Greater Middlesex Conference who serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees, presented the scholarship to Gennyka at the high school on Monday, along with a commemorative plaque and a bouquet of flowers.
Principal Robert Goodall, athletics director Greg Beyer, girls soccer coach Peter Ruckdeschel, track and field coach Chris Jessop, throws coach Mark Stranieri attended the presentation.
Last fall, Gennyka tore the lateral collateral ligament in her knee during a pivotal game against eventual conference tournament champion Old Bridge. She played through the injury, which ultimately sidelined her for more than two weeks, to score the winning goal in overtime. Gennyka rejoined her teammates and ended the season as Monroe’s leading scorer for the second consecutive year.
“I didn’t know how severe it was until after it happened,” Ruckdeschel said. “While she was out, she was a presence on the sideline. I don’t like using the term leader for her, because she’s beyond that. She’s a role model and she’s everything that I would embody in a player, and an athlete and a student.
“Seeing how she is on the field, seeing how she is in class, she makes everybody around her better. I’m proud to have her as a player and know her as a person.”
In the essay she wrote accompanying her scholarship application, Gennyka connected with Marisa Tufaro’s story.
Joseph Heilmann and Charles Lovett
Joseph Heilmann and Charles Lovett of South Plainfield High School have been named recipients of the 2018 Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship.
The scholarship is funded through donations made to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, established in their daughter’s loving memory to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The scholarship rewards Greater Middlesex Conference varsity student-athletes for their performance on the field and in the classroom, for their community service and for their ability to overcome challenges.
Those eligible for the scholarship were required to pursue their aspirations with passion, integrity, character and respect for others.
Joseph, one of the best wrestlers in school history, will attend the University of North Carolina, where he plans to major in economics or business. Charles, a star football player who also competed for the tennis team, will attend Howard University, where he will major in computer science.
“Both Charles and Joe really epitomize everything that’s great about South Plainfield and what the scholarship represents,” South Plainfield High School principal Ronnie Spring said. “They are leaders in the community and leaders in school. Academically, they are constantly performing at a high level, as they are on the athletic field or on the wrestling mat. Most importantly, they are good people that go above and beyond – not just academically, not just athletically, but in life. They go above and beyond to help others. They go above and beyond in the community. They go above and beyond for the school environment as a whole. It would be hard for me to picture two more well-deserving students than both Charles and Joe. I know they are going to continue to represent South Plainfield and everything that the scholarship represents well into the future.”
Greg Tufaro, a sports writer for the Home News Tribune who has covered Charles and Joseph during their careers, and Senator Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., a member of the South Plainfield High School Hall of Fame who serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees, presented the scholarships to Joseph and Charles at the high school on Thursday, along with a commemorative plaque.
South Plainfield Schools Superintendent Noreen Lishak, athletics director Kevin McCann, head football coach Gary Cassio, head wrestling coach Bill Pavlak and Spring attended the presentation.
An honor roll student and member of the Spanish Honor Society, Joseph holds a 3.6 grade-point average. On the wrestling mat, he compiled a 164-11 career record while medaling three times in the state tournament, placing runner-up in the event at 126 pounds last season. His volunteerism includes involvement with Toys for Tots, Special Olympics, Sacred Heart Church (soup kitchen), youth wrestling practices and participating in a book drive to raise awareness about educating the homeless. Earlier this year, Heilmann was a recipient of the Greater Middlesex Conference Wrestling Coaches Association’s Scholar-Wrestler scholarship.
“Joe and the Heilmann family are really involved in the community,” South Plainfield wrestling coach Bill Pavlak said. “They’ve been a part of the South Plainfield wrestling program for the last 15 years. He definitely deserves the award. He’s the male scholar-athlete from our school representing South Plainfield for the Greater Middlesex Conference. Obviously, he’s done a lot with wrestling. He’s going to follow in his brothers’ footsteps (Nick and Troy) at the University of North Carolina, and hopefully have a successful academic and wrestling career.”
Charles maintains a 3.95 grade-point average while taking advanced placement and honors courses. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He is a role model through the district’s Heroes and Cool Kids Club. Charles is a member of the high school’s orchestra and robotics team. He captained the football and tennis teams.
“He is a genuinely kind and considerate young man who has dedicated much time to community service,” a South Plainfield staff member wrote in a letter of recommendation on Charles’ behalf for the scholarship. “Always willing to lend a helping hand, Charles serves as a volunteer with Kappa Alpha Phi, collecting canned good for the less fortunate. He has also assisted with the organization and set up of the South Plainfield Tint Sprint and Wellness Fair for three years.”
As a three-year varsity football letterwinner, Charles played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and outside linebacker. He endured what was believed to be a season-ending injury in the second week of the 2017 campaign. Diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome after an injury to his thigh, Lovett required emergency surgery. He rehabbed and returned to the field to play in South Plainfield’s season fi
nale against North Plainfield on Thanksgiving Day.
“He fought to come back … played on one leg and he still recorded eight tackles,” Cassio said. “That’s the type of kid he is. After this little photo shoot (at South Plainfield for the scholarship), he’s headed to the middle school to meet with kids for a seminar on bullying, to talk to the younger kids. He works 30 hours a week right now at the movie theater. He’s a coach’s dream. He’s a great kid, and I’m going to miss him.”
Marisa Tufaro, who would have been a high school freshman this year, died last year after complications from a heart transplant developed into a rare form of cancer, to which she succumbed following a valiant fight.