Eric Jefferson and Jetta Szczepanik were honored as recipients of the fourth annual Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial Scholarship during a virtual awards ceremony the high school posted online Thursday night.

Through its benevolence, Woodbridge High School fully funds in Marisa’s honor and memory the scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded to two exceptional college-bound seniors who strive for excellence academically, athletically, or in the arts, who overcame adversity (not limited to medical challenges) and who epitomize the caring spirit that Marisa’s family believes makes the Woodbridge school community special.

“The Class of 2020 has certainly been remarkable in many ways,” Woodbridge Township School District Superintendent Robert Zega said during the virtual awards presentation. “They have demonstrated high levels of academic performance, exemplary character and outstanding leadership. Our most exceptional students are being recognized tonight with scholarships and awards presented from our school district and our community.”

More than 100 students who were celebrated during the virtual awards ceremony will receive scholarships totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is honored that the annual Woodbridge High School memorial scholarships are awarded to two recipients who embody Marisa’s indomitable spirit.

A member of the varsity soccer team who was involved in other school activities, Jetta was also part of a group of students at the high school who formed Woodbridge Cares, which fundraised $20,000 through the sale of lawn signs and T-shirts during the coronavirus pandemic to benefit township residents.

All proceeds from the fundraiser were used to purchase gift cards from township eateries, which were donated directly to township families in need.

“She’s just a caring person who is always willing to help out,” Woodbridge head girls soccer coach Dan Mortensen said of Jetta. “I think she is one of the reasons that our school had the culture it did this year. She likes building a sense of community among people. She’s willing to go out of her way for anybody.”

Despite having never played soccer before coming to high school, Jetta grasped the game quickly and as a junior found herself playing in goal for Woodbridge.

“She had some bumps in the road, but she did great with it,” Mortensen said. “She always brought a good spirit to the team, got along with everybody and she always gave her all on and off the field.”

Eric was a two-sport athlete at Woodbridge, playing baseball and football. As a member of the latter, he helped Woodbridge have one of its best seasons in school history.

“He’s a great kid, a great teammate and a hard worker who was very committed to our program this past season,” Woodbridge head football coach Joe LaSala said.

Eric played defensive end, splitting time with two All-Conference teammates who bookended the line at the same position.

LaSala said Eric “had a selfless role” and “had a tremendous impact” especially “on third-and-long situations and pass-rush situations.”

On the baseball diamond, Eric was a corner infielder who was expected to have a breakout year this past spring, but the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the season.

“This was really going to be his opportunity to be a real every day guy for us,” Woodbridge head baseball coach Mike Monaco said. “He definitely missed out on that.”

Monaco described Eric as a mild-mannered player with a competitive edge who led by example, always worked and practiced hard and did the right things in the classroom and on the field.

“He was always very encouraging,” Monaco said, “and he would be there to pick up his teammates.”

Marisa Tufaro, who would have been a junior this year at Edison High School, was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. She developed two life-threatening conditions that necessitated a heart transplant. The transplant was supposed to extend her life, but tragically cut it short when a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of blood cancer to which Marisa succumbed following a valiant battle on Jan. 30, 2017. She was just 13 years old.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired.

The nonprofit bearing her name is eternally grateful for the support it has received from Woodbridge High School, which has hosted the Greater Middlesex Conference All-Star basketball doubleheader, the Tecmo Bowl for Tufaro and sponsored the Marisa Tufaro Classic bowling tournament as fundraisers.

In addition, the school community has donated money raised from a dress down day and the entire gate from its football team’s home openers each of the past two years to our nonprofit.

Countless student-athletes from multiple sports have participated in other events that benefitted The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. Donations from administrators, faculty, staff, and parents have enabled our nonprofit to fulfill its mission of helping Middlesex County children in need.

In less than three years, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $150,000 and spearheaded multiple community initiatives, resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, winter coats, baby supplies, nonperishable food and other items upon which we place no monetary value.

Woodbridge High School has played an enormous and vital role in that outreach.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation would like to extend its sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude to Dr. Zega, Woodbridge High School Principal Glenn Lottmann, the Board of Education, the high school’s guidance department, its scholarship selection committee, faculty and staff.

We wish all of the graduating seniors continued success in their future endeavors and will ask Marisa to watch over them.

We hope the gift Woodbridge High School has given Marisa’s family, which is the ability to keep alive her memory and to honor her legacy through this scholarship, will be returned exponentially.