Tara Mahon and Jake Serrano were honored as recipients of the sixth annual Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial Scholarship during a senior awards ceremony at the high school on Wednesday night.
Through its benevolence, Woodbridge High School fully funds the scholarship in Marisa’s honor and loving memory.
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.
More than 120 students who were celebrated during the ceremony received scholarships totaling more than $71,000.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is honored that the annual Woodbridge High School memorial scholarships were awarded to Tara and Jake, two outstanding recipients who embody Marisa’s indomitable spirit.
Serrano lettered in volleyball and basketball. He served as team captain in the latter.
“With me figuring out things in my first year, I took his opinion to heart,” rookie Woodbridge head coach Jonathan Toczynski said. “He was a steady influence with a bunch of guys. Without his leadership, we could have went the other way this season. He cared so much about his teammates and kept everyone in line. He was someone I could go to, almost like an assistant coach. He was invaluable in what we were able to do this year.”
Toczynski described Serrano as a “wonderful” young man with “wonderful character” who served as a “great example for our younger guys.”
“Better people make better players and Jake is that better person,” Toczynski said, noting back issues prevented Serrano from getting an opportunity to play a full season until this year. “He was able to come back from adversity and had a really great year for really his first year on varsity.”
Serrano will continue his studies at Ramapo College, to which he has received a Presidential Scholarship.
“Whatever he plans on doing, he’s one kid I know is going to be successful just because of his character and who he is as a person. He will definitely bring honor (to the Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial Scholarship) and is a wonderful person to carry on that legacy.”
Mahon, who will attend Monmouth University, was involved in myriad extracurricular activities including the high school’s Drama Club and Vocal Point.
“She’s just so well-rounded and talented in so many ways,” said Woodbridge Science Research and Anatomy and Physiology teacher Tina Clarke, who was privileged to have Mahon in her program for four years.
Mahon had the honor of having her independent research entered into the prestigious North Jersey Regional Science Fair at Rutgers University.
“The wonderful thing about Tara is as bright as she is she is altruistic,” Clark said, noting Mahon’s Gold Award project for Girl Scouts of America involved directing a project on food insecurity, food waste, and servicing and improving the St. James Food Pantry.
Mahon was also involved in the high school’s Interact Club, which focuses on assisting local organizations to improve the Woodbridge Township community.
“She’s a super-kind and wonderful young person.” Clarke said. “I’ve watched her grow into this magnificent person. She is going to contribute so much to society, whatever career choice she makes.”
Clarke said Mahon is among the most compassionate, dedicated and intelligent students she has had the privilege of teaching in more than two decades.
Marisa, who would have graduated from high school last year, survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle. 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 Marisa Tufaro Foundation 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, a Pictures with Santa event, 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 2018 and 2019 home openers to the nonprofit.
Countless student-athletes from multiple sports have participated in other fundraising events that benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
Donations from administrators, faculty, staff, and parents have enabled the nonprofit to fulfill its mission of helping pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
In less than five years, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated a quarter of a million dollars and spearheaded multiple community initiatives, resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, winter coats, baby supplies, nonperishable food, and other items upon which the nonprofit has placed no monetary value.
Woodbridge High School has also played an enormous and vital role in helping the nonprofit collect items for donation.
As if the school-community has not done enough, it continues to open its collective hearts every year with the annual scholarship in Marisa’s name.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation would like to extend its sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude to Woodbridge Township School District Superintendent Joseph Massimino, the Board of Education, the high school’s guidance department, its scholarship selection committee, faculty, staff and administration, especially Principal Glenn Lottmann, Vice Principal Mary Panko, Vice Principal Thomas Perry, Guidance Department Head Kevin Kane, and Athletics Director Joe Ward.
Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, hope the gift Woodbridge High School has given their family, which is the ability to keep alive Marisa’s memory and honor her legacy through this scholarship, will be returned exponentially.
They wish all the graduating seniors continued success in their future endeavors and will ask Marisa to watch over them.
