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2017 Jaffe Education Foundation Scholarship Awards
Jaffe Scholars Martha Grudens and Michael Burke at the 2017 Scholarship Foundation Awards Ceremony
Martha Grudens
Described by her English IB literature teacher as mature, confident, and compassionate, this Sebastian River High School student has accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. A remarkable young woman, she is a top student and is ranked third in her class with a weighted GPA of 4.83.
The director of technology at Sebastian River Medical Center commends this passionate student for her leadership abilities and heart for service. She is a co-founder and president of the I.B. K.I.D.S. Club which is a program teaching science at an elementary school.
Given the ‘Little Teacher’ award after graduating preschool in 2004, she was referred to as a natural leader. This forward thinker has realized that leadership is more about recognizing, supporting, and embracing your team than telling individuals how they should act.
A four-year varsity tennis team player, she also found time to place 2nd as a sophomore and junior in the physics and astronomy science fair receiving the Yale Alumni science and Engineering Award.
This fall she will attend the University of Central Florida, with a major in mechanical engineering.
I am honored to present this Frances and Ronald Jaffe Education Foundation Scholarship to Martha Grudens.
Michael Burke
With a unweighted GPA of 3.91 at St. Edward's School, this elected senior class president and recipient of the AP Scholar with Distinction Award took six AP classes in in his senior year and still managed to find time to letter in four varsity sports and take on the leadership of the rowing team as captain. According to the Assistant Director of College Counseling, "he is a natural leader who doesn’t hesitate to step up when needed. (He) is a teacher’s dream; he has both the aptitude and the work ethic to do well.”
This self-motivated scholar is the co-founder of Creator’s Club which allows students to work together challenging them to discover what intrigues them from woodworking to writing code for 3D Printing. He imparts leadership on fellow students by teaching them “to follow their dreams by learning more, doing more, and becoming more in the process.”
A Cum Laude Society award winner and Rensselaer Medal award winner, he plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology this fall where he will major in computer science. He plan, he says, is “to make a difference in the world. Building and creating is my passion. I am confident that I can find an opportunity to expand my knowledge at the university level, and I aspire to create revolutionary inventions that will positively impact the lives of others."
I am honored to present this Frances and Ronald Jaffe Education Foundation Scholarship to Michael Burke.
