Andrea McGahan, P.G., LSRP of Woodard & Curran represented the Association and its Scholarship and Mentoring Committee on June 17, 2014 to present scholarships to the six students graduating from the Mercer High School who assisted the LSRPA during the 2013/2014 academic year.  At a pizza party hosted by the LSRPA at the school, Andrea,  15 students, and their faculty  gathered together for  recognition of their work for the LSRPA. The LSRPA provided scholarships to the following seniors: Catherine Pettit, Luis Perez, Joey Ragolia, Tyler Pelcz, Chris Pasun  and Brian Rodriguez.  The additional students who assisted the LSRPA  (but are not yet seniors) received certificates of appreciation.

By working on the LSRPA’s document preparation and assembly program, the students are learning life skills toward future placement in offices, schools and other work environments. In fact, one awardee missed the party to attend orientation at a newly acquired job using the skills he learned in this program and another was competing in the Special Olympics USA games here in NJ! All of the students were enthusiastic and enjoyed working on the LSRPA’s projects.  Lisa Piotrowski and assisting faculty helped the students by setting up their work environments, teaching them the skills needed, recognizing each student’s strengths and placing them in work teams to assist one another, and coaching them through each project.  One of the highlights of this year was acquisition of a new high speed copier which the students proudly mastered.  The group has a bulletin board in the school which features their work for the LSRPA and Ms. Piotrowski’s photo journal of their work and learning process. Photos of the event will follow soon.

This is the second year of the successful work and scholarship partnership between the LSRPA  and Mercer High School.