CCTEC STRIVE Students Win 12 Medals at 2018 Special Olympics
(Clockwise from left to right: John F. Scarpa, major donor; Dr. Dina Rossi Elliott, CCTEC Superintendent; Terry Bova, General Manager, Wawa #964 on Second Street in Millville; Matt Storar, General Manager, Wawa #924 on Sherman Ave. and Delsea Dr. in Vineland; Sherri Caterina, Area Manager for Vineland and Millville; CCTEC STRIVE student Daniel Fomich, of Millville; and CCTEC STRIVE student Tabitha Cheesman, of Bridgeton.)
VINELAND, NJ (June 25, 2018) – In a demonstration of its commitment to local technical and special education, The Wawa Foundation donated $50,000 towards the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center of Cumberland County’s STRIVE (Students Training Rigorously In Vocational Education) program, which educates special needs students and helps them reach their full educational and independence potential.
In a check presentation ceremony held June 19th, CCTEC Superintendent Dina Rossi Elliott and John F. Scarpa accepted the generous contribution from Wawa Area Manager Sherri Caterina, and praised The Wawa Foundation for its investment in CCTEC’s STRIVE program.
The grant will directly benefit the STRIVE program by allowing the school to improve equipment in culinary, safety, horticulture and business classes. Additionally, funds will be used to cover the school’s Special Olympics costs, which include transportation, uniforms, equipment and specialized instructors.
“CCTEC Foundation is thankful to The Wawa Foundation for its generous grant and dedicated support of our already successful STRIVE program,” Ron Franceschini, Jr., CCTEC Foundation Board of Trustees President, said. “These funds will help CCTEC better serve its STRIVE students and staff in its goal to create a world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and served regardless of their abilities.”
“All of us at Wawa are truly inspired to hear about the incredible work of CCTEC’s STRIVE program,” Wawa Foundation President Jared Culotta said. “The tremendous opportunity these students receive to develop the skills needed to be independent and employed is phenomenal, and we’re happy to support the program.”
STRIVE is a program at Scarpa TEC that includes up to 40 students ages 14 to 21. STRIVE offers job-training experience in the school’s café and horticulture labs, along with life skills to become independent.
CCTEC’s STRIVE students participated in this year’s Special Olympics, held June 8-10 at The College of New Jersey. In total, 12 students won medals:
Anthony Hunter - 200 M Dash 4th place, 400 M Dash, Gold
Teghan Keeney - 200 M Dash 7th place, 400 M Dash, Gold
Eric Kinash - 100 M Dash Silver, Shot Put, Gold
Autumn Sammartino - 100 M Dash Silver, Softball Throw, Gold
Giovanni Tirado - Running Long Jump 4th place, Shot Put, Gold
Tabby Cheesman - 400 M Walk Silver, Softball throw, Silver
Rebecca Garrison - 400 M Walk Bronze, Softball throw, Silver
Chris Pullen - 400 M Walk Gold, Shot Put, Silver
Kassidy Honaker - 400 M Walk Silver, Softball Throw, Silver
Danny Fomich - 200 M Dash, 7th place, Shot Put, Bronze
Kanazsha Johnson - Shot Put Gold, 400 M Walk, Bronze
George Webber - 100 M Dash 8th place, Shot Put, Bronze
About The Wawa Foundation
The Wawa Foundation is an extension of Wawa’s commitment to fulfilling lives every day. The Wawa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded by Wawa, Inc. to support the company’s charitable giving and philanthropic activities, and ultimately to help build happier, stronger communities. The Wawa Foundation focuses its support on organizations committed to health, hunger and everyday heroes through local, regional and national grants. Since its 2014 inception, The Wawa Foundation and Wawa have contributed more than $50 million to non-profit community organizations. About The Cumberland County Technical Education Center (CCTEC) Foundation:
The CCTEC Foundation is an independent, non-profit, community-based corporation formed for the purpose of providing increased community support for Cumberland County Technical Education Center students who study at the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center of Cumberland County. The purpose and goal of the CCTEC Foundation is to assist CCTEC by conducting fundraising activities; seeking and accepting donations of all appropriate types in order to offer scholarships to CCTEC graduates. For more information call 856-451-9000 ext. 2206.