Student Khadijah Scriven, second from
right, recently received a community service award from Allstate New Jersey.
Also pictured, from left, are Nina Eidell, a vice president with Allstate
Insurance Company; award recipient Vanessa Tyler, New Jersey reporter
for WPIX-TV/Channel 11, who also received an award; Allstate New Jersey's
President Richard C. Crist, Jr.; award recipient Vaughn L. McKoy, director
of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; and Dennis Gomez, a vice
president with Allstate Financial.
Student honored by Allstate New Jersey for community
service
Student Khadijah Scriven of Newark was named the community
honoree at the annual "From Whence We Came," Black History Month
luncheon sponsored by Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company (Allstate
New Jersey).
The luncheon was recently held at the First Baptist Church of Lincoln
Gardens in Somerset. The theme of this year's awards program was "Achieving
Against the Odds." The awards are given by Allstate New Jersey to
honor achievement by African-Americans in New Jersey, recognizing their
contributions to helping people of African and African-American descent.
Scriven was feted for overcoming homelessness and other inner-city ills
to give back to her Newark community.
Before coming to Montclair State, Scriven was a student at Essex County
Community College, where she graduated with honors and served as student
body president.
Growing up in New York and Newark, Scriven battled abuse, a series of
foster homes and a revolving door of nine grade schools. As a young adult,
she was nearly overpowered by the ills of urban life and some bad personal
decisions. These circumstances led to homelessness and a short sentence
behind bars. After enduring these hardships, she chose to change her life
and enrolled as a student at the Newark-based community college.
Scriven is a volunteer at Newark's Goodwill Rescue Millsion and the Essex
County court system's Juvenile Auto Theft Prevention Program (JATPP),
motivating incarcerated youths with her personal story and accomplishments.
For her outstanding work in the community, Scriven was presented with
the award, shaped in the form of the Sankofa bird, which in African folkloric
tradition, looks backward while flying forward. The Sankofa symbolizes
the wisdom in remembering the past while moving toward a brighter future.
Other award recipients included Vanessa Tyler, New Jersey reporter for
WPIX-TV, and Vaughn L. McKoy, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal
Justice.
Montclair resident receives L. Howard Fox Award
Kevin Lee Allen '81, a production designer from Montclair, received this
year's L. Howard Fox Award, which is presented annually by the Department
of Theatre and Dance to an alumna/nus who has dedicated his or her talents
to the University and has shown outstanding performance in the field.
Allen was presented with the award Feb. 26 after a performance of "The
Rivals," a show for which he designed the set, at the Fox Theatre.
The award is named after the founding chair of the then-Department of
Speech and Theatre. Fox retired in 1977 after 33 years of service at the
University. He died in 1996. Fox's family started the award to honor his
memory by encouraging alumni to continue their support and involvement
with the department and its students.
Allen, owner of Kevin Allen Design in Montclair, won an Emmy Award in
1990 for his work on "The Petrified Forest," a Jack Klugman
production in Philadelphia.
Students recognized for outstanding work
Thirty-five students will be awarded this year's Outstanding Student Employee
Award. Each will receive a $100 gift certificate to the University bookstore,
and all nominees will receive a certificate of recognition.
The Student Employee Awards Reception will be held Wednesday, April 14,
4 -5:30 p.m. in the Student Center, Dining Room. For more information,
call Adam Mayer at 973-655-7245.
The recipients are Aliza Alvarado, Jaison Frazier, Melissa Nascimento,
Jessica Bender, Waleed Gabr, Lea Wangui Ndirangu, Patrice A. Brown, Yuridia
Gutierrez, Thomas Nelson, Jessica Capozzolo, Joseph C. Inga, Tanya Purdy,
Leanne Catina, Priyanka John, Glodibil Ramos, Niraj Chhabra, Hsueh Ju
Chang, Sara M. Saber, Jeanette Cho, Randa Khalil, Jillian Salvatore, Nancy
DesRosiers, Joanna K. Lewek, Melissa Strauss, Esther Diaz, Corey Lucas,
Marie Tizon, Joel Diaz, Merkur Maclang, Steve Wehrle, Ileana Fajardo,
Carlee Malkowski, David Zaffos, Samantha Fils-Aime and Elzbieta Michalska.