Two Students Awarded Scholarships from the Students Supporting Students Campaign

Madison Malave and William Scharf were each awarded their first college scholarship, thanks in large part to the students of Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE).

The scholarships for Malave and Scharf came from the 2014 Students Supporting Students Campaign. The campaign, which originated in 2013, encourages current GSE students to support their peers by helping to fund scholarship opportunities.

The 2014 campaign saw an increase in overall student participation compared to its inaugural year, resulting in two scholarship awards.

“I think not only is it important for everyone to support students,” explains Scharf, “but also for students to support other students.”

Both Malave and Scharf were thrilled to receive their scholarship, but were even more grateful knowing that fellow students helped to support them.

“This scholarship is special because it came from my peers who felt encouraged to give back,” says Malave.

Malave understands the importance of philanthropy from her work with her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma. Through fundraising initiatives like RU4Kids, Malave and her sorority sisters raised close to $75,000 in two years.

Both Malave and Scharf feel giving back is important because it creates a good community and inspires others to want to help and get involved.  They also feel a teacher has the same power.

Malave knew she wanted to be a teacher before coming to Rutgers University, but it took some time for Scharf to find his calling in the field of education.

In his mid 50s, Scharf left a private sector job to go back to school full-time and earn his undergraduate degree. After getting his bachelor's degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey, Scharf then earned his master’s degree from Rutgers University-Newark and applied to the GSE in 2010.

Scharf is currently an adjunct professor working on completing his Ed.D., while Malave is looking forward to inspiring elementary school students when she graduates this May from GSE’s Ed.M. program.

Help inspire GSE students like Scharf and Malave by making a gift to the 2015 Students Supporting Students Campaign.