Richard’s tradition of helping others continues with the annual $2,000.00 scholarship established by the Richard Cudina Memorial Foundation which will be awarded to a Voorhees High School graduating senior that meets specific criteria.

Scholarship Applications for the 2009-2010 year will be available in the Voorhees High School Main Office and Guidance Department starting March 1, 2010 are will be due May 1, 2010.

The Richard Cudina Memorial Committee will select the winner from all eligible applications.

The winning essay will be posted on this site.

The following is a list of 2009 winners:

Julianna Pennucci - $1,000.00

Shaina Fimbel - $500.00

Sarah Benton - $250.00

James Ray - $250.00

The following is Julianna Pennucci’s essay, printed here with her permission. Julianna wrote this for her college application essay after visiting the memorial.

Seven years ago, a tragedy struck America, but I felt its influence the hardest this year – 2008. Imagine losing a husband of thirty years, your sole companion for more than half of your life, in a second that is a tragedy. Georgia felt that tragedy when she receive no phone call from her husband after the towers fell, at first she was hopeful and then panicked, and now she is touching people all around her to show our local community that the evil in the world cannot stop positive people with optimistic attitudes.

The day that I met Georgia, I realized that when you volunteer you never know what to expect. It was September 10, 2008 and as part of my service for Key Club (a community service based organization) I helped place over one thousand flags in the ground at a local park. The flags would be part of a memorial for all of those lost in 9/11 – especially Georgia’s husband. I pulled into the parking lot and at first I did not see the flags, however when I turned I saw them waving in the wind. I instantly got shivers all over my body. I walked up to what looked like a woman in charge, usually people trying got accomplish such a large task seem busy and often impersonal, not this woman. The woman to whom I introduced myself to was Georgia. Georgia did not give me a task right away; instead the warmth in her personality radiated and instantly made me feel connected and welcome to Georgia. The connection I felt with her, made me smile for the next few days. It made me think that if one person can have such an influence on each person she meets, why can’t we all? Now when I go to volunteer for Key Club, or Girl Scouts I want people to know that the help I am giving them is not because I want the “hours” of service, but because I want to provide others with the same simple happiness that Georgia gave me that day: the happiness that someone you do not even know cares.

At Philadelphia University I could emulate Georgia, by spreading my ability to relate to everyone. There is no one that I would not want to help, no matter how different or similar they are to myself. At a diverse university, like Philadelphia University I could help to promote the diversity that makes each person a positive addition to the scenery and I would benefit from the large setting to build myself into a more open person by joining community organizations and becoming involved in a form of student government.