HUGE "Family SHOUT-OUT"--Since the inception of the "Ruckman Scholarship", We have already awarded OVER $ 44,500.00 in Scholarships.
Previous Scholarship Winners-What Are They Doing Today?
We are PROUD of our many Scholarship winners, and want to "showcase" what they have been doing since completing their education.
Blaine H. (Earned scholarships in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
I am happy to announce that I am now working as an environmental geologist for URS Corporation, the United State's largest engineering and environmental firm.
I have worked on a variety of sites so far, such as investigating stream pollution in southwest Missouri, maintaining an oil recovery program at a Kansas oil refinery, installing treatment systems at a former Air Force base, and more.
This job has been very rewarding and I am very happy that I found the perfect job for me.
The education I received with help from the Ruckman scholarship has proved to be perfect for the job.
The Ruckman scholarship is different from any other scholarship I received because it represents the support of the entire family, and that is very valuable. I appreciate everybody who helped contribute to my education.
Rachel, (Earned scholarships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009).
"I received a formal offer for employment 8 days after I graduated from UCF. I have been working at the same middle school since then, and I am finishing up my third year. My first year of teaching, I was selected as the New Teacher of the Year. This year, I was given the position of Department Head for Language Arts, and now have a leadership role in my school. Since I received the Ruckman Scholarship, as well as a few other scholarships, I was able to graduate college debt free--which is quite wonderful.
Erica D. (Earned Scholarships-2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
I attended Towson University for my undergraduate degree (2004-2008) and graduated with a degree in Public Relations. I was unable to find a job after graduation due to the country's financial crisis and decided to take a managerial job with my family's coffee and tea company. In 2010, I decided to follow my passion and started graduate school to get a Master's in School Counseling. I will be graduating McDaniel College this December and hope to find a job in a county school soon after.
I recently got engaged to the love of my life of three years and we plan to wed May 31st, 2014 at the Baltimore Zoo, in Maryland.
Brandon (Joey) T. (Earned Scholarships-1999, 2000, 2001, 2005).
I completed my undergraduate studies at West Virginia University in Morgantown with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a minor in communication studies in May 2002.
I then moved back to my hometown to work at Summersville Memorial Hospital (now Summersville Regional Medical Center) as a clinical laboratory scientist (also known as a medical technologist).
Most people don’t know what a medical technologist is or what they do. Medical Technologists are skilled professionals who perform and analyze laboratory tests used to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders. In addition to performing many types of important laboratory tests, medical technologists interpret data, analyze results, develop new procedures, manage information, and communicate with other members of the health care team including physicians and nurses.
A medical technologist’s specific knowledge and skills include culturing and identifying bacteria, using a microscope to differentiate cells, microorganisms, and crystals; and operating complex electronic instruments to analyze blood for the presence of normal, abnormal and malignant chemical elements, cells, and components. Medical Technologists also determine drug levels to assess treatment and to detect drugs of abuse; prepare and select blood for transfusion; and evaluate the chemical, cellular, and immune composition of blood, and other body fluids. We often operate sophisticated computerized instrumentation and utilize data management to provide patient care.
In May 2004, I moved to Charleston to work at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital. I continued to broaden my experience as a medical technologist and performed specialized laboratory tests including those to determine fetal maturity and to diagnose and treat pediatric cancers. I began assuming charge technologist duties which included supervising fellow personnel. While working full time, I pursued a Master of Science in Laboratory Administration at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY which I completed in December 2006. Having completed my graduate studies and 3 years of employment at WACH, I decided to make a leap of faith and move to New England.
In the summer of 2007, I found myself in Connecticut. After taking a month off to explore my new home, I began working at Yale New Haven Hospital – the destination hospital of Yale University. I’ve worked in the Chemistry Laboratory here going on 6 years and have since been promoted to Assistant Chief Technologist since September 2010. In my current position I supervise laboratory operations including scheduling work assignments, utilize advanced problem solving, monitor environmental issues and safety, maintain ordering and inventory control, and participate and contribute to Quality Control and Quality Assurance for the department.
I also monitor staff compliance with attendance and punctuality, contribute to staff performance evaluations, coordinate and assist with the orientation of new employees, medical students, and laboratory residents as well as monitor compliance with state and federal laboratory standards. Throughout my 11+ year career, I have also had a strong participation in information technology and contributed to numerous projects and system implementations. I have grown from a new graduate working in my hometown hospital, supervising fellow colleagues and obtaining a Master’s degree, to working at one of the nation’s top Ivy League associated hospitals all while earning the respect and admiration of my managers, directors, and peers. I am very thankful for the financial and moral support of my family. The hard work and determination I learned to appreciate has helped make me into the person I am today.
Scott H. (Earned Scholarships-1994, 2005, 2006)
I am a new school counselor (since 12/2011)at a Technical High School, in CT. For the first time ever I am enjoying "a summer off," which is definitely enjoyable, also but confusing because I often forget what day it is--if only all of life's problems could be this taxing. I am occupying my time by helping family, playing guitar in a band and working on an endless number of really cool projects; some of which are turning a tube television into a fish tank for my office, working on musical equipment and building related electronic sound effects, making custom shelves for my new apartment and restoring an engine for a small boat I wish to enjoy on the nearby lake in my free time.
How I've Done
In all that I have accomplished over the years, I feel like a superstar. Since graduating from automotive technology training in 1995 I went on an arduous journey, one full of challenges and personal reflection. I feel as though I have navigated through several "perfect storms." Interestingly, sometimes figuring out ourselves, moreover life itself, can be tremendously challenging. But considering that I'm going to live to be 100, it's nice to be where I'm at now. There are going to be decades of great things to come.
I have worked at both of Connecticut's casinos, for over ten years, from 1995 through 2006. But it was at Mohegan Sun where I met three wonderful people, who I refer to as my "Angels sent," and they helped to forever change my life. They spoke almost every day about higher education and that I was "too smart and too young to be stuck working at a casino." One gentleman was a retired principle and found in me qualities he thought would benefit students. So at his suggestion I started volunteering at a middle school. I finished my undergraduate degree at Central Connecticut State University, where I double majored in both elementary education and history and creative writing. During my volunteering and school experiences, insight into students' personal and social struggles at school and home found me interested in school counseling. I finished my master program in May of 2011, from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT.
So here I am, now a licensed counselor at a trade school (my dream job), where I am able to express my passion and support of the trades--while also being adept in aspects of many of them (automotive, carpentry, electronics... dabbling in plumbing and electrical) and where I am able to work with students to assist them with identifying and achieving their personal and professional goals... while also helping them with "wrong turns" and "bumps in the road" they encounter while on each of their personal journeys.
All in all, I have done exceedingly well. But for for the rest of my life I will know at least one absolute truth: I could not have done it without the love, kindness, generosity and support of family, friends... and the Lord, who definitely watched over me.
Thank you so very much for the support in past years. I have and will never forget.
Respectfully Submitted
Natalie (Earned Scholarships 2007, 2008, 2009)
I graduated magna cum laude, from Stevenson University in May of 2011 with a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication Design (more commonly known as Graphic Design). While at Stevenson, I thoroughly enjoyed my studies and played 4 years on the Stevenson University Women's Field Hockey Team. I am so grateful for the scholarships provided by the Ruckman Scholarship Committee, as they aided in my ability to attend the school of my choice and have an unforgettable experience.
After graduation, I was hired in July of 2011 for the Junior Graphic Designer position at Kelly & Associates Insurance Group. I am happy to report that I am still employed with KELLY almost two years later and look forward to working for KELLY for a long time. I feel extremely blessed to be working for such a wonderful company. Having a solid education provided me with an upper-hand while searching for jobs in a very down economy.
Thank you again for assisting in my journey. A solid education is a priceless commodity.
Rebecca (Earned Scholarships 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
In December of 2011 I received my MS in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. In September of the same year I joined Americorps, which is the domestic version of the Peace Corps. I pledged a year of national service to Americorps VISTA, whose mission is to eradicate poverty in the United States. VISTA members are placed with local nonprofits or government agencies in their assigned area to help accomplish this mission. I am stationed in Orlando, and the individuals who started the initiative decided that Orlando was going to eradicate poverty by focusing on two important issues: increasing youth literacy and decreasing youth crime. The nonprofit Orlando Cares was born, and has five different programs within it. I'm placed with 4-H [I'm sure more people up there are aware of 4-H than down here in Orlando!] and I run a program called The Garden. This program runs for 10 weeks at a time in city community centers and brings agricultural, nutritional, and career education to at-risk 3rd through 5th graders. Each child has their own container garden, we have a group outdoor garden plot, and then we also have a hydroponics station [which is growing plants in water instead of soil]. Each week I bring in guest speakers from the community who are experts on their topic to talk to the kids about various things, and then we do a hands-on activity. The program is funded by several national and local grants, so we track the progress of the participants in things like nutritional awareness and life skills [responsibility, leadership, etc]. The goal of the program is to develop these kids and start the foundation to successful adulthood. So I recruit and train volunteers, educate the community, analyze the data, report for our grants, and run the day-to-day activities of the program.
Our program is facing hurdles due to the sequestration and all the budget problems, so the number of people on the team has dropped, without the ability to hire more people. So in recent months I've also begun running another program, called Path Finders, that partners with Junior Achievement to provide career exploration to at-risk middle schoolers and high schoolers who are already involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice. We use Junior Achievement curriculum to talk about values, goals, educational options, and the sheer variety of careers that are available. The neat part of this program is the week that we bring in local business owners and the kids get to do a "career speed exploration" that is set up much the same as speed dating - the business owners stay put, and the kids rotate and get to ask each person questions for about 5 minutes. We try to get a variety of business owners out to talk. The following week we actually get to take a field trip to those places of business to see what it actually entails to be the General Manager of a Papa John's, or the CEO of a pallet distribution company, etc. Then we work with the students to help them create their own career map of what steps they might need to take to reach their desired career.
The interesting part about Americorps is that it is much like the Peace Corps in pay. When you pledge your year of service you also pledge to live in poverty for that year, so that you may better understand the community that you serve. So your pay structure is index to poverty in the area that you are placed. Technically Americorps members are volunteers, and so we don't actually receive pay, but rather, a monthly stipend. It's certainly been an enlightening journey, as Orlando Cares is partnered with the City of Orlando, so I straddle the world of professional city government at one moment and the inner-city struggles at another moment.
My year of service is up in September 2013, and so I am already starting to look for jobs for after that. I've applied to become a program manager for another Americorps program called City Year, which addresses the alarmingly large high school dropout rate. But that job is a regular salaried position. I've considered other nonprofits, and I've also considered teaching, and so have applied for my teaching certificate. I'm not quite sure what my path will look like in a few months, but my mindset has been forever changed by the experiences that I've had in the past 8 months.
Thank you again to the scholarship committee for their investment in my future!
