Provided/The Margate Business Association held a scholarship awards ceremony at the Margate City Public Library, July 12. From left, scholarship program founder Daniel Walters, scholarship recipients John Alice of Mainland Regional High School and Robert Fishbein of Atlantic City High School, and scholarship co-founder Maria Walters.

MARGATE – This year’s Margate Business Association Daniel and Maria Walters Scholarship Program challenged Margate’s graduating seniors to respond in essay form to a growing problem in our country: bullying.

Two finalists in the annual competition, Robert Fishbein of Atlantic City High School and John Alice of Mainland Regional High School were each awarded $2,500 for their overall achievements, outstanding recommendations and exceptional essays. Both recipients are Margate residents who attended the Margate City public schools.

According to one of Robert Fishbein’s references, “his maturity, personality, time management skills, and academic excellence are admirable; Robert is the total package.”

In his essay, Fishbein said, “I believe two major ways to combat bullying deal with self-esteem and kindness.”

He will attend Florida State University in the fall as a finance major.

John Alice received glowing recommendations, one of which read: “John has the best combination of qualities and characteristics for which any student should strive—great character, curiosity, an open mind to better understanding, a wisdom beyond his years.”

In his essay, Alice said, “Helping a student understand that self-worth is not tied to what a bully says can increase self-confidence and take power away from a bully. Education, not punishment, is the way to end bullying in schools.”

Alice will attend Johns Hopkins University as a neuro-science major.

According to a release announcing the awards, both students admirably met the challenge in this year’s Margate Business Association’s Scholarship competition.

Since its inception, the Danieland Maria Walters Scholarship Program has awarded $120,700 in scholarships. The program  is supported in part by the MBA’s annual Wine Tasting.

The 19th annual event will be held, Friday July 29 on the athletic fields at Edgmar Circle. The event features wine and spirit sampling, cash bar, appetizers, live and silent auctions, outdoor games and the dynamic band, Usual Suspects.

For tickets, to sponsor or donate an auction item visit MBA Wine .

 

Categories: Margate

Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.