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<h1><font face="Arial" size="4">Moment for Mission Archive</font></h1>

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<p><b><font face="Arial" size="3">Rutgers Scholarship Fund</b>

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by Alison McNamara

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A moment for mission presented at the Rutgers Presbyterian Church

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on June 6, 2004.</font></p>


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<p>I hope that everyone is doing well this morning.  I am Alison McNamara; 

I grew up in this church my entire life.  I attended Sunday School and 

church trips and many other functions here at the church.  In many ways, 

this church and its members are a part of my family.  4 years ago I began 

attending college at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.  My goal 

then and now was to become a physician.  During the past 4 years, I bounced 

from a major in Biology to Chemistry and then decided on both.  In my last 

2 years, I added a minor in Philosophy and Religion.  I had a lot of 

wonderful experiences while in school and received what I consider to be a 

top-rate education.  I just graduated cum laude on May 8, and I am proud to 

say that I received honors in both of my majors.  Among the experiences I 

enjoyed while in school were the past 2 summers doing NIH funded research 

at the university of Indiana Bloomington and at East Carolina University's 

Brody School of Medicine.  Throughout my four years of college, I have 

received support from the church and the congregation both spiritually and 

financially through the scholarship program.  The money I received from the 

scholarship program here at the church helped me pay for my books, which as 

many of you know are very expensive, and other school supplies.  The support 

made a significant difference in my ability to succeed as a student.  In 

addition, the knowledge that the congregation here backed me provided me 

with motivation.</p>


<p>Right now I am taking an interesting route to achieving my goals.  I 

have decided to join the United States Army and will be entering the service 

to become a medic.  I make that decision following a lot of soul searching 

and weighing of options.  I also make the decision knowing that I have my 

own family and the family here at the church backing me in any decisions I 

make.</p>


<p>I want to thank God for the ability and commitment to succeed in school.  

I also would like to thank some people here at the church who have been 

very important in my journey through school and life.  First and foremost, 

I would like to thank my mom for always being there and always being a 

strong person, full of criticism, mainly constructive, and guidance.  I 

would like to thank Reverend Shafer for being a spiritual fixture here at 

the church.  I want to thank Reverend Laura Jervis, whom I have known for 

many years; she has taught me a lot and has always provided me with 

encouragement.  I want to thank Cheryl Pyrch for being the major contact 

person for the scholarship program and for her wonderfully supportive 

attitude, and I want to thank the church’s congregation for their help and 

support for the past 20 years of my life.</p>


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