Mt. Olive Lights Up Blue & Yellow To Pray For Ukraine

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Mt. Olive High School students enjoyed the first week of school without masks since New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy lifted restrictions starting March 7, leaving individual school districts to decide.  The MOSD has made face masks optional indoors.

"It feels like the first day of school," says sophomore Devin Conway on Monday, March 7. When asked why, he says, "because I will be able to see everyone's faces again." On his way out the door, though, he says "I think I'll bring my mask just in case."

Chris and Ragnar lost their home when a resident died last fall. They are cuddly sweet 6-7 year old boys, healthy and up to date on shots, neutered, microchipped, and negative for FIV/FeLV. As you can see, they really love each other and want to stay together, and the Mt. Olive TNR Project can't bear to separate them. Do you have room in your heart and home for both of them? They're gentle giants and sweet as can be from being bottle fed as kittens. Ragnar, the black and white one, follows his fosterer around like a dog (and also doesn't mind the actual dog in the home). Chris is quieter but loves to cuddle. If you'd like to meet them, contact mtolivetnr@gmail.com or (973) 804-6273 or fill out an application at www.mtolivetnr.org.

A Purim Message from Rabbi Yaacov Shusterman, Chabad Jewish Center, 

Mt. Olive  Purim is here, with its food baskets, Hamantaschen, groggers, and of course- kids dressed in all sorts of costumes and masks.

These days, there is a lot to say about wearing masks. In the past, we would associate masks with fun and silliness, but now we know they offer protection. And, to be honest, sometimes, we find that there is a certain comfort about wearing masks. They allow us privacy when we want to be concealed. They allow us to become anonymous when we need to be.

Of course, the best part is that masks are removable. When we get outside, we have the liberty to pull them off.    Purim has many themes, and the mask is one of them. Queen Esther hides her identity. Her very name means a secret. G-d is hidden throughout the story, leading the average reader to assume that it is a story of coincidence and fate.  Yet, the scroll we read is called Megillat Esther. The word Megilla comes from the Hebrew root work - Legalot - to reveal, and Esther, of course, means a secret. Esther wrote the Megilla to reveal this amazing secret - there had indeed been a great miracle! If one would read the sequence of events, one would truly recognize that G-d, although hidden and sometimes masked, was truly always there orchestrating the events.  And so on Purim, we dress up.  We wear masks and costumes to change the way we look in order to celebrate the mystery and the hidden. We wear masks to affirm that G-d is always behind the scene, involved in every detail of our lives.  However, let us not forget that the goal is to take the masks off and to constantly recognize this. 

Please join us for a grand Purim party at the new Chabad Jewish Center on Thursday, March 17.  Please visit our website at www.mychabadcenter.com/Purim for more information.  If you or anyone else you know is in need of a place at a Seder for Passover, please reach out to Rabbi Yaacov Shusterman at 973-933-6011, or rsvp at www.mychabadcenter.com/seder.  CHAG SAMEACH! 

Musconetcong Lodge #42 F&AM in Budd Lake invites all to an all you can eat breakfast fundraiser set for Sunday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Proceeds are to help the lodge building overhead.

Menu includes: Scrambled eggs, pancakes, Texas French toast, home fries, Belgian waffles with famous homemade strawberry sauce and whipped cream, bacon, sausage, Taylor ham or pork roll, orange and apple juice, chocolate milk, coffee, tea. Cost is $9 per person; $8 seniors 62 and older; $5 children 4-10; under 4 free.
 

On Thursday, March 10, Mt. Olive Twp. received a generous donation from Anthony Moreno, general manager of Walmart in Ledgewood for the Ukrainian people. Pictured, from left, is Dawn Fox Anthony Moreno and Cassandra Judkins. Missing in photo is Heather Beeh.

Morris County’s Hope Hub team, from left, Al Shurdom, a clinician with the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris; Morris County Sheriff's Office Corporal Erica Valvano; Sheriff James Gannon; Hope Hub Coordinator Officer Chelsea Whiting and CARES Peer Recovery Specialist Carrie Bailey.

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon’s Hope Hub program hit its First Anniversary last week, marking more than 150 situations in the program’s first year that critical services were brought to individuals or families identified as being at an acutely elevated risk of needing assistance. 

The anniversary was marked with a breakfast celebration on Friday, March 4, morning and review of Hope Hub accomplishments over the past year at the Morris County Office of Emergency Management offices in Parsippany Twp.

Hope Hub, the second program of its type in the nation, is a multidisciplinary panel made up of law enforcement, social services, mental health services, healthcare providers, treatment providers and recovery specialists. When representatives of various agencies identify struggling individuals and families, Hope Hub’s panel of professionals tries to connect with them and link them to life-changing services.

Hope Hub is an expansion of the Sheriff’s Hope One project. Hope One is a mobile recovery access vehicle that has been entering communities for nearly five years to offer critical support to persons struggling with addiction. The goal is preventing drug overdoses and deaths, as well as offering mental health services.     Spearheaded by Hope Hub Coordinator Officer Chelsea Whiting, the Hope Hub panel meets each week to determine if an individual or family, identified as at-risk by law enforcement, the courts or services agencies and nonprofits, would benefit from various service sectors. Those applicable agencies then work together as a team to do a door knock or intervention.

It was on March 5, 2021, Gannon and Whiting successfully launched Hope Hub. Because Hope Hub assisted in more than 150 situations in just its first year, a Hope Hub Social Case Worker, Kim Cacciabeve, was added to the team.  They are working together to help individuals and families struggling in Morris County. 

The Morris County Sheriff’s Office is proud to work with partners such as the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mental Health Association, the Center for Addiction, Recovery, Education & Success (CARES), the Morris County Chiefs of Police Association, Interfaith Food Pantry, Nourish NJ, Acenda Integrated Health, Family Promise of Morris, Child and Family Resources, the Morris County Department of Human Services, and more.

Gannon says he believes these public and private partnerships in Morris County, N.J. truly make a difference.     For those working with someone at an acutely elevated risk, in need of various services, refer them to the Hope Hub!     https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Sheriff/Community-Programs/Hope-Hub

Frankie is a very handsome senior front declawed cat being fostered by Mt. Olive TNR Project. MOTNR's vet estimates that he's about 13 years old. Frankie entered foster care when his owner passed away. He was nervous after leaving his home for 10 years and spent his first couple of weeks hiding.  Since settling into a new routine he's decided that people are nice. Now he greets his foster parents with soft chirps every time they come into the foster room.  He likes to rub his head on people and other cats.  He loves feeding time and eagerly waits for his plate of food which he often shares with his foster brother.  He does not like being picked up or held and will try to squirm away.  He's curious and increasingly wants to explore.  He has blossomed since coming into foster and would do great with someone who has experience with cats and can give him time and space to adjust.  His ideal home would have another friendly cat who does not mind some rather firm headbutts.  If interested in meeting Frankie, contact Mt. Olive TNR at mtolivetnr@gmail.com or (973) 804-6273 or fill out an application at www.mtolivetnr.org.

Mary Ledyard of Rockaway Borough, who was presented with the Morris County “2022 Seeds of Change Award," was congratulated by Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.

Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners celebrated Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, by honoring the Girl Scouts of the USA and presenting awards to two Morris County women for making a significant difference in the community. 

“Tonight, we celebrate International Women’s Day as well as recognize Women’s History Month, which this board will do officially through a special resolution,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. “However, we also will pay tribute to the Girl Scouts of America turning 110 years old, and salute one of the founding members of our Morris County Advisory Committee on Women -- and honor a Morris County woman whose inspiration to other women in our community has earned her the 2022 Seed of Change Award.”

Carole Harper of Morris Plains, one of the original members of the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women, was honored for her nearly two-decades of service on the committee with a special Resolution of Honor issued by the board.  Harper previously serviced on the County College of Morris Board of Trustees, where she helped to establish a scholarship fund that has provided financial aid to women seeking to expand their education for more than 20 years.

“Thank you so very much for this recognition," said Harper. "The focus of my professional life and community service have been as an advocate for women and their families. I am especially proud to have been part of the establishment of the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women. Since 2003 the Committee as sought to identify the needs and concerns of the women of Morris County. As our county grows so do the challenges faced by our families, foremost our women.”

Thanking the people she worked with over the past 20 years, Harper also commended the Commissioners for providing the services to address problems such as homelessness, abuse, child care and employment for women and for supporting not-for-profit agencies seeking to provide solutions to those problems.  Mary Ledyard of Rockaway Borough was presented with the Morris County “2022 Seeds of Change Award,” an honor that highlights and celebrates Morris County women whose work on the grassroots level have motivated other women to become active in their communities. The award was presented to the honoree by Karen O’Keeffe, chair of the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women.  “There was one thing that happened to me when I was younger, when someone said, ‘You only volunteer because it makes you feel good,’” explains Ledyard in accepting the award. “And I was offended at first … and finally I realized that, there’s nothing wrong with feeling good about helping people. It kind of became my thing. The purpose of life is not just to be happy all the time. It’s to make a difference and to help those around you.”  

Carole Harper of Morris Plains, one of the original members of the Morris County Advisory Committee on Women, thanked Morris County for the Resolution of Honor presented by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners.

Inspired by the example of the late state Sen. Leanna Brown, a groundbreaking leader in Morris County, the “Seeds of Change Award” had been issued only twice – in 2018 and 2019 –before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily interrupted the Advisory Committee activities.  Ledyard was noted for her many years of volunteerism, from groups assisting children with developmental disabilities and restoring trout habitat, to aiding veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, raising funds for St. Clare’s Hospital in Dover, and aiding victims of war and disaster through Project Kind. She also has worked with Family Promise, homeless shelters, food pantries and helped children and families in need.  The third honor of the event was presented to Girls Scouts of the USA in recognition of the organization’s 110th

Anniversary and National Girl Scout Week, which runs from March 6 through March 12. Accepting a Resolution of Honor on behalf of the organization was Jeannine Perry of the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and some North Jersey Girl Scouts: Jillian Hamway, Alexa Hamway, and Corra Perry. 

Girl Scouts is the largest and most impactful leadership program for girls around the world. The organization was founded on March 12, 1922 by Juliette Gordon Low of Savanna, Georgia after she met the founder of Scouting, British Officer Robert Baden-Powell.

“Our girls and volunteers affect positive change in our community and the world through small acts of kindness and through big ideas that make a lasting impact,” said Gordon Low as she accepted the Morris County resolution of honor.  “Through the Girl Scout leadership experience, we build girls of courage, confidence and character who do make the world a better place; and the Girls Scouts and volunteers of Morris County thank you for your honor and proclamation.”  The resolution noted Girl Scouts has emphasized public service and civic engagement, and fostered a sense of community in girls. The organization also has worked to champion their ambitions, cultivate their talents and develop their skills to confidently pursue their passions and make the world a better place.

“Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, N.J., that the week of March 6 to March 12, 2022 be proclaimed Girl Scout Week in Morris County, and that the Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey be wished continued success as they embark on another century of nurturing and shaping the leadership abilities of girls everywhere,” the resolution concludes.

Myron Bytz (holding resolution) with other local Ukrainians joined the Morris County Commissioners in pledging solidarity with the people of Ukraine against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Morris County’s Board of County Commissioners last night joined members of the local Ukrainian community in a moment of silence and sang the Ukraine national anthem as the board presented a formal resolution declaring solidarity with the Ukrainian people against the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine in Eastern Europe. 

The Ukrainian community, an estimated 12,000 people living in and around Morris County, have been an active part of the region for more than 100 years, and a dozen of them joined community leader Myron Bytz in accepting the framed, signed and sealed resolution from the board.  “Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of all Ukrainians, thank you for your support,” said Bytz, who was accompanied by his wife, Christina, and grandson, Atlas.

“As President Zelensky stated, we Ukrainians are a peaceful nation, but if we remain silent today, we will be gone tomorrow. I say, thank you world for speaking out on our behalf, and for your support. We will not be gone tomorrow or ever.

"Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes,” he added.

The group sang the Ukraine national anthem, with their hands held over their hearts, and held two moments of silence with the commissioners in an emotional gathering. 

“The situation on the ground is one of horror,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. 

“Neighborhoods have been destroyed. Civilians have been deliberately targeted for attacks and hundreds have been killed. Two million people who once lived peaceful, hardworking lives in Ukraine have been forced to flee their beloved nation. Tonight, my fellow commissioners and I are declaring our solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against the truly evil onslaught brought down on their homeland by Vladimir Putin.”  Bytz also presented the commissioners with a Ukrainian flag, which was hung from the meeting room dais.  Everyone interested in donating funds and goods – with medical supplies being a top priority – was urged by Bytz to connect with the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey at https://uaccnj.org

Launched on Valentine’s Day with a $5 million fund, the Morris County Small Business Grant Program was given an additional $5 million on Feb. 23 by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, which voted unanimously to increase the program funding. 

The Morris County program is providing grants of up to $15,000 to reimburse qualified small businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations for specific pandemic recovery expenses incurred on or after March 3, 2021 – a timeline established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is the source of the funding.

“This is an important program, and one we want to make especially successful,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. 

“It is aimed at assisting the small businesses who make up the backbone of our economy, and it is intended to support the wide range of nonprofits that do everything from helping our most vulnerable communities to supporting the cultural arts, assisting veterans and preserving many aspects of our history and community,” he said.   Deputy Commissioner John Krickus noted that one component of the effort involves active outreach efforts by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce to introduce small businesses to the program. 

“Since the program kick-off in Dover last week, outreach efforts have begun that include connecting with the many Hispanic-owned companies and other minority businesses in Morris County,” commented Krickus. “We have a diverse business community, and it is important to reach everyone, particularly those who normally may not take advantage of or be aware of such government programs.” 

On Feb. 28, small business owners were greeted by Morris County Commissioners and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives of Solix Consulting Solutions, which is operating the online grant portal under a contract with Morris County.

Several computers were provided and staffed by members of Valley National Bank to assist in processing applications. 

Program supporters are working to establish additional outreach efforts for businesses and nonprofits in the coming weeks, emphasizing there is no cost associated with applying for the grants beyond an investment of time.

As of Feb. 24, 370 small business owners and nonprofits had filed applications with the program citing nearly $13 million in claims. Not all claims will qualify, and each applicant will be capped at $15,000 if their claims are approved, but businesses are being urged to investigate the program.

The Small Business Grant Program eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to: Businesses with 25 or fewer full time employees (or equivalent); in operation since Jan. 1, 2019; located within Morris County; less than $5 million in sales/revenue; proof of a decline in sales/increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Federal guidelines covering the grant program determine what expenses may be covered, and grants are capped at $15,000 per applicant. However, business owners and nonprofits are encouraged to include in their applications all costs they believe may qualify, even if the total amount exceeds $15,000.

A final review may determine that some costs submitted for consideration are not covered under the program guidelines. However, by submitting all expenses that may qualify, applicants increase the possibility of getting the maximum amount of grant dollars possible.

To learn what is needed to successfully complete an application, go to: morriscountysmallbusinessgrant.com.

The County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph Foundation has arranged for a special exhibition titled “a small thing but my own – Through the Lens of Jim Del-Giudice” to celebrate the life and impact of James Del-Giudice.     The exhibition opened March 3 and runs through March 31 in the college’s Art Gallery, located in the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center in Randolph.

A reception, free and open to the public, is set to take place Sunday, March 27, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors to campus are required to wear a mask and to social distance.     Del-Giudice was an adjunct professor of history and photography at CCM for more than 30 years, sharing his fascination with photography and vast knowledge of the Revolutionary War throughout Morris County, enlightening and inspiring students. He was a highly respected professional photographer with a vast collection of photo essays based on historical subjects and landscapes of New Jersey. He was also a talented writer with many published articles and several locally performed plays. Shortly before his passing, Del-Giudice also had developed a livestream-based format for his programs. 

The exhibition of his work was curated by Professor Hrvoje Slovenc, coordinator of the Photography Program at CCM. 

In addition to the exhibition, a longtime friend of Del-Giudice, David Scinto has established the Jim Del Giudice Memorial Scholarship with the CCM Foundation. That scholarship is providing two full-time photography students with $5,000 scholarships or part-time students with $2,500 scholarships each year. 

“Jim always did things for other people,” noted Scinto. “He loved people and he loved students. He was a really good person.  After he passed, I wanted to do something to honor him. I knew he taught here for more than 30 years so I thought what better place is there than to do this at CCM.”     To support the Jim Del-Giudice Memorial Scholarship, checks can be made out to the CCM Foundation and mailed to County College of Morris Foundation. Donations can also be made online at https://giving.ccm.edu/.

Surrounded by family, friends and numerous former athletes he had coached and mentored, Jack Martin was recently honored for his expansive legacy as the first athletic director at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph when the college named its gymnasium after him.

Martin was named the first director of athletics at CCM in 1968 and served in that position until his retirement in 2002. The college’s gymnasium which now holds his name includes his signature on the floor with the notation “Jack Martin Gymnasium.”     “The house that Jack Martin built at CCM now bears his name” was the headline in the Daily Record article written by Ed Forbes, a close friend of the Martin family. 

On Feb. 19, Martin thought he was coming to the gym with his wife, Pamela, and daughter Devon Martin Jones and her husband, Parker, to watch his grandson Blake Jones at basketball practice. What he found instead were nearly 100 former Titan athletes, college officials, family, friends and coaching colleagues gathered to honor him at the dedication. 

The college started to develop its plans to name the gymnasium after Martin following his induction into CCM’s inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

"If life is measured in impact, I don't know anyone else who has impacted more people than you, Jack," said Dr. Anthony J. Lacono, CCM president.     “This is so special," said Martin, overwhelmed with gratitude, who turned 80 on Feb. 5. 

“I am extremely happy for Jack and the Martin family,” said Jack Sullivan, who became CCM’s second athletic director when Martin retired. “This is an honor that is well deserved. I am grateful for his continued support of the County College of Morris Athletic department. I consider him a mentor who has influenced me immeasurably. I cannot think of a better way to show our gratitude than by having our gymnasium bear his name.”

Along with directing and growing CCM’s athletic programs, Martin served as head coach of the men’s basketball team, working with hundreds of athletes during the course of his career at the college.     He was recognized as part of his career for serving as past president of the Garden State Athletic Conference (1975; 1982 and 1989); chair of the Region XIX Standards & Ethics Committee (1988-2002); member of the Colonial Athletic Association N.J. Executive Board (1988-2002); recipient of the Garden State Award (2004); charter member and tournament director of Morris County High School Basketball Tournament; Executive Committee member of the New Jersey College Basketball Coaches Association (1979-1992); and recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award – Morris County All-Sports Association and Special Recognition Award – New Jersey Special Olympics (1982).

 Martin served as the men’s basketball coach from 1968 – 1998, capturing eight New Jersey state titles, three Region XIX Championships and numerous national tournament appearances. Currently, he is the winningest two-year college coach in N.J. history (569 victories) and second all-time among two- and four-year colleges and universities. 

Martin developed a nationally recognized athletics program that produced 35 N.J. State Championships, 29 Region XIX titles and the recognition of 85 athletics and academic all-Americans. His basketball program history includes eight N.J. Garden State Athletic Conference Champions, three Region XIX (Delaware, Pennsylvania and N.J.) Crowns, three National Tournament appearances, and 15 seasons with more than 20 victories. He also produced eight two-year college All Americans, a 1991/1992 team – 30-5 – ranked #1 in the nation and was voted N.J. Sportswriters Coach of the Year multiple times (1977, 1979, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1995).

He is a longtime member of both the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) and served on a variety of national committees during his tenure.     During his time on the NATYCAA Executive Committee, Martin secured a partnership with Pepsi-Cola North America (2004) to be the primary corporate sponsor. With former player Terry Ryan, Martin developed and initiated the NATYCAA/Pepsi Cup promoting athletic excellence at over 400 two-year community and junior colleges.

Developing an enjoyable way for people with mobility impairments to visit historical sites built over 100 years ago is a problem being solved by a team of creative minds at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph.  The collaborative effort entails blending the art of photography and the science of engineering with virtual reality technology.

The innovative result will be offered to all patrons of The Willows, an 1854-Gothic style revival mansion built by General Joseph Warren Revere, grandson of Paul Revere, located at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (FLHF) in Morristown.

Visitors to the 213-acre New Jersey and National Registry Historic Site are provided with the opportunity to step back in time and explore the 170-year-old home complete with 19th-century costumes and furnishings. Visitors, however, need to climb stairs to reach the five rooms on the second floor.               “It’s inaccessible for people who might have mobility issues,” says Hrvoje Slovenc, associate professor of Photography at CCM. “There is no elevator, and the stairs are steep and narrow, making it very hard for some.”     The problem was solved at CCM’s CoLab, an on-campus facility, organized by CCM Chemistry Professor Brian Olson, that serves as a group think tank.

“At CCM, we’re committed to students with accessibility needs,” says Olson, “so it’s a natural step to collaborate with the community to enhance accessibility.”

First, Slovenc visited The Willows and using 360-degree cameras shot an assortment of high-end photographs of the periodic rooms. Then on campus, Nicole Schwartz, assistant professor of photography, guided the student Photography Club in using the photos to create a virtual reality tour.  “Every 360 shot is a collage of six individual images that students worked diligently to stitch together,” says Schwartz. “The final tour consists of 16 360 photographs.”

According to Olson, “The CCM Photo Program brought virtual reality technology to the college, and that created so many opportunities.” 

The attention to detail was a significant part of the process. Eric Pedersen, adjunct professor and coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Physics Lab at CCM, made a scaled replica of the carving on the upright piano in the Willows mansion. 

“He cut the carving on one side and the description on the backside,” explains Slovenc. “Students from CCMakes, the Maker Club, are working on the 3D scans that Eric produced to 3D print an ornate mirror plus the intricate fireplace carvings in The Willows.”

The CCM project is part of a larger mission at FLHF, which in conjunction with the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and the Institute of Museum and Library Services is working to make New Jersey’s first living farm accessible to all. The FLHF transports visitors back in time to the 1880s to have an authentic experience of daily living on a farm.

CCM is proud to bring this innovative teaching tool to such a preservation of the Morris County Park Commission that allows people to interact with costumed docents, learn how to do chores the old-fashioned way and explore exhibits.

To learn more about CCM, visit www.ccm.edu.

Move over, STEM. Writing is making a comeback in the workplace.

While the focus in recent years has been on science, technology, engineering, and math, employers are increasingly placing a higher premium on the so-called “soft skills” that are essential in navigating the uncertainties of doing business during a worldwide pandemic. Experts say that STEM skills are still in high demand, but employers are rediscovering the value of written communication across all careers.

In fact, in a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly three quarters of employers identified strong writing as a top three skill when considering job candidates. 

The two cited most: Leadership and teamwork.  That’s no surprise to Dr. Erin Andersen, an assistant professor of English at Centenary University and director of the University’s Writing Collaboratory, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this semester. 

“For the past decade or so, much of the conversation has focused on the need to develop career-specific skills, especially in the STEM fields,” noted Andersen, who became director of The Writing Collaboratory in 2017. “Yet there is a growing recognition that effective writing is just as critical to success as the technical skills associated with specific careers. What we do in the Collab supports the growth of essential writing skills in Centenary students for their professional future.”

Businesses can take a significant hit from weak writing, according to inc.com. The publication reports that companies spend billions each year on remedial training, since poor writing can damage the public’s perception of a brand.

Jason Fried, a columnist with inc.com, wrote in his book, Rework: “Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking. Great writers know how to communicate. They make things easy to understand. They can put themselves in someone else's shoes. They know what to omit. And those are qualities you want in any candidate. Writing is making a comeback all over our society...Writing is today's currency for good ideas.”

At Centenary University, The Writing Collaboratory combines the top three skills named by employers—good writing, leadership, and teamwork— to strengthen student writing across all majors. Trained peer consultants provide free one-on-one tutoring in person and through video chats, as well as in group sessions and workshops.

Andersen recruits student tutors across the broad representation of majors offered at Centenary, and the staff is racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse.

“Strong writing skills are important for tutors, but it’s not enough to be a talented writer,” she explained, noting that tutors also have the opportunity to participate in and present scholarly research on writing center pedagogy. “They also need to have compassion and a desire to do outreach. Serving as a peer tutor provides students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a structured, safe environment. Tutoring really helps both parties in the interaction.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic transferred much of The Writing Collaboratory’s activities online,  Andersen has future plans to form partnerships with Hackettstown area middle and high schools for Centenary tutors to assist with English as a Second Language and other programs for multilingual students. 

I’ve been studying some successful models of collaborations between writing centers and communities that are similar to Hackettstown,” Andersen explained. “At Centenary, we have a lot of education majors who are peer tutors and who have expressed interest in working with high schools and middle schools on writing center mentoring. I think there’s a lot of potential there for the future.”