By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Riderwood recently received the Distinguished Service in Public Education award from the Montgomery County Board of Education for giving $435,000 in scholarships to student employees in pursuit of a college education.

The award recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that make exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County. It also celebrates the bond that exists between Riderwood’s student dining service employees and the people they serve.

“This award reflects how impressed the Board of Education is with how Riderwood supports students from Montgomery County,” says Suzann King, staff assistant for policy and communications at the Montgomery County Board of Education.

Over the past five years, Riderwood has awarded a total of 112 scholarships to its student employees. In 2007 alone, it awarded a recordbreaking 51 scholarships, totaling more than $185,000, to student employees in the dining services department.

“These student workers are vital to Riderwood’s mission,” says Donna Mason, the community’s executive director. “They routinely earn the respect and care of the residents.”

Following their dreams
More than 400 student employees work diligently every day serving meals to community members in one of the campus’ five on-site restaurants. In return, the community members support the students by making monetary contributions to the Scholars Fund, tutoring, and mentoring.

Riderwood community member and Scholars Fund committee member Dr.Edward Mallinson says, “The Scholars Fund really connects us to the local community and provides students with good work experience. It also fulfills Erickson’s outreach goals, and it’s just a lot of fun to talk and interact with the students.”