Moorestown Friends Honor Scholarship Recipient

In a brief ceremony held in the , 11-year-old Karina Santos, a fifth-grader at the and a member of the Friends Enrichment Program (FEP) for underserved Moorestown children, was recognized and honored as the first recipient of the Monique Begg Scholarship.  

David Gamber, a member of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Meeting, welcomed Karina and presented her with the award.  

Established this year by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Meeting to recognize FEP chair Monique Begg’s “compassionate and steadfast commitment to serve the young people of Moorestown,” this scholarship is merit-based and is to be awarded annually to a member of FEP. To be selected, a child must act responsibly, be a model of appropriate behavior, and show eagerness to learn and take full advantage of the enrichment opportunities that FEP provides. 

Hopefully, the children worthy of this award will become caring adults and ambassadors of peace in their families and in their communities.  

“Karina was selected among other contenders because she epitomizes the qualities of heart, mind, and soul that we seek to nurture in our young people,” Begg said. “She is kind, considerate and caring, and she works diligently and joyfully as a participant in FEP activities, as well as in pursuit of her goal as an aspiring musician. She understands that to succeed in life to the best of one’s ability, one must be willing to work hard.”

Karina studies the violin at school and at , where she takes private music lessons from violin teacher Debbie Amsterdam. Her conservatory lessons are paid through a partnership agreement between Perkins and FEP.

Amsterdam attended the ceremony. Asked for her comments, she wrote: “Karina is a serious student of the violin. She has never missed a lesson. She brings to each lesson a concentration, seriousness and musical talent, which makes every lesson highly productive and joyful. She has told me that she practices at home after her lesson. Her willingness to work hard and her ability to focus on a task will serve her well in her musical pursuits and in other aspects of her life. It is clear that Karina loves music and is devoted to the violin. Her parents fully support her love of the violin; and she brings that sense of love and support with her to every lesson. In addition, this wonderful student has on several occasions expressed to me her gratitude for her lessons. She is truly an exceptional young person.”

FEP offers scholarships and other opportunities conducive to good growth and development to financially qualifying Moorestown children.

Courtesy of Moorestown Friends Meeting.