Disley, who plans on being a commuter student, called the award "the biggest moment of my life."
Maurice "PJ" Disley, a South Hadley honors student who plans a career as a physical therapist, has been chosen as the winner of the 2011 Student of Character Scholarship at American International College. By ANNE-GERARD FLYNN and TIERA WRIGHT
SOUTH HADLEY - A South Hadley honors student who plans a career as a physical therapist has been chosen as the winner of the 2011 Student of Character Scholarship at American International College.
Maurice “PJ” Disley from South Hadley High School will receive a four-year tuition scholarship to the college valued at more than $100,000. The award will be presented tonight at 6:30 p.m. during an awards ceremony at the high school.
Disley, who plans on being a commuter student, called the award “the biggest moment of my life.”
“When I was told that I had won the full tuition scholarship I was speechless,” said Disley, who took Advanced Placement biology in school and was a member of the National Honor Society.
“I don’t have to pay for anything for college for four years. This was something I could only dream about.”
The 17 year old added he owed “everything to my parents and my teacher Matthew Benoit who recommended me for the award.
“Without my family being there for me and helping my achieve this dream, nothing would be possible,” Disley said
Disley, who hopes to play lacrosse in college, was on the varsity wrestling and lacrosse teams in high school. He also played football and, in his Student of Character profile, named Canadian mixed martial artist and welterweight fighting champion Georges St-Pierre as the celebrity he would most like to meet.
Disley said injuries in high school helped steer him toward a career in physical therapy.
“Physical therapy has help be recover from numerous injuries and the whole process fascinates me how you can help someone back to health from a serious injury,” said Disley who was hit by a car and had to forgo doing football and wrestling during his sophomore year in high school.
He was also treated and had therapy for Sever’s disease, a painful bone disorder associated with the growth plate in the heel.
“Physical therapy helped me so much over the years,” Disley said.
The AIC scholarship is given as part of The Republican’s Student of Character series. Teachers nominate students for the program, based in part on their character and community service involvement. Profiles of the students appear weekly during much of the academic program both in The Republican and on MassLive.Com. The students are also profiled by ABC40 WGGB-TV/ FOX6.
Students of Characters who apply and are accepted by AIC are considered for the full-tuition scholarships and also qualify for a scholarship of $2,500.
In a release from the school Peter Miller, vice president for admission services at AIC, called Disley a “tremendous addition to the AIC family and the community as a whole.”
“The AIC Student of Character scholarship is very important to our campus because it allows us to reach out into the community and touch the life of a high school student who may not otherwise think that a four-year private college is within their reach,” Miller said.
“We hope PJ will contribute to the student life at AIC by working hard in academics, while also getting involved with either clubs, organizations, community service or athletics. It is important to find a student who is a true role model to other students around them.”
Benoit, the South Hadley High School biology teacher and head lacrosse coach who nominated Disley, said in his nomination that Disley had “overcome so much in his life, and is always a positive role model.”
He is the most trustworthy and good-hearted adult I have every met. If I asked to do something as a favor, he always says yes, and does his best job. He would walk down to the middle school every day after school to mentor and tutor students as a community service project,” Benoit wrote.
In his profile, Disley, 17, said he has overcome adversity with hard work and confidence.
“Ever since I was young I was always dealing with problems and fighting my way through them with a positive attitude and as much effort as possible. I have faced injuries in sports, family problems and even dealing with being temporarily homeless. No matter what I have faced in my life in the past or future I know I can make it through,” he wrote.
Students chosen as a Student of Character apply to AIC just as any other student would. A student must have been selected at some time during the current school year or previous two school years and must apply for, and be admitted to, AIC by March 15 of the student’s senior year in high school.
In addition, the student must have a grade average of B or better and a minimum of 1000 on the Scholastic Assessment Test or a composite score of 21 on the ACT. For students taking the new SAT, a combined score of 1000 on the Verbal Reasoning and Math sections is the minimum requirement.
Vince M. Maniaci, president of AIC said he was extremely pleased to offer the scholarship to area students.
“Our mission is to provide a quality, transforming education to a diverse body of undergraduate and graduate students, and what better way to encourage local students to continue their education, than by offering a full tuition scholarship to a Student of character,” Maniaci said in a release from the college.
Marguerite Pratt, a graduate of Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, was the 2010 Student of Character scholarship winner.
Lifestyle editor Anne-Gerard Flynn may be reached at aflynn@repub.com and intern Tiera Wright at twright@repub.com