Student awarded Andy Wallace
Memorial Scholarship

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Joe Ruskowski, who recently completed sixth grade at St. Christopher School in Somerton, received the third annual Andy Wallace Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is in memory of Andy Wallace, a St. Christopher graduate who died in 2001 at age 27 from complications of a head injury.
Wallace attended La Salle High School and St. Joseph’s University and was a star athlete, particularly in soccer. He was a pharmaceutical salesman when he died.
The scholarship fund is administered by Brian Hamill, who was a friend of Wallace.
The fifth annual Andy Wallace Memorial Golf Outing, which raises money for scholarships at St. Christopher and St. Joe’s, is set for Saturday, Sept. 8, at Island Green Country Club, at 1 Red Lion Road. For more information on the event, call Hamill at 215-802-1053.
Ruskowski won a full year’s tuition for himself and four of his seven siblings at the school. The value is $3,070.
The contest, which attracted more than 50 entries, required participants to write about their greatest personal achievement.
Ruskowski was selected because his thoughts and characteristics were most reminiscent of Wallace and because he was able to recognize the impact a young person can have on other people’s lives.
The following is the text of Ruskowski’s essay:
I am 12 years old. To some people, I am very young. To my younger brothers and sisters, I am old and wise. A person can make a difference in someone’s life at any age. I am happy to say that I’ve had many personal achievements, but my greatest ones are yet to come.
I am a son and a brother. I have seven brothers and sisters. As the oldest son, I set examples. I help my mom and dad with homework, or sometimes do the dishes or even have a catch with my siblings. I have a big role in my family. I am a teacher. I am an athlete. I have played on St. Christopher’s soccer team and won back-to-back championships. I played basketball and baseball also. I’ve been chosen all-star in each sport. I try hard and sometimes excel but I am not the best. These days in Somerton and at St. Chris are only helping me to achieve more later in life. Hopefully in high school or college, I can use my athletic talents to get onto a team.
I am a student at St. Christopher. I have good grades and am a conscientious worker. I try to stay focused because I know that one day I hope to be a successful young man who received a great foundation when I was young. That foundation started with my family, my talents and my school. What is my greatest personal achievement? That’s simple. I am a 12-year-old boy who loves playing sports, respects life and works hard in everything I do. It is my responsibility with the help of these things to be happy and content. ••