Educational Talent Search: Maritza Lopez Memorial Scholarship Award
A Cum Laude graduate of CUNY-Lehman College, having majored in psychology with a minor in Puerto Rican Studies, Maritza Lopez served in the United States Air force from 1981 through 1984.  During her time in the military she completed the Law Enforcement Specialist course in San Antonio, Texas and also received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.  In 1988, Maritza went to work at East Harlem College and Career Counseling Center, Educational Talent Search Program as an Academic Counselor.  After being with Talent Search for a few months, she was promoted to Middle School Coordinator.  Maritza shared with her students and her colleagues a wry sense of humor, energy, and the love of things that brought vitality to her life as well as to others.  Throughout her time at EHCCP, Maritza was truly committed to the advancement of disadvantaged students and the Association for Equality and Excellence in Education, Inc.  We lost Maritza on July 16, 1993 to illness.  She will be missed and we will forever keep her in our hearts.

Upward Bound: Leroy Wilson, III Memorial Scholarship Award
Leroy Wilson, III was born October 11, 1951 in Clearwater, Florida.  Leroy obtained his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Seton Hall University and completed two other graduate degrees also from Seton Hall.  Leroy was certified as a Business School Administrator by the New Jersey Department of Education.  Leroy served as the Director of the Upward Bound Program at Seton Hall University from 1975 until October 31, 1995.  He also served as an adjunct professor in the Department of African American Studies at Seton Hall University.  His commitment to scholarship, community service, youth and the Lord warranted the establishment of the Leroy Wilson Memorial Scholarship fund at Seton Hall University and the Leroy Wilson III Upward Bound Scholarship Award by the Association for Equality and Excellence in Education, Inc.; a fitting testament to one who gave his all because he dared to love.

Student Support Services:  Doris Chandler Memorial Scholarship Award
Ms. Chandler earned a BA and MA at St. Peter's College where she served for 18 years as a Tutorial Coordinator Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Services Program. Ms. Chandler was a firm believer in "giving back" to the community. Annually, she organized a Student Thanksgiving and Christmas Basket Drive. Both events involved students collecting food and clothing that were distributed throughout the local community.  These students would often be pushed by Doris to mentor a wayward young man or woman.  She saw potential, and worked to make it surface in each person she met.  Doris lived to counsel; and counseled to take advantage of life.  She made people test their wings and fly when they did not know what their wings were for.  Doris will always be remembered because her work will live forever in the minds of the people she has touched.

Dr. Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Scholarship Award
Born October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina. Died January 28, 1986. He is survived by his wife Cheryl, and two children. He was a 5th degree black belt Karate instructor and a performing jazz saxophonist. He also enjoyed running, boxing, football, playing cards, and cooking.

Graduated from Carver High School, Lake City, South Carolina, in 1967; received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971 and a doctor of philosophy in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976; presented an honorary doctorate of Laws from North Carolina A&T State University in 1978, an honorary doctorate of Science from Morris College in 1980, and an honorary doctorate of science from the University of South Carolina in 1984.

Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Optical Society, the American Physical Society (APS), the APS Committee on Minorities in Physics, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Board of Trustees, the MIT Corporation Visiting Committee, Omega Psi Phi, and a visiting lecturer in Physics at Texas Southern University.

Dr. McNair was assigned as a mission specialist on STS 51-L. Dr. McNair died on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, also taking the lives of the spacecraft commander, Mr. F.R. Scobee, the pilot, Commander M.J. Smith (USN), mission specialists, Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Onizuka (USAF), and Dr. J.A. Resnik, and two civilian payload specialists, Mr. G.B. Jarvis and Mrs. S. C. McAuliffe.