Ridge Senior Receives Alumni Memorial Award

senior Yodalio “Yo” Cabaleiro has won the , a $7,500 award that is the largest ever awarded by the organization of Ridge alumni to honor a classmate killed in Vietnam.

Rather than looking at grades or test scores, recognizes "character, determination, and nontraditional achievements” demonstrated during a graduating senior's career at Ridge High School, according to the Ridge AMS.

“Yodalio’s essay was a great match for our selection criteria,” said Carol Schoenig, a member of the Ridge AMS board of trustees. “He’s handled challenges with spirit and optimism, and that’s exactly what this award is about.”

Born and raised in Union City, Cabaleiro moved to Basking Ridge as a sophomore, and became a real RHS booster, according to the AMS announcement of his award.

His application was filled with enthusiasm for his years at Ridge High. “I met more and more students who brought me into this family-like environment. The class of 2012 showed me that with hard work anything is possible. They made my high school career an experience I will never forget.”

Not only is Cabaleiro a popular figure at RHS, but he is also a familiar face with a following at ShopRite in Bernardsville, where he puts in 24 hours a week working as a cashier.

Most of his earnings go to help his mother and sisters in the Dominican Republic. His supervisors praise his performance, and insist Yo has “regulars” who favor his check-out line above all others.

As for his reaction to receiving the Ridge AMS award, Cabaleiro said, “When I first received the email telling me I won, I stood in shock, with a cheesy smile on my face. I feel blessed to receive such an honor.”

Schoenig added, “From a crop of great candidates, Yodalio’s application jumped out at us. A couple members of the selection committee remarked that Yo reminded them of John Peterson, who was the catalyst for the Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship.” Peterson, a classmate of Schoenig’s, was killed in Vietnam while serving in the U.S. Army. He is remembered as a determined and enthusiastic member of the Class of ’67 who was widely loved for his optimism and friendliness, say trustees of the Ridge AMS.

In the fall, Yodalio is headed to either Fairleigh Dickinson University or Rider University, living at home. “Thanks to this tremendous award,” he said, “I can get myself back and forth from my college by being able to purchase a car and help pay my tuition.”  

, Ridge AMS Trustees expressed pride at being able to increase the 2012 award by 25 percent to $7,500 — a surprise to Cabaleiro – thanks to the generosity of donors, as well as the careful stewardship of AMS funds, the announcement said.

Cabaleiro is scheduled to receive the award at RHS’s annual Awards Night on June 6. In recent years, there’s been no larger grant presented at the RHS Awards Night, other than scholarships to specific colleges or universities. Ridge AMS funds are not restricted to tuition or books, and may be used for a variety of personal growth opportunities and expenses.

Schoenig said, “Ridge High and the Basking Ridge community can be proud of Yodalio — and all this year’s candidates. It’s a real pleasure to review the applications of these seniors, who have demonstrated character and courage in the face of challenges.”

Last year's $6,000 Ridge AMS was its largest grant to date. The group was expecting to maintain the 2012 scholarship at the same level, thanks to the generosity of donors, said Jane Cullinan, a 1967 Ridge graduate and Chairwoman of the Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship Board of Trustees..

Baum reported that this year he is at the University of Maimi majoring in political science with a minor in sports administration.

Organizers donate all expenses associated with Ridge AMS, including legal counsel, website development, and promotion. One-hundred percent of donations go to scholarships, said the AMS announcement. The scholarship is administered in partnership with the Bernards Township Education Foundation and all Ridge AMS contributions are tax-deductible. The Bernards Township Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organization focused on program development and process management for public education, community outreach, and leadership formation.

For more information on the Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship, visit: http://RidgeAMS.googlepages.com.