Past, Present and Future Come Together at HTEF Event

The Howell Township Education Foundation held its first Evening of the Stars on Friday night at Middle School North. And for a district that has a long history with a wide variety of students graduating, the first group of honorees showed just how diverse those former pupils are in their professional lives.

The honorees included Howell Police Department Chief Ronald T. Carter, Howell High School teacher Sherry Roses, Marine Corps veteran and  Howell High School graduate David Van Vliet and Kevin Zealand, the vice president and chief operating officer of the Aids Resource Foundation for Children.

Also honored were Bernadine Borowick, the district's former Supervisor of Language Arts and Social Studies and a special award was presented to the district's Technology Students' Association.

The night also included a tribute to Sherry Roses, a teacher at the high school who also went through the district as a student and was introduced by two of her former students. One of those students is a leader of the technology initiatives at the Howell schools, while the other is now her colleague at the high school. 

As the night got under way, Zealand was the first of the alumni to be honored by the Foundation. And on an evening that also highlighted some of the work in the technology field by current students, Zealand said that area is something that is very important to him.

"It's one of my hobbies, and one of my passions," he said.

In addition to thanking the district, he also started a common trend on the night, thanking his parents.

"I couldn't have gotten to where I am without their support," he said. At the end of the night, Zealand also said he was proud of what he took from the district, going into his current professional life. "Being back here today and seeing the projects that these kids have going on, it makes me very proud that Howell really cares about its students," he said.

"I had a lot of great teachers in the Howell school system and in Howell High School. They gave me the confidence and the curiosity and the creativity to help me navigate my way and handle the challenges that come my way."

Van Vliet, who served overseas in various capacities was honored a few years back when he returned from his time abroad and said on Friday that he would not have gotten where he was had it not been for the people in Howell.

"The town and the schools are the reason of why I am where I am," he said.

Prior to his enlistment, Van Vliet said he was not exactly Marine material.

"I was a very lazy, misguided student. I had very little drive, very little desire to do anything and because of the teachers in this town I motivated myself and they pushed me and pushed me harder which made me want to be successful."

When he returned home from duty and was able to bring some his fellow Marines and some of their equipment back to the district as part of a Patriot's Day celebration, Van Vliet said that was all part of his giving back to those who helped him.

"I just wanted to help out one child make one good decision, and I felt like I was giving back," he said after the ceremony.

Tom Semko, a teacher in the district, said Roses has been an important part of his life. Calling her "Momma Roses," Semko said  she  "taught me to use my brain as a muscle in order to excel."

Semko, who now helps to lead the technology work in the district also quoted Roses Mantra, "The only way to fail is to fail to try," as part of his motivation for getting him where he is today.

In addition to teaching at the high school, Roses also travels to Ewing Township to teach at The College of New Jersey, where both she and Semko went to college, and also is on the Howell Township Board of Education.

Like her other honorees, Roses said what she does is a way to give back to her hometown.

"It's my entire life. I just love education. It's my passion. Working with students in the community and then seeing them go on and fulfill their dreams is my lifelong dream," she said.

Of all the honorees, Borowick was the only one to not go through the schools as a student. But after a career as a teacher and administrator in the district, she said the Howell schools were like a home to her.

"The district gave me some of the best years of my life," she said. "It's a place that encourages growth not only on the part of the students, but also on its staff. It does everything possible to help you grow as a learner."

Having worked with students and staff alike, Borowick said there is something very special about the way the people in the Howell schools work together.

 "There's a camaraderie here that you don't see in other districts," she said. "The atmosphere here is so welcoming that you just feel a part of it immediately. Having been here for so many years, in a variety of positions, it just makes it very comfortable."

The last of the honorees to be introduced was  Carter, who was hailed for spending 37 years protecting his hometown, including the past 18 as the chief. 

After starting his educational journey in the district, Carter said he could not have imagined then where he would be now.

"I was just an average kid," he said. "The teachers, they pushed me. They said you can become anything you want, you can do anything you want. You just have to work at it."Because of the help he got from those teachers, Carter said he remains thankful for their work to this day.

"I've got to be really thankful for all the teachers I had." And if serving in his current position is a part of that, then the chief said he was happy to do it.

"It's my home. I'll do anything and everything I can to protect it and help it. I love the town."

Friday was the first of two big events for the Howell Township Education Foundation. Next up is the second annual Race to Educate 5K Race/Walk on June 4 at Howell Middle School South  on Ramtown-Greenville Road starting at 9 a.m.

For more information on the race go to this website.