The Brookdale Community College Foundation is now accepting applications for this year’s Wilbur Ray Memorial Scholarships.
Just off their annual award ceremony, the foundation’s scholarships offers financial assistance to Brookdale students as well as incoming freshmen.
On Friday the Foundation held its 30th annual benefit dinner, which honors five of the areas community leaders and volunteers whose contributions “while substantial may not always result in public recognition,” said Keith Heumiller, Brookdale College Relations Coordinator.
Among the recipients was Asbury’s own Daniel Harris, III.
“I am extremely humbled to receive this award,” said Harris [shown right]. “It represents commitment to the community by many individuals 
over a long period of time. The diversity of the past and present recipients truly represents our society and those we serve. It is an honor to be part of this distinguished group of people. This award bonds us all together for life.”
The benefit dinner helps fund the scholarship program named for the late Wilbur Ray, former chief of the campus police and a longtime community volunteer. Since 1986, over 200 people, organizations and community groups have been recognized for their community involvement.
The Wilbur Ray Memorial Scholarships awards annually four $500 to current Brookdale students of color who have a financial need and a demonstrated career interest in law enforcement or a related field and a $1,000 scholarships to an incoming high school student.
Below the list of this year’s honorees [as shown above] from Heumiller:
Craig Bogard is the cofounder of Aslan Youth Ministries – a nondenominational urban youth ministry which began in Red Bank and Tinton Falls and expanded to Asbury Park in 1999. Aslan also does regular outreach work and has created a medical center for children and families in Haiti.
Daniel A. Harris III was part of the first integrated class to attend Neptune Intermediate School in the mid-1960’s. As athletic director at Newark Tech, Harris oversaw five NJSIAA State Group I Track championships, one NJSIAA Group II Basketball championship, three Essex County Track titles and numerous sectional and vocational titles in various sports. He presently serves as chairman of the Men’s Ministry at Second Baptist Church is Asbury Park and is a member of the Asbury Park/Neptune NAACP, Asbury Park Community Action Network, Asbury Park Diversity Group, the neighborhood watch association and serves on the Asbury Park Zoning Board.
Tyrone K. Laws is the founder of Kwest for Trust, a multicultural “edu-tainment” performance group specializing in civic and educational presentations to community members of all ages. He is the former executive director of the West Side Community Center in Asbury Park, former director of the Asbury Park Job Training Center and former executive director of the Center for Love, Inc.
Phyllis Ledbetter has worked with the Visiting Nurse Association for more than 12 years, providing support and educational services in the greater Asbury Park area. In 2008 she was also named director of the Asbury Park High School SPOT, a school-based youth services program, and regularly champions the positive development of local youth.
Dr. Webster Trammel most recently served with distinction as Brookdale’s vice president for development, community and governmental relations until his retirement in 2014. He has served on a wide range of volunteer boards and community organizations, including the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. He also coordinated the Strategic Development Plan for the City of Asbury Park.
