Cherry Hill Teen Awarded Scholarship From NJCTS

On Friday June 2nd, in honor of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day, NJCTS presented ten scholarship awards to graduating New Jersey seniors. One of the second-place recipients was Madelyn Golden, 18, of Cherry Hill.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements and sounds known as tics. As many as 1 in 50 people show signs of TS or other tic disorders which is frequently accompanied by mental health disorders including ADHD, OCD, and anxiety.

Madelyn was diagnosed with TS at the age of five. Throughout the years, she did not let her diagnosis get in the way of flourishing both academically and socially. Madelyn was a competitive cheerleader, part of the Performing and Visual Arts Society, takes private art lessons and volunteers at the Animal Welfare Association. She also works at a retail store and has her own shoe painting small business entitled “Petite by Madelyn”.

“Being diagnosed at five, I didn’t fully grasp what it meant to have TS,” Madelyn states in her scholarship essay. “I couldn’t control it, no matter how hard I tried – and I couldn’t control the constant stares of confusion, and judgement, by classmates, teammates, and teachers.” Madelyn is a graduate of Cherry Hill High School East and will be attending Marist College in the fall.

Academic achievement, community involvement and accomplishments all play a part in the NJCTS Scholarship Committee’s decision in selecting winning candidates each year.

“We are so proud of these young men and women for all they have accomplished during their high school careers,” said Patricia Phillips, Executive Director of NJCTS. “We cannot wait to see what they will do in college and beyond, as they continue to prove that Tourette Syndrome does not have to hold you back.”

Madelyn’s scholarship winning essay can be found at www.njcts.org/teens4ts.

NJCTS, the nation’s first Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome, is a not-for-profit organization committed to the advocacy of children and families with Tourette Syndrome and its associated disorders. Dedicated to delivering high quality services to these individuals, the Center recognizes the importance of educating the public, medical professionals, and teachers about this disorder through programs and affiliations with public schools, health centers, and universities. To learn more about Tourette Syndrome and the programs available from NJCTS, visit www.njcts.org.