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Bedminster Teen Awarded Scholarship From NJCTS
Bedminster Teen Riley Burke Awarded Scholarship From NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome
SOMERVILLE, NJ (June 4, 2020) – On Thursday, in honor of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day, NJCTS presented fourteen scholarship awards to graduating New Jersey seniors. One recipient was Riley Burke, 18, of Bedminster.
NJCTS awarded scholarships to high school seniors with Tourette Syndrome (TS) - a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements known as tics. As many as 1 in 100 people show signs of TS or other tic disorder which is frequently accompanied by mental health disorders including ADHD, OCD, and anxiety.
Riley was diagnosed with TS at the age of 6. Riley took her diagnosis and did good with it by deciding to be an NJCTS Youth Advocate. For several years, Riley has gone to schools and presented about Tourette Syndrome and its associated disorders. “Having Tourettes has never been easy,” says Riley in her award winning essay. “It’s been a long and hard journey to get to the place I am today,” She is a graduate of Bernards High School North and will be attending Pennsylvania State University in the fall.
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“We could not be more proud of these young men and woman and all that they have accomplished during their high school career,” said Faith Rice, Executive Director of NJCTS. “They have shown that TS does not have to hold you back. We wish them well in college and in all of their future endeavors.”
Riley’s scholarship winning essay can be found at www.njcts.org/teens4ts.
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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.