Bloomfield Teen is Awarded Top Scholarship From NJCTS

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 of the top recipients was Dominic Dominguez, 18, of Bloomfield.

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.

Dominic was diagnosed with TS when he was fourteen. He struggled at first with his TS diagnosis, but learned to persevere, especially by becoming a NJCTS Youth Advocate and learning how to advocate for himself and others with the disorder. “Having Tourette Syndrome has been challenging and confusing for much of my life, but it has made me stronger, more empathetic and more mature,” says Dominic in his award winning essay. “I do not know who I would be without it,” Dominic is a graduate of Bloomfield High School and will be attending Princeton University in the fall.

“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.”

Dominic’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.