2008 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Edward Galligan and Stephanie Ralston Khurana
This year's scholarship award winner began his application essay with the following, "Children are deeply influenced by their upbringing…" and "No one person is like another because of these life experiences throughout their formative years. For me, these years created a focused, dedicated, caring, supportive and helpful person." We totally agreed with this insight as we reviewed Edward Galligan's application. The list of special qualities that can be attributed to Ed seems endless. As stated in the scholarship application, the applicants were evaluated on the qualities of ethics, generosity, integrity, community service, leadership and scholarship demonstrated in their lives. The selection of this year's scholarship winner was again difficult with many fine students applying, but this year's choice would be considered a winner for many reasons.

Ed is an exceptionally well rounded student. He ranks fourth in his class, distinguished as having the highest GPA in his science and math classes, a member of the National Honor Society and has earned several other impressive scholastic awards. He is an athlete, participating in Junior varsity football, JV and Varsity basketball and baseball during his four years at St. Mary's. He is a leader among his peers, involved in his class activities, serving as president of the Classics Club during his Senior Year.

His involvement with community services is noteworthy. He participated in a Habitat for Humanity home building project in northern Baltimore, and a Rebuilding Together project, repairing the home of an elderly woman in the local area. In each case he was thrilled to help make such a difference in someone's life. He participated in local food drives to help local families during the holidays. He tutored at his high school, sharing his knowledge to help other students. He was happy to get practice with skills he knew, but he got greater enjoyment from seeing others improve as a result of his efforts.

Most noteable in his community involvement was a service project for which he planned and accepted total responsibility, contributing to his rank as Eagle Scout in May, 2007. He organized the repair of the food service trailer used in support of annual community fund raising activities by the Annapolis Optimist Club. This was a fine example of Ed's initiative, organization and dedication to a project through its initial stages of design, through the rehabilitation phases until its final completion, managing his own resources as well as coordinating and directing the efforts of volunteers who helped. This project required a broad range of knowledge and leadership. He is to be commended on the successful outcome of the project and the contribution made to a worthy cause.

Ed was the lifeguard at a single guard pool for two summers, solely responsible for its care and operation, earning service awards for excellence on four occasions. This position would normally be given only to returning guards, but based on his resume, Ed was awarded the position as a high school junior. Ed relates that he was responsible for the complete operation of the pool, including maintaining chemical balance, cleaning, and keeping the pool safe while serving as the sole lifeguard. The satisfaction and pride he expressed as he related this information reminded us of Jeff Ralston. Ed often noted how satisfied he was with a job well done. His greatest reward was in knowing he had done a job well and his performance was better than expected. Ed was so pleased with the awards he received in his pool guard position, "For me it was the satisfaction of a job done well and the recognition for this effort that was more meaningful than any monetary reward." Ed noted many exceptional accomplishments in his essay, but the statement quoted above was one that Jeff Ralston could have written many times over during his life. Jeff's greatest satisfaction was in helping someone. Ed seems to have learned this secret and is well on his way to a happy successful future, building a rewarding life helping others.

Stephanie Ralston Khurana, Jeff's sister, was very happy to award the 2008 Jeffrey D. Ralston Memorial Scholarship to Ed Galligan. Rita Ralston, Jeff's mother, was also thrilled to meet Ed and his parents, Terri and Jim Galligan, during the award ceremony at the Annapolis Marriott, again the site of the 2008 St. Mary's Senior Awards Reception.


Stephanie Ralston Khurana, Rita Ralston, Ed, Terri and Jim Galligan