Two MRHS Graduates to Receive Chris Dhume Memorial Scholarship

Two recent graduates of Matawan Regional High School were selected to receive the Chris Michael Dhume Memorial Scholarship, created by the Aberdeen Matawan Soccer Club (AMSC).

Matthew D'Auria and Alexandra Rodriguez will be the first recipients of the $1,000 scholarship, which is in honor of their classmate, Chris Dhume, who .

D'Auria will attend Virginia Tech to study Engineering. D'Auria was co-captian of the boys' varsity soccer team with Dhume, under Coach Dave Deegan.

Rodriguez will attend Townson University in Maryland where she will study Elementary Education and Deaf Studies. While at MRHS, Rodriguez was the co-captiain of the girls' varsity soccer team under Coach Ken McCabe.

Both D'Auria and Rodriguez played soccer with AMSC.

D'Auria and Rodriguez were selected for this scholarship because of their soccer excellence, community involvement and determination both on and off the field, according to Radvanski, the director of outreach for AMSC.

According to Radvanski and Coach Deegan, Dhume was an exemplary athlete and individual.

"Dhume had a true passion for soccer and earned the respect and admiration of his teammates, coaches, teachers and spectators alike. He exemplified skill, determination, sportsmanship, dedication, hard-work and strength," Radvanski wrote in a release about the scholarship.

"Chris Dhume earned many accolades this season. Chris will finish his Matawan career as the school’s All-Time Scoring Leader (22G, 8A) and Single Season Scoring Leader (13G, 2A). Chris also made the All-Division Team. Congratulations on a special high school career; he will be missed," Coach Deegan wrote on the MRHS Soccer website.

The scholarship will be presented at a special ceremony at 7 p.m. on July 21 at Strathmore Fields. Next year, the scholarship will be presented as part of the MRHS's Senior Awards Night.