Nicholas Scalera graduated in 1963, but he's still paying tuition.
However, now he is paying other students' tuition, through the Nicholas R. Scalera Scholarship Fund he established in 2010. Scholarships totaling nearly $24,000 have been awarded to nine students in the Educational Opportunity Program. Three have graduated, and six are students at Seton Hall.
Scalera served 17 years as assistant director and nearly five years as the director of the Division of Youth and Family Services and continues to mentor many young people. Since 1995, Mr. Scalera has overseen his own management consulting firm specializing in services to at-risk youth.
Scalera grew up in a working class family in Newark and he was the first in his family to earn a college degree. He credits his parents' hard work and sacrifices and Seton Hall for "instilling the values and core beliefs that enabled [him] to pursue a career involving service to the less fortunate members of society."
In 2006, Seton Hall awarded him with its Humanitarian Award for lifelong service to troubled children and families.
He majored in social studies and minored in English and philosophy. After graduating from Seton Hall, he attended Columbia University, earning a master's degree in journalism.
During his time at Seton Hall, he was a reporter, features editor and editor in chief of the Setonian. He served as junior class representative to the Student Council and was a member of the New Jersey Phi Beta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Theta National Fraternity and the Knights of Setonia.
"I will always treasure the quality education I received at Seton Hall," Scalera said.
Noora Badwan can be reached at noora.badwan@student.shu.edu.
