WJRC recognizes someone each year who has made a major contribution to literacy with the Mary Cudemo-Schurig award each May. Recipients of this WJRC award have big shoes to fill. For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Mary Cudemo-Schurig when she was alive here is a glimpse into the dedicated educators legacy.

A crusader against illiteracy, both in her classroom and in her community, is how Mary Cudemo-Schurig is fondly remembered by all those who knew her.  Cudemo-Schurig was an educator for nearly half a century, serving students in Camden, Somerdale, and Mount Laurel. She worked at Lenape Regional High School in a variety of roles for more than 30 of her 48 years as an educator. The number of accolades she accumulated over her tenure are too numerous to count but it was never about the recognition for Mary. She was an advocate for students and adults with literacy challenges developing programs to engage disenfranchised adolescents, support adult literacy, and make reading the core of all learning. In her own words in a newspaper interview, Cudemo-Schurig stated, “You cannot teach anyone anything until you reach them. I consider my big mission in life to reach people. And I think once you reach people, you can teach them anything.” No truer words have been spoken. It was in May of 1990 at a WJRC hosted event that Mary was honored with an international literacy award recognizing her lifetime of literacy work. Mary served on the WJRC board for many years promoting the love of literacy. Since her passing in 1993, WJRC has continued to keep her memory and legacy alive with the Mary Cudemo-Schurig award.  Thank you Mary for your tireless efforts to help instill the love and power of reading to so many in our South Jersey community.

Requirements for literacy educator nomination:

1. Must a member of WJRC.
2. Must not have previously been a recipient of the Mary Cudemo-Schurig Award.
3. Completion of this google form in its entirety must be submitted to be considered.

All applications are due on March 1st annually.

The Mary Cudemo-Schurig Award is awarded each year to a literacy teacher who:
* Organizes a literacy program
* Produces teaching materials for literacy programs
* Carries out research in the field of literacy
* Makes a significant contribution to professional development in the field of literacy
* Promotes literacy through various platforms
* Social, cultural, economic, or political contributions to literacy