Rutgers-Newark Honors College Student Earns Schering Plough Scholarship

(NEWARK)-No one can accuse Rutgers-Newark Honors College senior James Koehler of not getting the most out of his college experience. In addition to carrying a 17-credit course load each semester during his senior year, being a catcher on the baseball team and volunteering for a host of community service activities, James still is able to spend time with his family and friends. And, despite a schedule and workload that could break a Fortune 500 CEOs spirit, he is able to maintain a 3.93 GPA while majoring in economics.

Because of his community involvement and high academic achievement, Schering-Plough Corporation awarded the Middletown resident a $10,000 scholarship for his senior year. The Schering-Plough Foundation Scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student based on academic merit, character, community service and leadership. While he was surprised by the honor, James believes his ability to establish priorities is the key to his success.

My philosophy is that you need to find a balance and develop good time management skills to be successful in college and in life, James explains. I have three clear priorities: my family, school work and baseball. You just need to work hard, stay on top of your assignments, and get to know your professors and strike a healthy balance between academics and your social life.

James transferred to Rutgers-Newark from Mary Washington College in Virginia in the middle of his freshman year following a severe bout with Crohn's Disease. James was initially recruited to play baseball at Mary Washington and he chose to transfer to the Newark campus because of his ties to baseball coach Mark Rizzi, who had recruited him earlier.

Rutgers has an excellent academic reputation and its close to home, so I decided to transfer here, James says. Receiving the scholarship is a huge financial relief for my family because I was taking out student loans and eventually I want to attend graduate school which is very expensive.

In addition to his studies and baseball, James has volunteered for several non-profit community service organizations such as the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which rescues retired racehorses from slaughter to live out their lives on a farm or be used for therapeutic activities at places like youth correctional facilities; the Lincroft Little League where he coaches youths and the Newark Good Will Home and Mission, where he organized a clothing drive to benefit the less fortunate. James enjoys being able to do what he can to improve the world around him.

I have seen people walking around Newark with nothing, James explains. I felt that if there is anything that I can do to help, I need to do it. I also enjoy coaching baseball because you can teach kids not only about the game, but about teamwork and how it fits into life. I can see baseball as always being part of my life.

When he graduates from Rutgers-Newark this spring, James hopes to continue his education in graduate school. He would like to pursue a career in sports management as an agent representing professional athletes.

I would like to serve as a financial planner for professional athletes because you read so many stories about how athletes have mismanaged their funds, James notes. I love being around sports and I love dealing with athletes.