Thirteenth Avenue School Alumnus Establishes Scholarship in Honor of His Beloved Teacher

NEWARK, N.J. – During the Thirteenth Avenue School’s moving up ceremony on Tuesday, alumnus Miguel A. Salinas made a heartfelt announcement that will have a lasting impact on future generations of students. Salinas, now a successful professional in the pharmaceutical industry, returned to his alma mater to establish a scholarship in honor of one of his most influential teachers, Iris McMurray Matthews.

The Iris McMurray Matthews Scholarship will award $500 to 13 high-performing eighth graders every year. Among the criteria for the scholarship are a student’s grade point average, scores on state assessments, participation in competitive extracurricular activities, and how much they reflect the school’s Five Core Beliefs (1. Be respectful 2. Be responsible 3. Be productive 4. Be courageous 5. Dream big). A committee of eighth grade teachers and school administrators ultimately decides which students receive the scholarship.

Salinas, who was born and raised on Ferdinand Street in Newark’s West Ward, was inspired to establish the scholarship after seeing a CBS News story about the Thirteenth Avenue School on the Facebook feed of his friend, Principal Thalia Brownridge-Smith.

Matthews had nothing but gratitude for Salinas and the scholarship he established in her name.

“Having this profound honor bestowed upon me makes me feel so loved, respected, humbled, honored, admired and blessed,” Matthews said. “I now have a legacy at my beloved Thirteenth Avenue School that will bless scholars for generations to come. This is amazing!” 

Salinas described his early education as challenging and marked by frequent school changes. But it was at Thirteenth Avenue School, where he enrolled in seventh grade, that he began to find both stability and support.

“I struggled academically at first,” he shared. “But thanks to the patience and encouragement of teachers like Mrs. Matthews, I started to flourish. Thirteenth Avenue School played a pivotal role in shaping my life’s trajectory.”

Matthews, who taught at the school from 1971 to 2018, began her career teaching grade four, then two years in grade five. She was later moved to grade eight where she taught for 16 years. She had a unique management style that caught the attention of her vice principal, David Wright, who gave her the position of Behavior Modification /Crisis Intervention Instructor where she remained for 25 years.

Matthews said she remembers Salinas as “highly intelligent, kind, soft-spoken, ambitious, cooperative, and well-liked by his classmates.”

Salinas graduated Thirteenth Avenue School in 1994 as the class salutatorian. He attended The Peddie School and graduated from University High School. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and an MBA. He has spent over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry and currently manages logistics for a global research organization.

“I encourage all students to strive for their goals, appreciate their accomplishments, and learn from their failures,” Salinas told the audience. “Persevere in the pursuit of your personal dreams.”

Principal Smith praised Salinas for his generosity and for serving as a role model to the school community. “This scholarship will inspire our students to see what’s possible when they believe in themselves and work hard,” she said.

“Miguel Salinas’ story is a powerful example of the transformative impact of public education and the teachers who dedicate themselves to their students,” said Superintendent León. “His decision to honor Mrs. McMurray Matthews through this scholarship speaks volumes about the importance of believing in children, especially when they are still discovering who they are. We are incredibly proud of Mr. Salinas and grateful for his investment in the future of Thirteenth Avenue School students.”

“When our former students return to give back, it affirms the lasting influence our schools and teachers have on shaping lives,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Newark Board of Education. “Miguel Salinas is an inspiration for his academic and professional accomplishments, as well as his deep gratitude and generosity. This scholarship is a message to our students that their dreams are valid and within reach.”