December 30, 2005

Marc J. Chelemer ’81
Class President & Class Agent
3 Hillcrest Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670-1414

Dear Marc,

I am delighted to report the Class of 1981 Scholarship Fund recipients for 2005/2006. Dana Najjar ’09 of Beirut, Lebanon, has been chosen as a new class scholar, while Maricela Delgadillo ’08 of Huntington Park, California, will continue as class scholar for the current academic year.

At her high school, Dana Najjar was editor-in-chief of the French Journal, a member of the Debate Club, and a member of the Senior Choir. She volunteered at a local NGO named AYADINA, which is attempting to rehabilitate one of Beirut's poorest neighborhoods and provide a healthy environment for its residents. Outside of school and volunteer work, she tutored math, English, French, physics, and chemistry, and worked part-time as a waitress. Over the summer, she caught up on areas of study that she felt were lacking as she prepared to enter MIT. She is considering a major in physics with a minor in English literature and enjoys creative writing and singing. Her career plans include nuclear engineering and theoretical physics.

Materials science and engineering major Maricela Delgadillo is highly involved in community service. She is the secretary of La Union Chicana por Atzlan and serves as the activities liaison for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She also is a member of the Mexican American Engineering Society. Over the summer, she taught descriptive geometry to minority students through the STEM Program at MIT. She is interested in public policy and law and is considering law school upon graduation. Her career plans include medicine, public policy and administration, and law.

As you know, support from the Class of 1981 Scholarship Fund helps MIT maintain its commitment to admitting the best and brightest students, regardless of need. On behalf of the Alumni Association and the Institute, I send sincere thanks for the Class of 1981’s contributions to this fund.

If you want more information or if you would like to meet with Dana or Maricela, please let me know. Thank you again for your support.  

Sincerely,



Monica L. Ellis ’91
Director, MIT Alumni Fund
617.253.0743; monicam@mit.edu

cc:    Michael M. Gerardi ’81, Secretary
        Dennis J. Gorman ’81, Reunion Gift Committee Co-Chair
        Adina E. Gwartzman ’81, Reunion Gift Committee Co-Chair
        Amelia Phillips ’81, Webmaster
        David J. Powsner ’81, Reunion Committee Co-Chair
        Eric S. Sklar ’81, Treasurer
        Robert B. Steinberg, Reunion Committee Co-Chair
        Richard Jacobson, Associate Director, Class Giving, MIT Alumni Fund