On Thursday, May 28th, Jainam Chheda, a senior at Eastern Regional High School, was named the recipient of this year’s Bruce Jackson Memorial Foundation Scholarship.
The scholarship carries a story of its own. It’s named for Bruce Jackson, widely known as Eastern’s “#1 superfan,” who cheered on the school’s students, teams, and activities for years even as he lived with cerebral palsy at the Voorhees Rehabilitation and Care Center across the street from the school. Jackson passed away in 2016 at age 53.
“Bruce was truly Eastern’s number one fan,” said Gary Worthington, a physical education teacher and a friend of Jackson’s for more than two decades, who founded the Bruce Jackson Spring Festival to keep his legacy alive. The festival and scholarship have become a community effort, with families and local supporters donating funds, water bottles, and volunteer time each year. Jainam’s recognition feels like a natural extension of everything the award stands for — commitment, pride, and community spirit.
This scholarship is a cash prize of $1000 is awarded to two seniors who best exemplify leadership, resiliency, trsutworthiness, diligence, and school spirit. School faculty members nominate students for the award. Jainam, who has Down syndrome, was nominated for embodying these qualities.
Jainam previously earned the Youth Icon Award in June 2025 from the Friends of India Society, an honor that showcases individuals who serve as beacons of hope within their communities.
This graduating senior’s parents know his future is bright. When asked what comes next, his father, Mayur, shared that the scholarship money will go towards Jainam’s participation in Eastern’s School-to-Career and Transition Program. This program is meant for students with disabilities to continue their education for ages 18-21. It pairs students with job coaches and school site monitors to foster independent living and workplace readiness.
As a family of entrepreneurs, Mayur shares his confidence that this program will allow Jainam the opportunity to develop the skills he needs to succeed, while also giving him a chance to continue to enjoy the school programs he has grown to love, including the Unified Basketball team and Robotics Club.
Jainam has also been invited by Superintendent Hackett to speak at the Voorhees Township Staff Convocation Day for the 2026-27 school year on August 31st.
