South Africa Initiative Board Member Receives Distinguished Leader in Education Award

Peter Morales, Wine Entrepreneur and SAI Co-Founder is honored at commencement in year of Rutgers Graduate School of Education’s 85th anniversary

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (May 27, 2008) – Peter Morales, co-founder and board member of South Africa Initiative, was honored as a 2008 Distinguished Leader in Education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education’s commencement ceremonies held in New Brunswick on May 22, 2008.

The Distinguished Leader in Education - Business award is presented to individuals who exemplify leadership in the education field.  Additional leaders receiving the honor this year include Retired NJ Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Gary S. Stein; Director of the Office of Academic Standards for the NJ Department of Education, Janis Jensen; and Dr. Susan H. Furhman, President of Columbia University’s Teachers College.  Past recipients include Dennis M. Bone, President, Verizon New Jersey and Kurt Landgraf, President of Educational Testing Service (ETS).

“Peter is considered by many to be one of the most innovative and socially-committed wine professionals in the country,” said Dr. Darren Clarke, SAI Co-Founder and Executive Director of Continuing Education and Global Programs within Rutgers Graduate School of Education. “He is an expert in global marketing, strategic planning, and project management.”

Founder and President of the New York-based international wine-trading company, 57 Main Street Imports, Morales created the Vision 57 program in 2002 with educational partner, Rutgers Graduate School of Education of New Jersey, offering to commit 5% of net proceeds from South African wine sales to fund educational projects at the Cape of Good Hope grape-farm schools.   Since then Morales has dedicated countless hours of his time, as well as in-kind and monetary contributions to ensuring the success of Rutgers Graduate School of Education South Africa Initiative.

Morales earned his Bachelors degree from Lehigh University of Bethlehem, PA and is a former Alumni Organization President of Zeta Psi fraternity of North America. He has previously worked in senior executive roles for esteemed Fortune 500 companies including Johnson & Johnson, Grand Metropolitan PLC and Peerless Importers of New York.   He is a recipient of numerous industry awards for business excellence and community involvement, the most recent being the “Vision in Wine Award” by the distinguished culinary group, BCA and the prestigious “Vision of Excellence” award from Dr. Richard McCormick - President of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in recognition of his work with South African Schools over the past 8 years. Mr. Morales serves on the Prudential-Rutgers Business Ethics Center of New Jersey.

About the Graduate School of Education (GSE) South Africa Initiative (SAI)

Co-founded in 2001 by GSE Professor Dr. James Giarelli, Dr. Darren Clarke, executive director of Continuing Education and Global Programs at the GSE, and Peter Morales, president and CEO of 57 Main Street Imports of Long Island, NY, the Rutgers Graduate School of Education South Africa Initiative is an interdisciplinary program composed of a variety of activities centered around an annual study tour to South Africa.  Since its inception the program has provided the opportunity for more than 85 American educators to participate in a teacher exchange program enabling them to interact with, and learn from teachers and learners in South African schools.  Additional information is available by visiting www.gse.rutgers.edu/southafrica.

[ return to news ]