By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Sep 30, 2014, 12:02
PRINCE GEORGE — Four years have passed since the tragic event that took the life of Jessica Ann Moore, who was killed following an altercation at a fraternity party near Seton Hall University in East Orange, N.J.
Today, her mother, Dr. Phyllis Moore-Tolliver, is working hard to keep the memory of Jessica and her work with the community alive. Moore-Tolliver has been gathering signatures for a petition in hopes that Jessica will be awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian award in the country.
“For her to receive that medal I feel would be one of the last things to reward her with,” said Moore-Tolliver.
On Sept. 24, 2010, Jessica was attending a frat party along with friends at the university. An altercation broke out between one of the frat brothers and a neighbor from down the street. Later, the neighbor returned to the house looking for the student who he was arguing with. He kicked down the door to the house and opened fire on the group of approximately 50 students. Five students were shot in the incident, including Moore.
“Everybody was trying to push out of the room and run for safety, for their lives, and Jessica shielded her friend Nakeisha Vanterpool, which was also her suitemate. And when Jessica was shielding her, she got a bullet to the back of the head,” said Moore-Tolliver.
Moore was taken to the hospital but died the next day from the damage of the bullet.
The shooter, Nicholas Welch, 29, was later arrested and convicted of murder and attempted murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with no parole in March of this year.
A second man, Marcus Bascus, 23, was also arrested and convicted for conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. Bascus had supplied the gun to Welch on the night of the incident.
In 2010, a United States flag was flown in Afghanistan in memory of Jessica, which was later presented to her parents.
In 2011, Upper Merion High School, where Jessica graduated, retired the number of her basketball and softball jerseys in honor of her memory.
Following the death of her daughter, Moore-Tolliver changed the name of a foundation that she and Jessica had started in 2009 when living in the Sussex/Petersburg area. The two formed the Drop Out to Degree Program, which helped area students to excel academically and encouraged them to continue their schooling in higher education.
Jessica and her mother noticed the dropout rate in the area was high, and that a large number of students were not planning on attending college. The foundation was put in place to help change this.
“When we got to this area, we noticed the school system was not as powerful, so we just wanted to give an added push to the students that wanted it,” Moore-Tolliver said.
The program offered help with filling out college applications, financial aid forms, and also gave away a scholarship.
Now the program is called the Jessica Ann Moore Foundation, in honor of Jessica. The foundation now offers three scholarships to local students and gives five area schools monetary donations in order to buy school supplies.
The nonprofit organization also provides an ROTC program that, with the help of two retired military personnel, helps local students get into ROTC programs at schools. They also provide tutoring for students in Spanish and algebra, and work with the Southside Continuing Adult Education Program in Prince George to encourage those who have dropped out to invest in getting a GED certificate.
Moore-Tolliver is keeping the memory of her daughters’ dedication and service to the community going by expanding the program and offering local students opportunities, which is exactly what Jessica aimed to do.
After discovering the Presidential Citizens Award, Moore-Tolliver knew this was a perfect way to honor her daughters’ sacrifice.
“I was looking on the website and the people who have received it, and I thought that Jessica ranked right there with them,” Moore-Tolliver said. “For her giving her life for her fellow citizen, to give her that medal, I feel would be one of the last things to reward her with.”
President Richard Nixon established the medal in 1969. Every year, it is presented by the president and is given to those U.S. citizens who have committed time to serve or perform “exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens,” according to the White House. This includes serving the community, helping those in need, helping to solve problems in the country, or performing deeds that have impacted others.
Past recipients of the award include Henry “Hank” Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, Colin Powell, and a group of teachers who perished protecting students in the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.
To receive the medal, an outstanding citizen must be nominated during the nomination period. Moore-Tolliver has been collecting signatures to send along with the nomination as support for her daughter.
“I wanted to add validity to it, to show how many people are behind Jessica receiving the award,” Moore-Tolliver said.
The nomination period has yet to happen for this year’s awards, but Moore-Tolliver said she is checking frequently to make sure she doesn’t miss the opportunity to honor her daughter in one of the highest ways possible.
For more information on the Jessica Ann Moore Foundation, visit http://www.jessicaannmoore.com. For more information on the petition to posthumously award the Presidential Citizens Medal to Jessica Ann Moore, visit http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/presidential-citizen.
