A Newark teacher who made a difference is being honored.

Miguel Salinas, a former student, is starting a scholarship for eighth graders. Salinas went to the 13th Avenue School in the 1990s and never forgot a teacher named Iris Matthews.

The scholarship will be named in Matthews’ honor. Thirteen eighth graders will get $500 each year going forward through the Iris McMurray Matthews Scholarship.

Matthews retired in 2018 but made quite an impact through the years. Salinas says he never forgot her.