2018 Gift Of The Heart – Pennsville High School

The law firm of Hoffman DiMuzio has allocated close to half a million dollars to its Gift of the Heart Community Scholarship Foundation. Forty-nine graduating seniors from Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem County High Schools have been selected to receive a one thousand dollar scholarship for embodying the service ideals of the program. This week, the 2018 Gift of the Heart Hoffman DiMuzio Community Service Foundation recipients are from Pennsville High School: Russell Scarpa and Sarah Kennedy.

Russell Scarpa

Following graduation, Russell Scarpa intends to pursue a career in healthcare; much of his volunteer work thus far has only bolstered his interest in aiding patients.

This past summer, Russell applied to the Nemours’ Summer High School Volunteer Program. The program placed him in a children’s hospital for eight weeks; he cites this time spent supporting staff and patients as his proudest accomplishment to date. His responsibilities ranged from providing directions to escorting patients to their vehicle. As a volunteer, he provided support in whatever capacity he was able. Russell emphasizes that the people he volunteered with made the experience particularly impactful for him. He carries from his time a belief in the importance of service, quality leadership, and small acts of kindness. Following the advice of a supervisor, he even learned a little spanish. This ultimately became very useful when helping several patients and visitors.

Russell explains, “for some families, simply sharing a friendly smile was enough to turn their day around.” In addition to his time spent volunteering, he is enrolled in several honors and AP classes. Thank you for volunteering, Russell!

Sarah Kennedy

Community engagement is important; Sarah Kennedy recalls her parents instilling this belief in her from an early age. Throughout high school, leadership roles in various clubs and organizations have enabled her to volunteer her time regularly.

As a student council member, Sarah collected items for those in need during the holidays, raised money for teens diagnosed with cancer, and collected school supplies for students. As president of Interact, a club centered on volunteer work, she created a partnership with Project Linus; members created blankets for patients at AI Dupont hospital. While president of Renaissance club, Sarah collected and delivered canned goods for the Ronald McDonald house, brought donations to a local senior center and helped with the Breast Cancer Awareness Project. Additionally Sarah has fundraised for several causes with the Drama Club and the S.A.F.E. Club.

She explains that she’s “glad that through my involvement in my school and community I can find many ways to help others.” When she isn’t volunteering, Sarah is a member of the National Honor Society and choir. Keep up the amazing work Sarah!

Sincere congratulations are extended to Pennsville High School students Russell Scarpa and Sarah Kennedy, as well as to their proud parents, family and friends! Next week, the featured Gift of the Heart recipients will be from Salem High School.

Click here to read more about the Hoffman DiMuzio Gift Of The Heart Scholarship Foundation.

If you’d like to see the rest of the 2018 scholarship winners, click here.