Clearview High School
Piya Patel
Piya began working as a volunteer for ENGin, a nonprofit that specialized in connecting fluent English speakers and learning Ukrainian students together. Throughout her time there, Piya has made a lot of incredible and unique friends. One of her fondest memories is when Katrusya, her first student and best friend, told her that their conversations had a significant impact on her life, particularly during the current Ukrainian-Russian War; she said the discussions not only helped her in English, but also comforted her as her motherland was being invaded. Piya’s greatest achievement throughout the entire experience has been assisting these students in achieving the highest level of success possible and providing them opportunities to learn a foreign language. In ENGin, she gained leadership, confidence, determination, empathy and most importantly, friends!
Vincent Fox
Community service to Vincent has an entirely different meaning centering around the ideology best affirmed by Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Vincent first discovered his love for giving back when he served as a Teen Lead for Vacation Bible School in the eighth grade. He immediately felt rewarded after directly experiencing the effects of his leadership that created happiness in the children. Vincent has over 150 hours of meaningful community service and even promotes the participation of fundraising and giving back as his school’s NHS Treasurer. This past year Vincent was recognized by STEM and was awarded 1st place for NJ’s Most Active Individual for Community Service. Vincent is truly passionate about impactfully serving his community.
Delsea High School
Allison Reber
Throughout her life, Allison has been involved in many community and school programs that have allowed her to serve others. Allison has helped her church’s food pantry by not only collecting food but putting together packages and distributing them to people in the community. She has also helped with car washes, fall fests and the children’s nursery at church and taught a children’s class on Sunday mornings. Allison got involved in YoungLife and is a member of Interact, a club that teaches students about world issues. Interact has done trunk-r-treats, Thanksgiving dinners, food drives, Christmas toy drives and Mother’s Day baskets collections to help the community. Allison helps with lessons in school to students about topics like drugs, alcohol, suicide and other pressing issues.
Ryan Battle
Ryan’s time spent giving out food to the homeless on Thanksgiving morning three years ago really opened his eyes to what life is really like and how lucky he truly is. Not only did Ryan serve food to the people, but he found himself sitting and talking to those who were by themselves. He got the chance to hear heartwarming (and some sad) stories of strangers’ lives. As short as that morning was, Ryan would like to think that he impacted some of those people’s lives that day as equally as they impacted his. Ryan made a promise to himself to continue to give back on Thanksgiving mornings and he has not missed one yet.
Deptford High School
Caitlin Wallis
Caitlin is an Eagle Scout with Troop 7151 of Woodbury. Her Eagle Scout project was to build a 24 ft by 48 ft pavilion in honor of 911. Caitlin spent over two hundred hours between the planning and the actual building. It afforded her the opportunity to demonstrate leadership by helping coordinate the helpers, and by scheduling the times needed for everyone there. What she learned is that leadership is not just barking orders and getting people to listen, but also listening to other people’s ideas. Over the years Caitlin has done hundreds of service hours, but this was the most challenging as well as the most rewarding project. Caitlin was honored to have had the privilege to give the Woodbury Heights community its much desired 911 Pavilion.
Ethan Tamayo
Ethan started volunteering for the Church of the Holy Family seven years ago as an altar server. His serving schedule taught him that he could accomplish tasks even when he felt lazy by pushing himself and improving his confidence. Ethan worked with people from ages seven to sixteen, and used his experience to help teach them what to do throughout the Mass. He adapted his way of teaching to each age so that everyone could understand better. Teaching people of all different ages taught Ethan to be more patient and understanding, and it improved everyone’s mindsets. Ethan’s community service improved the church’s mass, and it made him a better leader overall.
Gateway High School
Devin Barnett
“My parents always said that I would never have to want nicer things as long as I appreciated and deserved them”. Devin and her family always helped others who are less fortunate. They donate to local charities and adopt families at Christmas as well as perform random acts of kindness. Devin feels like the simplest gestures can be a huge deal to people who need them. The gratitude and appreciation Devin gets in return makes it all worth it in the end. Devin hopes that more and more kids will take the same path and make their communities better and better.
Joshua Hummel
Josh was about three years old, when his piano teacher took a group of her students, including Josh, to a nursing home to entertain the residents. They did this twice a year until Josh was about 11. As a member of NHS, Josh participated in numerous group projects including making PB&J sandwiches for a nearby homeless shelter, writing holiday cards for soldiers and veterans, and hosting Adorable Doors, a trick-or-treating event for children with special needs. Josh also does after-school tutoring. As a member of his school’s Leo Club, he helps the Lions Club with community events and fundraisers. Josh was a Boy Scout for six years, and a Cub Scout for five years, both troops emphasizing community service. In 8th grade Josh received the Richard Traveline Service Award for completing the most service hours among Confirmation candidates.
Glassboro High School
Ciane Lopez
Ciane was eight years old the first time she realized she was fortunate. Ciane’s parents took her to their birthplace of Villa Altagracia. When Ciane asked her mother why the children were wearing long sleeved shirts in ninety-degree weather. Her mother told her they wear what they have. Upon returning home, Ciane’s perspective changed. She packed up all her extra clothes and asked her mom to send them to Villa Altagracia. Ciane believes that by serving others, we improve the conditions of the world we share.
Jacob Salgado
In his sophomore year, Jacob joined a community service group called Interact Club and decided to attend one of the upcoming events: a suicide prevention walk called the Out of the Darkness Walk. After that event, Jacob was touched by such a united community. One of Jacob’s favorite programs to participate in, TOPSports involved being a “buddy” and interacting with kids with disabilities through sports. He forged an unforgettable bond with the kids and gained the ability to understand their situations. Jacob credits his involvement with the Interact Club and his advisor for enabling his drive to care for his community and to encouraging him to always act when someone is in need.
GCIT
Mary-Kathryn Collins
Mary-Kathryn grew up volunteering at a young age. As soon as she became old enough, she became an altar server at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gloucester City. Being involved in Irish dance allowed Mary-Kathryn to volunteer and help with the younger dancers at her dance school’s parades, dance outs and regular practices. Mary-Kathryn spent countless time at the Angels of God Community Outreach Organization volunteering with the back-to-school and holiday drives. Mary-Kathryn also kept busy during the summer months as a certified lifeguard and in the school’s technology department repairing student and teacher tech issues.
Owen Bentley
Owen has always been known as the helper in his family. He enjoys the feeling of doing something that would help other people. Owen used his athletic gifts and love of sports to help younger children develop their skills, especially in his favorite sport of basketball. In middle school Owen joined unified pe which enlists students to play sports with children with disabilities. In high school, Owen became an IT intern, and he also helps students and teachers with their IT problems. Owen always had the desire to help others and he is grateful to be able to follow through and actually do something for the community.
Kingsway High School
Olivia Lewin
Throughout Olivia’s high school years, she has put forth effort into her community in the hopes of bringing happiness to life around her. Olivia participated in a club called S.U.R.E/S.I.A. while at Kingsway. She also participated in many school-wide donations drives for individuals impacted by the Mullica Hill tornado and collecting toys for children of Family Promise which is a homeless shelter. Currently Olivia is focusing her efforts on her peers as an ambassador for a new program at Kingsway called Morgan’s Message. Morgan’s Message is trying to ease the stigma of mental health in the student athlete community. As an athlete, Olivia can understand the mental toll sports can have on student athletes. Olivia is grateful to have been given the opportunity to help others in times of need.
Daniel Allen
Daniel’s first service project was collecting teddy bears for residents at assisted living centers on Valentine’s Day. The joyful look on an elderly resident’s face convinced Daniel to continue the project every year. The children of “Special Events for Special Kids” love to hang out with their favorite superheroes and Daniel has enjoyed the magical experience of putting on a superhero costume to brighten a child’s day. Music is also an important part of Daniel’s life. He has found ways to combine both his love of music and service by performing Christmas carols at the Ronald McDonald House to providing smooth jazz entertainment for the Waterford Veterans Memorial Ball. Daniel has realized how to utilize his skills for the benefit of people who need to just hear good tunes. “Even though no single person can change the world, we can try our best to change our little corner of it.”
Paulsboro High School
Anaiah Hill
Throughout her high school years, Anaiah performed community service to show appreciation for the people around her. She has spent many hours cleaning the town as a member of Key Club and National Honor Society. Outside of school, Anaiah volunteers in the concession stand at the midget football field. She enjoys watching the younger kids come up in line who hope they have enough money for their snacks. Being a volunteer makes Anaiah not only feel good about herself, but also as a role model to her younger siblings who look up to her. Anaiah hopes that by seeing her do good things in the community that they will one day follow in her footsteps. Anaiah says, “It would be nice if everyone had a great heart and mind to give back to their community.”
Ivan Murray
Ivan said, “Performing community service is good for your conscience, the feeling of giving out of pure care feels great”. Ivan’s first-time volunteering was with the high school football team cleaning up the streets. Ivan has been doing projects for the last two years with ABLE (Athletes Being Leaders Everywhere) one of which is traveling to schools and speaking to fourth graders about the dangers of drugs. Ivan feels that it is important to interact with the youth in the community and give them something to shoot for..not just in sports, but in academics as well. By far, Ivan’s favorite act of community service is being able to be a role model to teach young kids in the neighborhoods about ways to avoid bad habits.
Pitman High School
Mikayla Mitchell
Mikayla has three major acts of volunteer work: assistant coach for a young girls’ soccer team, town clean up and assisting second through fifth grade students in a track and field events. Mikayla participated in multiple town cleanups with her soccer team. She felt that it was more than just a cleanup, it was restoring her town to its natural beauty. Mikayla took the initiative during one particular cleanup when she saw broken chairs in the nearby lake and took them out so that the fish would not get caught up in them. Mikayla enjoys inspiring young girls into becoming future athletes. Community service isn’t just something that Mikayla does for her school, soccer team, it is her way of giving back to the community that has given her so much.
Sean Monteith
Sean’s service began his freshman year in the Rotary-sponsored, Key Club. Key Club is a large force for fighting food insecurity. As a member of Key Club, Sean is responsible for seeking out local food pantries and distributing food to them. Sean also volunteered outside of school with the Pitman Soccer Association and South Jersey Mutual Aid. SJ Mutual Aid provides underprivileged people with basic grocery necessities as well as provide political education. Sean was afforded the opportunity to speak at an Atlantic City Council meeting in support of drug-abuse harm reduction programs. As a member of NHS, Sean has helped host events in the wake of the pandemic for the youth of the town. Sean is also proud to be the Chairperson of a youth advisory group who work with the town council. To date, the group has secured a federal grant that provides funds to educate peers on substance abuse.
Washington Township High School
Emyleigh Crean
When Emyleigh walked through the high school doors freshman year, she knew she had to figure out where she fit in. She knew she had limited time to find her identity before going off on her own. Joining Interact helped Emyleigh to challenge this identity. Doing community service made her who she is and also reminded her to be confident in who she has chosen to be. Leaving high school terrifies Emyleigh, not only because she will be leaving for college, but because she will be losing Interact. Emyleigh will miss seeing the smiles from the children and adults that she has helped through her volunteering.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
As a nervous freshman, Ryan joined the community service club, Interact. He participated in a variety of events such as dance-a-thons to raise money for ALS and the Buddy Walk which promotes awareness for individuals with Down’s Syndrome. Festival of Friends is a carnival hosted for special needs adults and children in which they played games and made friends. Ryan became an executive board member of the club, secretary of the club and as a senior, he was voted President. Knowing that his community service can bring joy to people is the reason why Ryan loves giving back to the community.
West Deptford High School
Paige McCullen
Paige feels fortunate to be able to volunteer in many different capacities including helping the homeless, aiding senior citizens, cleaning up the community and impacting upon her own cohort. Paige will continue to help her society grow; she will register to vote; have a voice which can speak up for her peers and be involved in her local neighborhood. She will continue to have impactful discussions about politics at all levels of government. The satisfaction of helping others is overwhelming to Paige at times, but she benefits by seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces and knowing that she is making an impact on the world.
Ryann Iannotti
As soon as Ryann was told by her principal that NJ schools instituted a law requiring public schools to allow a junior/senior to be a student-elected representative to sit on each district’s BOA, she knew instantly that she wanted that position. Ryann won the election, but while she aspired to reflect the student experience, she was worried about being criticized or being naïve. Her overwhelming anxiety made her realize that she is the only one holding herself back. Everyone was very understanding and less intimidating than she thought. Through this experience, Ryann learned the value of equality, empathy and transparency in our leadership.
Williamstown High School
Kayla Keubler
The first opportunity that Kayla had to do community service was in middle school as part of the Helping Paws group while in 4-H. There Kayla discovered that there were oxygen masks for pets! Helping Paws raised funds to help the local fire stations raise enough money to buy these masks. Kayla also jointed AFJROTC in her freshman year. Honor Flight was a favorite event that honors local veterans by sending them on an all-expense paid bus trip to Washington DC. She enjoys speaking to the veterans and seeing their smiling faces. In her four years in AFJROTC to date, Kayla has attended 27 community service events and she doesn’t plan on slowing down.
Julian Noel
Julian has had the pleasure of being a member of Friday is Tie Day for his four years of high school. FITD is a mentoring program that not only does work in their local communities but also partners with other outreach groups along the east coast. Julian painted MLK High School in Philadelphia and volunteered at a food kitchen in Burlington. Julian and his family are very involved in martial arts and his position at his Judo Dojo as an elder statesman has enabled him to teach the discipline to the younger students. Julian believes that volunteering keeps us humble because we all have a story, and we can learn so much by hearing other people’s stories.
Woodbury High School
Xiomara Bourgeois
Being a student representative of the Board of Education in Woodbury, it is Xiomara’s duty to attend the monthly board meetings. While at the meetings, she uses her position to update the board, but Xiomara feels the most important task she has is being the voice of her student body. She is also a student representative of the FAF Coalition and Heart & Soul, non-profit organizations. As a two-year captain of the football and basketball cheer teams, Xiomara uses her leadership role to not only bring ideas to the team, but also as a prime example of what it means to be a member of a team. Being an active leader in her community has shaped Xiomara into the person she is proud to be and would look up to.
Bryan Johnson
Bryan is not only a leader on the football field as quarterback, but also a leader in his community. He would help his team bridge the gap between high school and midget football often heading over to the midget fields to volunteer at games by working the chains, picking up trash, working snack stand or being a sideline mentor. The kids enjoyed talking to the varsity players where the team motto of “The Woodbury Way” is practiced not just spoken. Bryan was able to take what he learned about being a student-athlete and tutored peers that struggled in the areas of math and science, areas where he excelled. Bryan also enjoyed counseling his classmates on the importance of being an academic qualifier in the event they want to transition to college and possibly play sports.