East Brunswick Township Councilman David Stahl (left) presents a Good Deed award to Rachel Wexler, of East Brunswick High School, as Colie Edison of MTV’s “Real World: Denver” and Rabbi Aryeh Goodman look on. Rachel served as the East Brunswick Youth Council vice president last year and president this year. EAST BRUNSWICK – Township and school officials, and one TV celebrity, came together last week to honor 18 students for their community service.
The first Good Deed Awards were presented before a crowd of 120 in the East Brunswick municipal courtroom May 29. Township native Colie Edison, formerly of MTV’s “Real World: Denver,” served as emcee, while politicians on the local, state and federal levels, as well as Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro, presented the awards.
Rabbi Aryeh Goodman, director of Chabad of East Brunswick, a social welfare, cultural and educational outreach organization, established the Good Deed Awards as a way to reward high schoolage students who volunteer, and to encourage others to do so for their community.
“Sometimes parents would say to me, ‘How do I get my kids involved in community service?’And as a rabbi, I have to ask, How do I get parents to want to get their kids involved in community service?” Goodman said.
The nonsectarian awards program was created in response to those questions. Community members had several months to nominate those teens they felt deserved to be rewarded.
“We want to reward and recognize students who are giving their time and talents to the community,” Goodman said. “Our program is easy – we’re merely spotlighting the kind deeds that our youth are doing.”
The honorees were Daynielle Hunter, Samantha Pedreiro, Cecile Yama, Vincent Reitano, Rachel Wexler, Kirsten Granit, May Chiu, Joellen Friedman, Craig Li, Vicki Fernandes, Sarah Wexler, Megan Murray, Taylor Liebman, Josh Luster, Arielle Harris, Nicole Segreto, Ian Alexander, Jonathan Alba, Gabrielle Ovits and Alexandra Ovits.
The students received college scholarships and plaques. The 18 monetary awards came virtue of donations from local businesses and corporations.
The winners were selected by an advisory board that included Magistro and Coordinator of Community Relations and Programs Patricia LaDuca; the East Brunswick Youth Council’s Mike Reisner and Karen Theer; Director of Public Safety Barry Roberson; and Fire Marshal Bill Johnson.
Nomination forms and information about the Good Deed Awards for next year’s event are available at www.gooddeedawards. com.
Goodman said the response for the first round was phenomenal.
“We looked and we’ve found young people all over New Jersey who have demonstrated an outstanding model of good deeds, kindness and leadership,” he said.
For more information and for future nominations and sponsorships, visit www.gooddeedawards.com or call Rabbi Goodman at 732-333-3220.