HOWELL — A Howell resident was recently presented with a 2012 Youth of the Year scholarship award from the National Police Athletic League.
Antoinette Gingerelli, 18 — or Toni, as she is known — is a senior at Freehold Township High School, She was flown to San Diego, Calif., for the May 22 awards ceremony during which she received the 2012 Youth of the Year scholarship award and was named Female Youth of the Year.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” said Howell police Sgt. Chris Hill, who directs the Howell PAL. “There are more than 370 PAL chapters across the country and a minimum of 100 kids in each chapter. Winning the award is outstanding.”
Hill said a candidate for the award must be a senior in high school, must be a member of a PAL, have at least a C+ average in school and must be a participant in community service.
“Toni’s definitely got her community service in,” Hill said. “She went with us to New Orleans when she first joined the PAL to help clean up after Hurricane Katrina.
“Since then she has been with us (following a devastating tornado) to Joplin, Mo., down to help out after superstorm Sandy hit the Jersey Shore, and we will be going to Oklahoma soon for tornado relief,” Hill said.
Locally, Gingerelli has helped to paint the senior center, provided food for people in need, and delivered donations and gifts to individuals who cannot leave their home, according to the 2012 Youth of the Year program.
Gingerelli has been an active member of the Howell PAL and has served as a board member of its Youth Leadership Council for three years.
Toni’s mom, Maria, said, “She originally got involved with the PAL because she wanted to do volunteer work. She went to New Orleans with the PAL to try it out and she loved it.”
Gingerelli will be attending Rutgers University in the fall, where she plans to major in political science and double minor in Middle Eastern studies and women’s studies.