9 Mahwah Students Honored For Community Service

MAHWAH, NJ — Nine township students were honored for their dedication this school year as they volunteered 100s of hours to help others.

Emma Taff, Jenna Destro, Mackenna Olsen, Samantha Cucciniello, Michelle Marino, Chloe Pielka, Victoria Marian, Christine Ajao, and Emma Zabransky received the President's Volunteer Service Award at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township in Bergen County, the school said.

Taff received the gold level of the award, Destro the silver, and Olsen, Cucciniello, Marino, Pielka, Marian, Ajao, and Zabransky the bronze.

Gold level recipients must volunteer at least 250 hours a year. For silver level recipients, it is between 175 and 249 hours. Bronze level recipients must volunteer between 100 and 174 hours.

The average IHA student volunteered for nearly 68 hours this academic year.

Regina Garvey of Wyckoff volunteered the most hours of any IHA student at 846, the school said.

"Almost every one of our students went far beyond what was mandated, on average completing more than three times what they were required to complete," said Sarah Shutrop, director of campus ministry. "I am so proud to get to witness the rising of a generation of young, Catholic women, truly concerned about the suffering, vulnerable, and marginalized. It should bring us great hope for what’s to come."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com