Star Student: Giuliana Excels In Volunteerism In Bensalem Township

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Kelly Pasquarella who nominated Giuliana of Bensalem Township.

Star local student’s name

Giuliana, 10th Grade

Star local student’s home state

Pennsylvania

How do you know the star local student?

She is my Bonus Daughter.

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

I met Giuliana when she was in the 3rd grade. She was still grieving the loss of her sister who passed in 2014 from cancer. Giuliana gave Sophia precious months of life, by donating her bone marrow. After meeting Giuls, I quickly realized she was mature for her age and had a vision in mind. She wants to help. Doesn't matter what it is, or who it is... she will be the first person to volunteer. She talked us into becoming a host family for a month for a student from Spain (we have 6 kids already in the house) and in just 26 days, we will welcome two kids from France. She wants to explore and assist however she can even if it means being in uncomfortable situations. Giuliana advocates hard for childhood cancer as well as Down Syndrome (her youngest brother has Down Syndrome.) Just this year, Giuliana raised $709 on her own to purchase brand new costumes for the oncology unit at CHOP, something her father started the year her sister passed, on Halloween. Giuliana made "grab bags" and sold them to students in her high school and got tons of donations after friends/family found out what she did. She orchestrated a "Go Gold for Cancer" field hockey game where she sold more grab bags, and baked goodies, and had a team bonding day where the whole varsity team made Go Gold/Cancer Sucks and Phightin with Sophia posters. Giuliana ran her 2nd 5k for CHOP in memory of her sister this year and is aiming for Top 5 in her age bracket next year. Giuls volunteers for a nonprofit that both her father and I work at and has a job at a local bagel shop. If Giuls has a delay for school, she uses that time to go to work to assist with start-up before heading into school, then has field hockey, and lacrosse almost daily. Giuliana is saving her money to travel to Spain to explore another country and is aiming for a scholarship for Field Hockey while she is in all honors classes! Giuls is the BEST big sister and biggest cheerleader for all her friends. She deserves all the recognition for her hard work and dedication to her family/friends/work/school/sports and much more

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Giuliana is the hardest worker in the room, every time.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Guiliana!

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Know someone making a difference in town? Nominate them as a local hero here.