The Mercer County Professional Counselors Association (MCPCA) hosted their 30th annual Caring Awards Breakfast on February 24, 2016 to honor 13 students from local high schools who exemplify qualities of respect, compassion, and integrity in their service to others. The students recognized volunteer in areas such as assisting senior citizens, tutoring international students, organizing anti-bullying initiatives, and delivering meals to the homeless. They selflessly give of their time to improve the lives of those in need. All of the honored students demonstrate a caring nature and commitment to helping others above themselves.

1. Mercer CountyProfessional CounselorsAssociation(MCPCA) hostedstudentsfromlocal MercerCounty
highschools as they were recognizedatthe 30th
annual CaringAwards Breakfaston February24, 2016 at
Mercer CountyCommunityCollege.Thiseventhonors the caringanddedicatednature of the individual
studentsdeservingtobe honored,asdeterminedbytheirschool counselors.These studentsexhibit
qualitiesof respect,compassionandintegrityintheirservice,nurturingspirit,and inthe mannerin
whichtheyaffectotherindividuals.The commonalityamongthese youngpeopleisthe selfless approach
of puttingthe needsof othersabove theirown. The following13 studentswere honored:
RobbinsvilleHighSchool student, Michelle Singh,wasrecognizedby hercounselorJoAnneWalkerfor
heraccumulationof over200 hourscentered inworkingwithseniorcitizensinthe Rose Hill assisted-
livingfacility,aswell as the international studentreadersinherschool. Additionally,Singh,whobattles
Amplified MuscularSkeletal PainSyndrome herself, createdthe AMPSfundraisertohelp raise funds for
the Pediatric–Neuroscience patientsinthe AMPSfoundation.
SteinertHighSchool student,SandraBaskharon,wasrecognizedbyhercounselorKathleenInnocenzifor
herunwaivereddedicationtothe internationalstudentsatherschool. Innocenzi was privilegedto
witnessBaskharon’sgrowthfromanenteringinternational studentherself,toablossomingAmerican
scholarwhonow tutors othernewfoundinternational students.AsBaskharon’sfluencydeveloped,so
didthe forgingrelationshipsharedbetweenthisstudentandcounselor.
Notre Dame High School student,Jaime LynnRizzotti,wasrecognizedbyhercounselor,Rose Stevenson,
for herdiplomacyandmediationskills. While onlyaninthgrade student,Rizzotti hasbecome agreat
role model toherstudentpopulation. Asa Service Leader andTeenAdvisoronthe “TeensAgainst
BulliesAdmiralsCommittee,Rizzotti organizesschool trips, inadditiontowriting grantsforthe Special
Olympicsfundraisingdriveandinthe promotionof the “Her CampusHighSchool Program.”Stevenson
sharedthat Rizzotti selflesslygivesuplunchestoworkonthese projects,andhelpstomake sure that
everystudenthasthe guidance needed tomaximizetheseundertakings.
PrincetonHighSchool student,EdgarMorales,wasrecognizedbyhiscounselor,SoniaMoticha. Edgar
acts as a role model andteenleaderwhoadvocates“healthydecisionskills.”Morales,aPHS athlete,
helpsto“ease the transition”forinternationalstudentathletes,bytutoringandleadinghispeersto
victory.
West-Windsor-PlainsboroHighSchool student,VarnaKodoth,wasrecognizedbyhercounselor,Molly
Rooney. Varna,whowearsan endearingsmileatall times,also actsa PeerLeader. In embracingher
Indianculture,VarnausesherskillsinIndianandClassical dance toraise moneyforherschool.
Additionally,she volunteersasanEmergencyMedical Technician(EMT) at her local hospital.
TrentonCatholicAcademy student,MaritzaBaker,washonoredbyherschool counselorandCo-
Chairpersonof the event,LisaFord,forhercommitmenttoservice. Maritza,an aspiringPre-Medical
student, volunteersatthe Brookside Manor assistedlivingfacilityandworkswiththe Seniorcitizensin
needof a friendlyface. FordsharedthatMaritza “knowsthe citizensbyname,face andstory.” Maritza,
withan everlastingpositive andfriendlydemeanor,takesitamongstherself toretrieveeachindividual

2. fromhis or herroom and welcome himortothe festivities,where the studentsencourageparticipation
inthe day’sentertainmentandexercise routines.
NottinghamHighSchool Senior,NicoloCappuccino,wasrecognizedhiscounselor,MarilynEbert. Nicolo
goeswithhisfathereveryweektovolunteertofeedthe homelessthroughthe SalvationArmy. They
cater to the underprivilegedpeopleof TrentonbydrivingaSalvationArmytruckto delivergoodsto
those inneed. He is alsoa Civil War historybuff whoplaysfootball.
Lawrence HighSchool student,KatherineMonterroso,wasrecognizedbyhercounselor,Christian
D’Angelo. Katherine isdescribedasbeing“real”,warmandpositive. She isdedicatedtoherchurchand
alwayswillingtohelpahand. D’Angeloemphasizedthatthe reasonforthisawardis more about“who
she isas a person,”ratherthan the tasksthat she does.” She is a girl whogoesabove and beyondwhat
isexpected.
West-WindsorPlainsboro-NorthSenior,SaraDuane,wasrecognizedbyher counselor,Lee Riley. Duane
isgivingandcompassionate younglady. She isa peerleaderwhoparticipatesinthe soccerandsoftball
programs at HSN. She is an active memberof herchurch,where she teachespre-school studentsand
she alsovolunteers withyoungchildrenatPlainsboroPublicLibrary. Sara isconsideringacareerin
ElementaryEducation.
Mercer CountyTechnical HighSchool at the AssumpinkCenterrecognizedSmirti Moorjani,whowas
recognizedbyhercounselor,MeganFerdetta. Moorjani wasalsorecentlyhonoredwiththe Martin
LutherKingJr. “Make a Difference”award,aswell asthe Health Occupations award.Moorjani currently
holdsover260 service hours. Some of hervolunteertasksinclude helpingseniorcitizenswithcomputer
literacyat the Plainsboro libraryand involunteeringatthe Children’sHospital of PhiladelphiaPediatric
Unit. FerdettadescribesMoorjani asa“trulygood person.”
TrentonDaylight-TwilightHighSchool student,SuperiorHemmingway,wasrecognizedbyhiscounselor,
AltheaMuse. Muse describesHemmingwayas“an angel indisguise”whoactsas a “pseudo-counselor”
bothin hisconnectionswiththe studentsandthe faculty. He isa gentle,kindsoul whohelpstomediate
peerconflictandevenprovidesgentle reminderstothe counselors.He volunteerswiththe Boysand
Girls‘Club,as well asincommunitydevelopment.
The newSTEM Academyat Mercer Technical HighSchool recognizedAllynBright,who wasnominated
by MCTHS-STEMCounselor,Marcie Tandy. Brightis a freshman studentwhoisalreadymakinganame
for herself. TandydescribesBrightasa“quietand sweet”student. Brightselflesslyhelpedapeerwork
on herGold AwardforGirl Scouts;In pursuance of that award,Bright,and several otherstudents, went
to the store to purchase food,prepare the foodfordinner,serve ittothe seniorsandspendtime with
the recipients.Bright saysherfavorite partof the experience was“helpingthe seniorcitizensand
hearingstoriesabouttheirlives.”
Lastly,EwingHighSchool Counselor,ShaliekaJarrett, recognizedNeeraMohmammed. Neera,asenior
studentwhohasbeenacceptedtoPrincetonandVanderbiltUniversities,isdescribedas“tenaciousand
determined.“Neeraearnedanunprecedentedamountof servicehours helpinginsuchtasksas college

3. preparationinthe promotionof cultural events. Fellow counselor,LisaRoth,waspresenttohonor
Mohammedwiththe award.
All of these studentshave proventhatthe actsof caringand the powerof kindnessare unsurmountable.
In the wordsof HelenKeller, “The bestandmostbeautiful thingsinthe worldcannotbe seenor
eventouched - theymustbe feltwiththe heart." The heartfeltnature of these studentsiscertainly felt
by those thattheytouch and will undoubtedlymature as dothey.