Two New Jersey students won the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program that honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Six other New Jersey students were recognized as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities.
Jessica Duamond, a seventh-grader at West Brook Middle School in Paramus, started a community service club at her school that raised more than $10,000 to support causes for children and senior citizens.
Michael Pesci, a sophomore at DePaul High School in Wayne, formed a nonprofit organization that raised more than $75,000 over four years for disabled and disadvantaged individuals.
The other six New Jersey winners are Michael Bachmann, a sophomore at Highland Park High School; Josephine Droney, a freshman at Mainland Regional High School; Daniel Feldman, a freshman at Mainland Regional High School; Madison Pomerantz, of Franklin Lakes, a seventh-grader at Franklin Avenue Middle School; Christine Ring, of Summit, a junior at Kent Place School; and Qinyun Wang, a senior at East Brunswick High School.