Melissa Carpenter
Carpenter is a dedicated high school senior with a deep passion for animals, nature and conservation. After transferring to a new school, Carpenter found a renewed sense of purpose and motivation—leading her to volunteer at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. She started volunteering in early 2023 and continues to play an active role in caring for over 7,500 native New Jersey wildlife patients each year. Whether she’s feeding baby raccoons, assisting with the treatment of birds of prey or taking on a variety of other tasks, she is fully immersed in helping these wild animals thrive.
Alongside her volunteer work, Carpenter is an accomplished equestrian, riding horses for the Triple E Trainings IEA team. Her love for nature also extends to photography—particularly in capturing the beauty of the outdoors. With plans to major in conservation and wildlife management, Carpenter is determined to continue protecting wildlife and preserving natural habitats for future generations.
Mia Pinto
Pinto is a high school junior, a fine soccer player and a wonderful leader within the Girls Leadership Council (GLC). In addition to being on the executive board, Pinto oversaw donation collections at her school for GLC’s period pantry—offering free menstrual products for all to use. She hit a roadblock when school administration pushed back on the appropriateness of the word “period,” location of the box within the media center and drawings of various feminine products decorating the collection boxes. Pinto arranged a meeting with a member of the school’s administration and despite the school district ultimately not wavering, she used her powerful voice to advocate to those in need and for the empowerment of women. Her dedication, advocacy and courage continues to serve as an inspiration to her GLC peers and beyond.
Jamira McKiever
McKiever is a vocal advocate for positive change and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the world around her. Amongst her most notable achievements was presenting to the Green Team from US Cold Storage, where she confidently addressed the need to reduce plastic waste. Her courage and outspoken personality led to tangible change—as the group’s vision was realized and two water bottle refill stations were installed on campus.
In addition to her environmental advocacy, McKiever was involved in the STAR Student Employee Program at UrbanPromise’s Office of Experiential Learning. Through this program, she participated in activities focused on science, technology, advocacy and research.
She plans to pursue a career in psychology—focusing on supporting young people’s mental health struggles especially in low-resource communities—and hopes to not only help young people but also improve the environmental conditions they face.
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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 9 (December 2024)
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