South Jersey Magazine - Gloucester County / Newsstand

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SJM_DEPT_Community_Super_Kids_0123 - spread_Dept 1 / 25 / 23 12 : 36 PM Page 1 small , is an accomplishment that is untouchable , ” says Moon . When they aren’t busy lending their C O M M U N I T Y support to others , both Volpe and Moon are excelling in the classroom . Volpe is active in National Honor Society and C Moon plans on going to college to study biology in hopes of eventually becoming an oncologist and conducting cancer research . Katelin Abdallah Marlton Abdallah has Super held multiple leadership posi - tions during her time at Cherokee , like serving as an executive Kids member of Stu - dents ’ Move - MEET SOME OF SOUTH JERSEY’S INSPIRING ment Against Cancer , Biology Club and Renaissance Club , YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING TO MAKE A and being a sophomore representative to DIFFERENCE . by Amy Kodrich the board of education , among others . She’s also been an active peer leader , which includes participating in hile a lot can be said about the youth of this generation — or numerous volunteer events , one of which any generation , really — the fact is that there are many bright connects with the Anti - Defamation Wminds and caring youngsters who are doing their part to League’s ( ADL ) No Place for Hate . She impact the communities they call home . Here , we introduce you to some of recently attended the ADL leadership South Jersey’s Super Kids and recognize them for their selfless efforts to make our conference , and was asked to return to area a better place . the event next year as a peer facilitator . “ I’m always trying to find volunteer Sierra Volpe & from her cousin Danny , his eight - year opportunities that relate to what we’re battle with cancer , and how he moti - Julia Moon doing . There is an organization that I’ve vated her to be her best self : “ Even Mount Laurel worked with through the youth advisory when he was going through the This dynamic committee . … DEON is the Diversity and toughest battle imaginable , he duo of juniors Equal Opportunity Network , and that’s remained positive and put a smile on at Lenape definitely something I’m trying to con - everyone’s face . When he passed away High School nect No Place for Hate to so we can raise on Christmas Eve , I was filled with joined forces our voices in committees and help out sadness ; however , I wanted to to create the con - our community here in Marlton — and support group tinue spreading his positivity and his even outreach to more places . ” “ Coping with zest for life . Experiencing cancer As an avid hockey player , Abdallah Cancer ” to through a loved one has made me focuses on making an impact on the help their interested in giving back to so many hockey community , too . She is a student peers whose organizations . ” coach for Philadelphia Blind Hockey , lives have Moon has also had family members where she’s also the volunteer coordi - been affected directly affected by the disease and nator . This organization helps teach by the dis - she’s been inspired by how Volpe has children and adults with visual impair - ease . The idea managed things . ments both how to ice skate and the evolved from “ [ Volpe ] has dealt with cancer as fundamentals of ice hockey . She is also their genuine well , and she is one of my biggest one of the coaches for Flyers Youth Spe - care for each inspirations , aside from my family . cial Hockey and a Learn to Skate other , and Her will and determination to help instructor , where she shares her love of provides a people go hand in hand with mine the sport with special - needs children . safe place for and I think that is why we comple - all Lenape students to share their feel - ment each other so well . Being able to Aidan DiMarco ings and find comfort in knowing they help people and the feeling of Collingswood are not alone . knowing you have made someone’s With a passion for politics and pro - Volpe’s greatest inspiration came day or made a difference , even if it is moting change , DiMarco has been SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume19 issue 10 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 42 |

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SJM_DEPT_Community_Super_Kids_0123 - spread_Dept 1 / 25 / 23 12 : 36 PM Page 2 involved in $ 22,600 since inception and reached but I was able to produce close to 250 programs both nearly 1,500 youth . He is currently bags of food . It was really heartwarming inside and working on an initiative for World Water to see how the whole community came outside Day to raise awareness about water together to support such a great cause . school . He led scarcity and to fund a grant to the After receiving tremendous support , I a student - Moses West Foundation for equitable decided to organize another food drive wide walkout access to clean water . in 2022 and I was able to achieve the at Torres was recently selected to same results . ” Collingswood showcase and publish research Another proud moment for Shah High School through the 2022 Institute of Electrical was being nominated by the Ronald against gun and Electronics Engineers MIT Under - McDonald House of South Jersey to be violence in America following school graduate Research Conference , featured in the 6ABC news segment shootings , canvassed / door - knocked for elected as the 2023 class president ( all Philly Proud for his food drive . He has Congressional candidate Mario De four years ) , received the Union League also received a Certificate of Congres - Santis , was a panelist speaker at the N.J . Good Citizen Award , was named a sional Recognition from Congressman Youth Leadership Summit and helped National Merit Commended Scholar Andy Kim in recognition of his hard organize the Words Have Weight pre - and was nominated for the Gordon A . work , in addition to receiving the Lum - sentation during his freshman year in Vreeland “ Best Statesman ” award at berton Township Mayor’s Citizenship response to racial slurs being used the American Legion Jersey Boys State Award for the contributions made to his within the school . program . community . “ From a raging climate crisis to a Next fall , he hopes to go to college at gun violence epidemic , the youth are Stanford , USC ( SoCal ) or Virginia . “ My Meghan Wilson hit the hardest . Older generations will aspirations include first gaining direct Marlton pass the torch to younger generations industry experience and further devel - When the at one point or another , and it is critical oping business proficiency through COVID - 19 that they pass the torch leaving us a internship positions at established pandemic first world where we can live on a habitable engineering companies and consulting hit , Wilson planet , where we don’t have to fear firms . My end goal is to launch my own started her walking outside and being shot , where practice , either in the field of engi - own charitable we don’t have to worry about debt for neering or the realm of consulting . ” initiative receiving education to advance our called Mask careers , and where we don’t have to Ruhan Shah for Meals . She worry about a hospital bill because we Lumberton Township used her pas - fail to guarantee health care as a basic Currently a sion for human right . ” sophomore at sewing and crocheting to create masks Drawing inspiration from other Rancocas for members of the community . In lieu young organizers across the country Valley of payment , each buyer from the neigh - fighting for basic human rights , Regional High borhood would give a food donation DiMarco plans to continue the fight School , Shah and she would donate the food to a post - graduation and attend college is in his local food pantry . She was able to make majoring in political science with the second year 100 masks and donated more than goal of becoming a political consul - serving as 1,000 pounds of food . tant . class presi - “ It was really important because one dent . Last year day when I was dropping off the food … Devin Torres he started organizing various drives there was just a line of cars throughout Mount Laurel around the holidays to collect candies , the entire parking lot . It was just so sad Inspired by his cookies , cereal boxes and stuffed ani - to see , and I really felt like I was making passion to mals from the students and staff mem - a difference . ” make a posi - bers . All the collected items are donated At school , she is part of the execu - tive impact on to local organizations every year . tive board for Students ’ Movement his commu - Beyond school , Shah organizes a Against Cancer , National Honor Society nity , Torres co - community food drive called “ Ruhan’s and Spanish National Honor Society . As founded Rally ” which began in 2021 . He collects the captain of the gymnastics team , she Giving Cycle non - perishable food items from local sets up volunteering opportunities such with the vision schools , grocery stores , and friends and as Trunk or Treat . Wilson’s extracurricu - “ for all stu - family while also collecting money on a lars beyond school include Sports dents to GoFundMe page to buy additional food Unity , where she helps disabled and commit themselves to a lifetime of items . After nearly a month of collection , special - needs children learn to play dif - giving before they reach high school . ” he then distributes the food to people in ferent sports . He led the team’s efforts on fundraising , need . Whatever is left over goes to the Once she graduates , Wilson plans to grantmaking , identifying new groups of local food pantry , the Children’s Home in study biology , minor in Spanish and to students to impact and building organi - Mount Holly and the Ronald McDonald go pre - med so she can help under - zational partnerships . House of South Jersey . served populations with limited access ? The team has distributed roughly “ My goal was to make 100 food bags to health care . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 10 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 43

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