#b#Jammie Day#/b#
Wicoff Elementary School’s students and staff wore their pajamas to school to gather support and donations for the NephHope Foundation. Students collected monetary donations and raised $1,089 for the cause.
Guest readers shared their favorite books and read bedtime stories to the pajama-wearing staff and students. Readers included WW-P Superintendent of Schools David Aderhold; Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu; Martin McElrath, a police officer from Plainsboro; Lori Skibinski, assistant principal at Millstone River School; and Matthew Collins, a fireman from Plainsboro.
“Jammie Day 2014 was a wonderful event that provided fun as well as a great opportunity for students to positively influence the community,” said Michael Wellborn, principal at Wicoff. “I thank the Wicoff PTA for providing delicious refreshments for the students and staff, and to all the guest readers for sharing their favorite books with our elementary school students for this important community service event.”
#b#Science Award#/b#
Alexander Li, a sixth grader at Community Middle School, received an outstanding achievement award at the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair on March 18. His project was also one of 16 junior division projects nominated to participate in the national Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) competition, a program of the Society for Science and the Public.
#b#Viral Video#/b#
Grace Lee, a 2010 graduate of High School North, created a video of her singing “Let It Go,” a track from Disney’s film “Frozen.” The video has had more than 4 million views and is part of a cover song contest at ryanseacrest.com. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXqWVWHW8dA#t=20)
Lee, 22, studies pharmacology at Rutgers and now lives in Edgewater. She has recorded in the past, has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and has sung the national anthem for Rutgers basketball games. “Turning to music on the side is enjoyable,” says Lee.
#b#Young Philanthropy#/b#
More than 600 people were in attendance as the Jewish Community Youth Foundation celebrated its cumulative giving of $535,745 since the program’s inception. The celebration took place at JCYF’s annual philanthropy fair and check presentation ceremony, held February 23 at Robbinsville High School. A total of $72,000 was distributed to 24 programs by 174 area teens representing 16 middle schools, 21 high schools, and 21 synagogues.
Youth from West Windsor include Sydney Albert, Lenni Elias, Brianna Fontak, Philippa Chown, Laura Wolfe, Sammy Berger, Emily Calman, Leah Dworsky, Mallory Friedlander, Becca Hofing, Isabel Josephson, Katrina Meni, Michael Mitgang, Jess Sabin, Griffin Valentine, Jenna Valentine, Michael Greenberger, Sam Merkovitz, Leah Mozenter, Jack Paley, Kenny Pepper, and Julia Redavid.
Also, Allyson Samet, Ethan Schweitzer, Emily Strober, Taylor Wasserman, Abby Wold, Lindsay Chevlin, Ben Litwin, Ross Stern, Alli Bacher, Jenna Bailin, Allie Cohen, Rachel Goldfinger, Noah Wolfe, Zachary Bacall, Lucian Chown, Kyle Jacobson, Grant Keller, Brett Schenckman, Andrew Bortnick, Ben Chevlin, Daniel Greenfield, Matthew Wold, Samantha Cirkus, Sophie Davis, Allison Fleming, Emma Fleming, Bethany Harris, and Matthew Lichtenstein.
JCYF is a teen philanthropy program and a project of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County. It is funded by the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund and the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks.
Daniel Fine of West Windsor, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania and a 2011 JCYF graduate, received the fourth annual JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award for his commitment to the Jewish community and his participation in many philanthropic and community service activities. He received a $360 award which he will donate to MEOR, an organization that works to create a vibrant Jewish future led by a new generation literate in Jewish wisdom, culture, and heritage.
“Think about and appreciate the values that JCYF teaches you,” says Fine. “It’s a program that goes beyond philanthropy and helps give you a greater connection to the Jewish community.”
Visit www.jfcsonline.org, E-mail celestea@jfsonline.org, or call 609-987-8100 for more information about the program.
#b#Mayoral Support#/b#
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh of West Windsor and Mayor Peter Cantu of Plainsboro delivered meals and visited with Red Cross Home Delivered Meals clients in their towns on March 27 during Mayors for Meals Day. The Red Cross is a participant in the March for Meals national campaign, which aims to raise awareness of senior hunger and encourage action in the local community.
The program delivers daily nutritious meals to those who are homebound and those unable to prepare meals for themselves. Last year the Red Cross delivered more than 44,000 meals to more than 175 clients in the Mercer County area.
Visit redcross.org/Princeton or contact Brandon Verrault at 609-951-2124 or brandon.verrault@redcross.org for information.
#b#On the Wall#/b#
Hye Lim Chang of West Windsor is showing her artwork at ArtExpo New York (www.artexponewyork.com) at Pier 94, 711 12th Avenue, New York, from Friday to Sunday, April 4 to 6.
A native of Korea, she learned the art of oriental painting from Hoh Baek Ryun, and studied western art and sculpture at Fashion Institute of Technology. Chang has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the world.
#b#Literati#/b#
Edith McGowan of West Windsor is a winner in the annual New Jersey Wordsmith competition. Her poem, “Coffee and Sleeping Pills,” was selected to be read at Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. Sign language interpretation will be provided and assistive listening devices are available. Open captioning will be provided. Visit www.vsanj.org or call 732-745-3885 for information.
#b#In College#/b#
Caldwell College: Plainsboro residents Joseph Nieves and Katherine Yang are on the dean’s list.
Carnegie Mellon University: Maya Kaisth, a graduate of High School South, is on the dean’s list. She is a freshman.
College of Charleston: Arielle Niecestro of Plainsboro was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Emerson College: Alison Puzio of West Windsor is on the dean’s list.
Oxford College of Emory University: Carissa Hunter has been selected for “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.” A sophomore, she is a former West Windsor resident. Her family now lives in Massachusetts.
