Amidst the long table that seated each school’s honoree at the 61st Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Dinner, chances are pretty good that Manidhar “Money” Yeluri was the least experienced football player in the lineup.
But that didn’t stop the High School South senior from making an immediate impact for the WW-P team while playing his first year of football last fall. He not only became an instant leader in his own reserved way; but displayed all the other qualities needed to deserve a trip to the Wah dinner, hosted by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on March 12 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal.
“This award means a lot to me because it gave me confidence and made me open-minded to try new things and pursue different opportunities given to me,” the man called Money said. “This award represents the effort and the dedication I put into my team – coming to almost every practice, talking to my coach about school work I have to finish, and also having good sportsmanship on and off of the field.”
While doing all that; Yeluri displayed a solid work ethic that rubbed off on his teammates.
“Money was a hard worker and a quiet leader,” coach Bill Furlong said. “He led by actions rather than bravado. He quietly showed up every day, worked hard and simply got better every day. Money helped our program take a big step forward both on the scoreboard and on the practice field with his selfless attitude. He would play any role or position he was asked to play to make the team better.”
Yeluri was mainly a man in the trenches, as he played guard and tackle on the offensive line and nose guard on the defensive line. His decision to enter the ferocious world of football so late in his high school career came from a general interest in exploring everything possible.
“When I first started high school I wanted to try new sports and activities the school offered,” he explained. “I first tried diving during my freshman year. After that, I joined track and field but it got canceled because of Covid. During my two academic years at home, I tried staying active by exercising and biking.
“When I got back to school I wanted to try out more sports that I had never played before. I joined wrestling and I really liked it. A friend recommended that I also try out football. When I signed up I never thought it could be so special and memorable during my senior year.”
Through it all, Money still managed to maintain a 3.8 grade point average while taking part in numerous other organizations and activities.
“Manidhar is a true renaissance man,” said Furlong, referring to his various sports, a 3.8 grade point average, his dedication to the Eagle Scouts and the fact he splits time between WW-PS and Mercer County Technical School, where he studies Architecture and Engineering.
According to his Senior Language teacher, Kerry Kemo, Yeluri displays the same qualities in the classroom as he does on the field.
“Money has been a pleasure to have in class this year,” Kemo said. “He earned an A in the first marking period and currently has an A in the second. Money is a responsible, respectful young man who contributes to class in a positive manner. He works well independently, and also is a valuable partner and small group member.”
Yeluri certainly lives up to Furlong’s Renaissance Man description, as his musical talents seemingly have no limits. He plays the trombone and is a member of the School of Rock Guitar, Chorale and the Concert Choir.
“When I was a kid I used to play the piano and after a while I started to listen to instrumental and rock music which made me want to switch to the guitar for six years,” he said. “For school I played the trombone for two years and then switched to choir for the majority of my middle school and high school years.”
Music and athletics are only the tip of Yeluri’s “interests iceberg” as enjoys collecting, traveling, driving, camping, Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, swimming, weight lifting, mountain biking and ice skating. He has also been in the WW-PS student government for four years; and his eloquence earned him the Toastmasters Public Speaking Award.
And then there is Money’s community service.
His volunteer work includes the Scouting for Food Drive at the Plainsboro Municipal Building, helping senior citizens, participating in the Rise Against Hunger program sponsored by West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co., and the Chapel Clean-up at West Windsor Chapel. He was also Patrol Leader for Troop 66 and Den Chief for Pack 66 during his 12 years in the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. For his Eagle project, he built shelves for the community GreenHouse.
“I enjoy volunteering as a hobby and as a part of Boy Scouts,” he said. “I find happiness, comfort and relaxation when volunteering. I help out senior citizens in my neighborhood by fixing doors, fertilizing grass, etc. I have also been given many opportunities for volunteering. As an Eagle Scout I have volunteered for more than 50 hours at various organizations and events.”
It’s no wonder Money gives his time to the Eagle Scouts, sine he considers making that rank his proudest accomplishment.
“Achieving Eagle Scout took seven years to accomplish through my middle and high school years,” he said. “This accomplishment is essential because I had to earn 22 different merit badges and complete seven Boy Scout ranks. I have dedicated a part of my high school years to meeting this achievement and making it happen.”
That dedication, along with everything else he does, makes the days pretty crowded for Yeluri. It takes a strong will to maintain the rigorous schedule of athletics, academics and his various other activities.
“I have managed my time well by prioritizing my commitment to my team and keeping up on any assignments I have during my day,” he said. “I write all my tasks I have to do during my day and make sure that they are completed on time. I used to have a difficult time managing my time but becoming independent and being a part of a team made me learn how to budget my time.”
Although Yeluri has not yet decided on his college, he plans on majoring in Architecture, which drew his interest due to its rich history behind famed masterpieces such as the Vanderbilt mansions.
“I aim to become an architect to preserve the culture and emotion behind architecture and what drives the movement further to create a lasting impact,” Yeluri said. “I can use math and especially trigonometry in my college to help on the foundations of architecture with math concepts and methods. In my college area, I will use a lot of geometry and other math skills relating to shapes and 3d figures.”
And rest assured, he will be finding other things to do outside of his major. When it comes to Money, he wants to be invested in as many things as possible.”
Manidhar Yeluri.,
