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Kimberly Green earns state scholarship
(by Kathryn A. Burger - June 17, 2008)
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Photo Courtesy Of Kathy Green
Kimberly Green, a senior at Park Ridge High School was chosen as a recipient of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association’s Student Leadership Award and scholarship. She is pictured here with Richard Martinez, principal of Park Ridge High. Secondary school principals from across the state can nominate one student. She was one of only 25 selected from across the state.
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Each year, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) considers applications for its Student Leadership Award. All secondary school principals in the state are invited to submit the name of a high school senior who demonstrates leadership by participation in co-curricular activities, other than athletics.
Kimberly Green was selected by Principal Richard Martinez as the school’s nominee. She completed the requisite application process and was selected as one of only 25 students from across the state to receive the award that includes a $2,500 scholarship.
The application process included the submission of a resume and letters of recommendation as well as an essay on the topic, “The Importance of Student Involvement in School Activities.” Mindy Milavsky, chair of the NJPSA’s Student Leadership Committee said, “Selecting the winners was indeed a difficult task. Each applicant has impeccable credentials and serves as a role model for all New Jersey students.”
The top 25 award winners were honored at a luncheon held last month. Each student received their scholarship and a plaque.
The NJSPA represents more than 7,000 school administrators throughout the state.
Following is the essay Kimberly Green submitted to the NJPSA:
Throughout the course of life, a person must eventually step into a position of leadership. Usually, this step comes later in life in the work force or with one’s family; however, others must learn to take on the leadership role at a younger age during high school. As a freshman, I was very eager to become involved with the different clubs after school. I joined the Park Ridge Exchange Club and The Muscular Dystrophy Association Soccer/Volleyball Marathon Committee, a community service fundraiser. As a junior, I took the Journalism elective course offered at my school and joined the Journalism Club after taking a great interest in writing. Today, as a senior, I have been put into such leadership positions as president of Park Ridge Exchange Club, coordinator of the MDA Marathon, and editor of the school newspaper, The Owl. Some may say that by being so involved would be detrimental to my schoolwork, but to me, it is a perfect fit.
Many students believe that it is their “job” to only show up to class and complete their assignments, but that is not completely true. After school activities are a gift that many students take for granted. They provide team skill that no football or soccer player could learn on the field. At Park Ridge High School, students can travel the country, help a community in need, stretch their minds, learn to deliver the news, extend their art skills, or provide the school and community with a little more pride and spirit. As an involved student, I have embraced many of these opportunities and learned leadership qualities that I can carry with me well into my future.
Although all of the clubs are important, the one that has had the most impact on me was the Muscular Dystrophy Association Marathon. Each year, Park Ridge High School runs a soccer/volleyball marathon that supports a summer camp in Spring Valley, New York, for children with muscular dystrophy. Students are sponsored to play soccer and volleyball from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This year, there was word that there would not be a marathon, because there was no student adviser to run the event. A fellow student and I volunteered to be co-leaders. I knew that it was a huge task to take on, but the benefits of being a leader would be even bigger. After months of organizing, raising money, and true leadership skills, Park Ridge students raised over $7,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It was the largest task I have ever taken on; but, by knowing that many muscular dystrophy patients would benefit from me and my committee’s hard work, made it all worthwhile.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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