Bernards High Student Wins $5K NJ 'Hero' Scholarship

Bernards High School student Kelly O'Neill is one of 20 chosen to receive a $5,000 scholarship through the New Jersey Heroes Spirit of a Hero Scholarship program.

This scholarship program was launched by First Lady Mary Pat Christie in February.

Following the sudden death of her uncle in 2011, O'Neill started a teen chapter of “Heartworks,” a non-profit organization that provides random acts of kindness for community members experiencing trying times or a crisis, and was established following the death of a local resident during the terrorism attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

O'Neill's “Junior Heartworks” chapter provides assistance to several families a month through food and gift certificate donations, according to information from the governor's office.

"I attended today with Kelly O'Neill and her family. It was awesome to see these students using their gifts to make changes in the world around them," said Megan McDowell of Bernardsville, founder of Heartworks, which is located in Basking Ridge.

"I'm really proud that Kelly asked me to be there with her and it thrills me that she witnessed what Heartworks does for families in crisis and wanted to share our philosophies with other teenagers," McDowell said. "She's deserving of all the attention she's receiving because she takes the road less traveled and makes a difference."

“I’m so proud that through New Jersey Heroes, we were able to provide these deserving students with an opportunity to follow their dreams and pursue their desired career paths,” Christie said in the release. “These students have made a difference in their communities through service and volunteerism. I applaud the spirit and commitment they have demonstrated to improve the lives of others, and their personal aspirations to achieve future success.”

New Jersey Heroes, the release said, worked with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and the Department of Education to promote the scholarship.

About 700 students applied for the scholarship, the release said.

To be considered for the scholarship, candidates had to show a commitment to volunteerism; a high school transcript with a letter of recommendation; have good academic standing; and be enrolling at an accredited college or vocational training school for the 2013-2014 school year.

Also receiving the scholarship are:

• Omolola Agabalogun, of Egg Harbor Township High School
• Richard Apramian, of Northern Valley Regional High School
• Ellen Bridget Carpinelli, of Summit Public High School
• Jordan Chervin, of Manalapan High School
• Michelle Guo, of Bergen County Academies
• James Cooper Itkoff, of Princeton High School
• Brandon J. Karpowich, of Toms River High School North
• Joseph M. Mandes, of Atlantic City High School
• Michael Mandes, of Atlantic City High School
• Zaire Martin, of MetEast High School
• Alicia Irene Mitchko, of Hamilton High School
• Monica Lilia Murphy, of Manasquan High School
• Christopher Joseph Nolze, of Toms River High School South
• Anish Kumar, Bridgewater-Raritan High School
• Lynese Rawlins, of Red Bank Regional
• Christopher Rim, of Academies at Englewood
• Melissa Romanovich, of Tenafly High School
• Nayna Shah, of Morristown High School
• Christopher Stone, of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School