2 Manchester 'High School Heroes' Honored By Junior Achievement Of NJ

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two Manchester Township High School students have been awarded scholarships by Junior Achievement of New Jersey, two of just six awarded in New Jersey by the group.

Allison Gilbert and Abena Konadu were honored with the 2023 High School Hero Scholar Award recipients at a recent board meeting of the organization, officials said.

Junior Achievement of New Jersey is free educational resource operation that provides students "with relevant experiential education in financial literacy, career readiness, entrepreneurship, and life skills," the organization says.

The High School Heroes program empowers students to be role models as they teach Junior Achievement to elementary school students in their communities, "all the while developing their own leadership, presentation, time management, and collaboration skills," the organization says.

Read about one of those days here: Manchester High Schoolers Head Back To Elementary School For A Day

Gilbert is set to George Mason University, and Konadu is headed to Drexel University.

"JA has helped me prepare for a future in the workforce by allowing me to strengthen my leadership skills all while being open-minded and understanding of others," Konadu said.

"As I enter the real world and a career later in the future, I know I will refer to my JA experiences. For this I am forever grateful that I have grown to become a strong, confident leader," Gilbert said.

"The JA High School Hero Scholar Award was co-founded by Pamela Craig in 2015 to recognize exceptional students who have participated as classroom volunteers through JA High School Heroes while promoting the significance of education and career preparation," the organization says.

Junior Achievement of New Jersey works to equip students "with the employability and life skills needed for successful futures," the organization says.