Civic League Recognizes 63 Middle Schoolers for Civic and Academic Efforts

63 local seventh and eighth grade students were recognized on Wednesday night for their efforts in leadership and academic programs with the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick.

Sean Hewitt, a program coordinator for the Civic League, said the students enrolled in the two programs came recommended by their school principals and teachers.

The "7th Grade Step-Up Program" requires its young charges to complete detailed projects that include a research paper component, oral presentation and a community service project.

"Each participant engaged in community service efforts while participating in workshops focused on leadership development and civics," according to a program handed out at Wednesday's ceremony at Lord Stirling Community School.

Some of the programs featured included a retreat to Kateri Environmental Center in Marlboro, where students practiced team building exercises in the wilderness.

Eighth grade students coordinated a program that entailed writing Christmas cards and creating holiday CD's and sending them to troops overseas, and another program had them touring city hall, meeting with city officials to learn about local government, and having a meeting with Mayor James Cahill.

29 seventh graders will be moving on to the eighth grade leadership program, following their work in the Step-Up program. They are also invited to participate in other programs coordinated by the Civic League, such as the "Learn to Earn" program and the Summer Institutes.

During the presentation, Hewitt said that kids ages 12 to 14 may be considered to be too young to be discussing things like college plans and voter information, but the Civic League doesn't subscribe to that notion.

There is a window of opportunity to educate these children young, to build up their academic prowess and have them looking to the future, he said.

"They need to understand that they need to compete (later in life)" he said.

For more information on The Civic League of Greater New Brunswick's programs, visit the organization's website.