GLEN ROCK, NJ — Glen Rock High School junior Olivia Coppola has received the National Community Service Impact Award with Ambassador distinction from the United Nations Association of the USA and InnerView, the district announced Monday.
Coppola was formally presented with the award during the Glen Rock High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on June 11.
The award recognizes students who show a sustained commitment to service while addressing local and global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
To earn the Ambassador Award, the program's highest recognition level, Coppola completed more than 120 hours of volunteer service between June 2025 and April 2026 through more than a dozen events and initiatives.
Within Glen Rock High School, she volunteers through the Students for Service Club, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and Girl Up. She has also volunteered with St. Catharine Roman Catholic Church, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, the Glen Rock Dog Park, Jersey Cares and the Borough of Glen Rock.
Her service focused on veterans, senior citizens, children and families in need, according to the announcement. The work included creating thank-you cards for veterans, helping with Glen Rock veterans appreciation events, volunteering at a senior dance, taking part in the borough's Shoveling for Seniors program, sending holiday cards to local nursing homes and senior residents, tutoring younger students in math, and helping assemble toiletry kits, fleece blankets and donations for toy and baby wipe drives.
According to the announcement, students nationwide contributed more than 2.3 million hours of service this year, generating an estimated $78 million in community impact.
“I have been active in community service since I was five years old, and it has always been a consistent part of my life,” Coppola said. “Having a recognition for community service at first felt awkward because acts of service aren’t done to be celebrated, rather to make an impact,” she said. “However, I hope to use this award to inspire others to take initiative to make a change in their community and understand they can make a lasting impact with many different causes.”
Coppola also said school staff supported her efforts.
“It meant a lot to know that my guidance counselor, Ms. Malone; principal, Ms. Giurlando; and NHS advisor, Ms. Unalp, were supportive of my efforts,” she said. “I am so excited that Ms. Unalp created a new NHS committee that I will chair next year to help involve more students in the UN’s mission of serving people around the world in many different areas.”
According to UNA-USA Managing Director Farah Salim Eck, the award honors students taking meaningful action.
“Students are supporting the Global Goals with heart, hard work, and a clear path forward,” Eck said. “Seeing young people step up reminds us that change is always possible.” The awards are administered through a partnership between UNA-USA and InnerView.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Ridgewood, NJ Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.