10 South Brunswick Students Honored For Helping Others

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — South Brunswick's fifth annual Heroes and Helpers event was held last Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Target on Rt. 1.

Ten local South Brunswick students were nominated by their schools for displaying outstanding work and character over the past year. Last Wednesday, as a way of thanking these kids for being outstanding, they were taken to the Target on Rt. 1 and given a gift card. They were given their own personal police officer to accompany them through the store on their shopping spree. This event is held every year by the South Brunswick police department.

Here are the ten students that were recognized and the schools that nominated them:

South Brunswick High School - Richard Jabaery Ellis
Crossroads South Middle - Nicholas Schucman
Crossroads North Middle – Grace Manzino
Brunswick Acres Elementary – Jeylon Billups
Greenbrook Elementary - Jayden Hanis
Cambridge Elementary - Gianna Hackett
Constable Elementary - Tehmel Pittman
Monmouth Junction Elementary - McKenna Caffrey
Indian Fields Elementary - Robert Cobbs
Brooks Crossing Elementary – Aaliyah Parks

Here are some of the things these 10 children have done in the past year:

• Supporting the Brain Injury Alliance
• Promoting autism awareness and helping autistic kids in the classroom and on the playground
• Founding and raising money for Hospital Helpers, a program that supports hospitalized children
• Being involved in peer leadership
• Helping physically-disabled students participate in physical activities
• Helping kindergartners learn to read and volunteering to tutor other students
• Assisting in socializing new students when they transfer to South Brunswick schools and reaching out to shy students in school and on the playground
• Being involved in the GSA and advocating for LGBTQ+ students
• Taking care of their fellow students, staff members, and school buildings, and taking care of their families.

This annual Heroes and Helpers event is funded by a partnership between Target, South Brunswick school district administrators and the two South Brunswick police department unions, PBA and FOP.

"There are over 9,000 students in the South Brunswick district and these young men and women were chosen because they have made a positive impact in their school or community," said Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "Some are student council representatives, safety patrol members, bus helpers, classroom helpers and peer mediators. These kids are known to help staff in the schools, provide motivation and guidance to classmates, and to offer kindness, compassion and a cheerful word to all they meet throughout the day. It's a pleasure to recognize these students."