Junior League of Summit Announces

The Junior League of Summit proudly names Domenico Deluca (Governor Livingston HS), Mikayla Meyler (Chatham HS), Jill Zimmerman (Governor Livingston HS) and Allie Zimmerman (Governor Livingston HS) as recipients of our annual Shirley Wight Keeney Voluntarism Scholarships. As in recent years, the JLS is also offering a Continuing Education Scholarship, which was awarded to Nikki Griffiths. “We are continually impressed with the caliber of our scholarship applicants. Each year brings more and more remarkable accomplishments and academic success. The achievements and contributions of these individuals are an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish as they continue their education,” said Junior League President, Erika Melchiorre.

Domenico Deluca of Chatham High School will be attending Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Muhlenberg School of Nursing. Domenico, a lifelong Mountainside resident, has been involved in many school and town organizations. At school he is part of Student Ambassadors, TREND (anti drug and alcohol program), GLTV crew, Stage Crew and Set Design, President of the Italian Club, and he participates on the Student Advisory Committee. Outside of school Domenico was a boy scout in troop 177 and achieved the rank of Eagle about a year ago. Now he assists the troop in being a Junior Assistant Scout Master. Domenico volunteers for the Mountainside Rescue Squad as an EMT and has been on the squad for 2 years. He also holds the rank of Field Officer at the squad where he assists in scheduling and operations. Domenico also volunteers for the Mountainside Fire Department as a probationary member and plans to attend the fire academy in the fall. Domenico plans to attend Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Muhlenberg School of nursing in the fall to eventually receive his BSN.

Mikayla Meyler of Chatham HS will be attending Georgetown University in the fall. Mikayla has been a longtime active resident of the Chatham community. One of her favorite activities is volunteering as a certified EMT with the volunteer Chatham Emergency Squad (CES). She rides as a cadet on Friday nights riding 4 hours at a time, and she is fully involved with the medical care of the patients. She has also been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten, and the culmination of her time in this group came together with her Gold Award called Map to the Heart. She is working together with CES to create a virtual map of all of the locations of AEDs in Chatham Township and Borough for the emergency services and citizens to use. She hopes to further her love for the medical field by majoring in biology in college on a pre-med track at Georgetown University in the fall. She is also a peer mentor in her schools freshman ambassador club LINKS. She works to create a smooth transition for incoming freshmen and encourages them to make positive safe choices throughout high school. Apart from the sciences and mentoring, Mikayla has also been very involved in theater during her time in high school. She is a member of the International Thespians society, and she also hopes to continue her love for singing in college.

Jill Zimmerman of Governor Livingston High School will be attending Tulane University in the fall. Jill has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and is still an active member as a senior in high school, writing notes for senior citizens and making signs for essential workers and first responders during the COVID-19 crisis. She also serves on the Gold Award committee as the scout liaison after completing her Gold Award project in her junior year. In her project, Jill educated the community about the importance of wearing bicycle helmets by reaching out to students, coaches, and parents. She created a reward system which was reinforced by the police to encourage residents to wear helmets and had signs posted to remind residents. In addition, she partnered with Overlook Hospital and to provide residents with free baseline concussion testing. Jill also enjoys volunteering with the Mountainside Local Youth Group where she is co-president and helps provide for the needs of the homeless. In addition, Jill is a flutist and a member of the Governor Livingston High School Highlander Band, the concert band, wind ensemble, and jazz band. She served three years as the manager for the Governor Livingston High School Varsity Fencing team.

Allie Zimmerman of Governor Livingston High School will be attending Belmont University. Allie is an active volunteer in her community. As co-President of the Our Lady of Lourdes’ Mountainside Local Youth Group she participates in various fundraisers benefiting the homeless. Allie earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a summer music program to help combat summer learning loss. She paired high school musicians with middle school musicians and provided an environment where they could play together. She also invited middle schoolers to attend a day of high school marching band camp to introduce them the program. Both the middle school and high school program participants volunteered to perform for the residents of a local senior living facility and discuss music with residents afterward. Allie is also a member of the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band and the Governor Livingston Highlander Pipe Band where she plays the bagpipes. She also plays the tenor saxophone in the Governor Livingston High School Highlander Marching Band, wind ensemble, concert band, and jazz band. Jill (above) and Allie’s sister, Katie, was a 2018 JLS scholarship recipient.

Nikki Griffiths will be attending Oregon State University (E-Campus), pursuing a degree in Fisheries & Wildlife Science to follow her passion for animals, conservation, and our ecosystems. Nikki has been a member of several non-profit organizations in the Summit area, including the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad, the Summit Police Department, Family Promise, Mylestone Equine Rescue and most recently S.H.I.E.L.D. with the new precautions set in place in an effort to keep our seniors and homebound residents safe.

Nikki volunteered with Family Promise-Union County to address food insecurity issues among their guest families and their graduate families. With their National Headquarters based in Summit, Nikki was able to orchestrate an annual food drive. In the second year of the event, Family Promise teamed up with the Junior League of Summit to contribute food donations initially to “No Kid Goes Hungry,” and most recently “Loaves and Fishes.” Over the last five years, this initiative has donated over 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food items.

The Shirley Wight Keeney Voluntarism Scholarships are awarded annually by the Junior League of Summit to local, graduating seniors. The Continuing Education Scholarship award is given to an adult woman who has demonstrated a commitment to voluntarism in her community and is pursuing additional education or certification. The scholarships' namesake, Shirley Wight Keeney, was a beloved member of the Junior League of Summit and the Summit community. As an active volunteer, Ms. Keeney truly demonstrated the League's Mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through effective action and leadership.

The Junior League of Summit is a nonprofit, charitable, and educational organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information about the Junior League of Summit or to inquire about becoming a member, please visit the website at www.jlsummit.org or contact the office at 908-273-7349.