By Peter Nicolas 

Volunteerism in Florham Park was very much on exhibit at this year’s Independence Day Parade. It was “one of the best years ever in terms of the number of students who submitted scholarship applications as they shared their community involvement, volunteerism, and “Service Above Self” said Betty O’Brien, Florham Park Rotary Scholarship committee Chair.  That’s pretty special coming from a town known as a  “Community of Volunteers”.  

Three Hanover Park High School Seniors and one Morris County School of Technology Senior received Florham Park Rotary Scholarship Awards at their school’s Awards ceremonies.  

The three Hanover Park High students recognized for community service and “Service Above Self” were Julia Shrager, Ava Trinity and Ava Caccavelli from Hanover Park High and Madelyn Shanley from the Morris County School of Technology.

Future scholarship candidates may view their wonderful examples of volunteerism below:

Ava Caccavelli – One of the founding members of the Hanover Park Model United Nations, she also completed 65+ volunteer hours at Morristown Medical Center Junior Volunteer Program and was a Hanover Park Hornets for Humanity member.  She also founded the Recycle Your Bicycle nonprofit wherein 115 bikes were donated to low-income youth who learn STEM skills to fix bikes that they got to keep.

Ava Trinity – One of two Morris County students selected as a 2025 NJ Girls State Delegate, the Girl Up publicist, two-time student council representative leading fundraisers and student events, and the Founder and President of the Black Student Union at Hanover Park High organizing food drives and celebrating diversity through inclusion.

Julia Shrager – Was Peer Buddies Vice-President, in the teacher-nominated Kids Helping Kids program, and she helped coordinate a food drive for the Interfaith Food Pantry with fellow team captains. She received the University of Rochester Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award for leadership and commitment to community service.  She organized a school-wide fundraising initiative for a young terminally ill child.

Madelyn Shanley – in her four high school years, was President of Operation Smile, volunteered at Madison Fire Department, at Sunrise Senior Facility, and at Homeless Solutions in Morristown.  Additionally, she attended the satellite campus at Madison High School for the Academy for Government & Leadership, was an accomplished pianist and Captain of the Morris Tech Girls Basketball team.

The students were presented their Award Certificate and Scholarship check by Rotarians Peter Nicolas, George Gregor, and club president Dave Kramer.  Three students were seen at the Florham Park July 4 Independence Day Parade as they rode in a yellow 1965 Corvair convertible with the Florham Park Rotarians walking the parade route with them.  The students and their parents will be invited to a Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner. 

The Scholarship funds are thanks to the local residents and businesses supporting Rotary events such as the 4th of July Rotary Raffle tickets, the annual “Taste of Florham Park” , and the “Florham Park Rotary Halloween Dog Parade and Costume Contest”.”  Mark your calendars for September 22 for the Taste of Florham Park.  This year’s Taste event will be held at Brooklake Country Club from 6-9pm. The success of these events lead to more Rotary scholarships for Florham Park students who play their role in our “Community of Volunteers”.

ABOUT ROTARY 

Rotary is the world’s first Service Organization.  It is a non-partisan, non-religious organization in 200 countries via 46,000 clubs, and one of those is in Florham Park.  To learn more attend see www.florhamparkrotary.org or find the club on Facebook or visit one of their Friday morning weekly meetings at the Florham Park Diner.