Young Essay Winner From Sandshore School Honored At Baseball Game

Last spring, seven year old Logan Berg of Sandshore School in Budd Lake, heard about

the NJEA Trenton Thunder essay contest from his teacher Lisa Lamendola.  Logan

not only entered the contest, but was the youngest one of three winners!

The essay contest was titled “My Hero Works At School.” Logan chose to write his essay about

NJEA member and Sandshore School Head Custodian Manny Jimenez.  Logan and his

fellow winners were honored at a Trenton Thunder baseball game at Thunder

Stadium on Aug. 21.

Logan attended the game with his family and his teacher; was escorted through the players entrance, saw the players in practicing; and got to see autographed jerseys from some very famous Yankee players. He was then invited onto the field through the dugout where he proudly read his essay to the crowd. He played catch with the team’s mascots Cloudman and Boomer the Thunderbird, as well as pet the team’s bat dog. The Berg family enjoyed the game from their prize winning seats, and enjoyed a fireworks display afterward.

We are all very proud of Logan and his hero Mr. Manny.

Logan’s essay read:

“My hero is Mr. Manny. Mr. Manny is the janitor in my school. He is my hero because

he is very generous and kind. He is a very nice man. He is a hard worker and he

never complains. He always has a smile on his face and he is always nice to all

students, even me! When I am having a bad day, Mr. Manny’s smile always cheers me

up.

Mr. Manny works hard at keeping our school nice and clean. I have a peanut allergy

and he makes sure the lunch table tables are clean and don’t have any peanut butter

all over them because that could make me sick. Mr. Manny always says hello to all of

the students, every day. Even if they are a little sad, he still says hello to make them

feel better.  These are the reasons why Mr. Manny is my hero.”