Student award presenter Matthew Jones (Ewing) stands with Princeton University’s deputy dean of the college Clayton Marsh during their interview. Jones is set to present a Princeton Family YMCA Centennial Award to Marsh Oct. 24.
Princeton Family YMCA is set to honor seven individuals for their commitment to youth development at the sixth annual Centennial Awards Oct. 24.
This year’s reception will also recognize the 20th anniversary of Princeton Young Achievers, an afterschool program serving Princeton’s most economically-disadvantaged children. The Y will bestow the Lifetime Achievement Award in Youth Development posthumously to Dr. Shirley Paris, a former Riverside Elementary School teacher who founded the Princeton Young Achievers program in 1993.
The awards presentation is conducted entirely by young people involved with YMCA programs. The teens serve as the program’s moderators and present the awards. Before the event, each presenter interviews his or her honoree and learns about his work, passions, and accomplishments that have shaped his or her character.
John Witherspoon Middle School student Markeise Bullock is set present a Centennial Award Barbara Blumenthal.
JWMS student Caleb Kirby is set to present a Centennial Award to 101 founder Carol Golden.
Ewing High School student Matthew Jones is set to present to former Princeton Young Achievers president, Clayton Marsh.
Stuart Country Day School school student Hayley Siegel, of Princeton, is set to present an award to Anne Reeves, who founded the Red Umbrella literacy program.
South Brunswick High School student Todd Blackburn is set to present to retired educator, community historian and leader Shirley Satterfield
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North student Ambika Mookerjee is set to present an award to Robert Hackett, president of the Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation.
Finally, Princeton High School student DJalenta Valme is set to honor posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr. Shirley Paris.
Along with award presentations, the ceremony also features a silent auction, co-chaired by Ashley Henderson of Princeton and Denise Santoro of Lawrence, and an open bar and family-style dinner provided by Mediterra and the Terra Learning Kitchen, which is scheduled to opening at the Princeton YMCA-YWCA facility.
The Centennial Awards are scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the YMCA gymnasium.
Individual tickets are $125.
More information is online at princetonymca.org
