Pictured are Caring Ambassadors at the MCPCA’s Caring Breakfast June 3, 2014 . Front row: Joshua Simon (Hamilton Township) Kathryn Burger (Hamilton Township), Ava Cohen (Lawrence Township), Nairobi Taylor (Trenton) and Kaithlyn Maldonado (Hamilton Township). Middle row: Carlo Pihokken (Hamilton Township), Sofia Garcia (Lawrence Township), Brynne Laico (Hamilton Township), Daniel Wilson (Hamilton Township) and Samantha Gunton (Lawrence Township). Back row: Zachary Finacchio (Hamilton Township), Robert Feldstein (East Windsor Township), Nyla Rawles (Lawrence Township), Lizbeth Sanchez (Hamilton Township), Sophia Swiderski (Ewing Township), Abbey Elmer (Hamilton Township) and Valentina Bossi (Hamilton Township). Mercer County elementary school students were recognized at the 28th annual Caring Awards Breakfast at the College of New Jersey June 3. Members of the Mercer County Professional Counselors Association, counselors at county public elementary schools, shared the deeds of kindness, respect and service to others completed by students in grades one to five who were recognized at the ceremony. Each elementary school was permitted to send one caring “ambassador,” representing all of the caring students in the building, to the breakfast. One recipient served in a preschool class, working with younger students weekly. Another helped organize his school’s service learning initiative as student president. Many volunteered to be “upstanders” on the playground, standing up for classmates who need a friend. As a whole, the recipients were described as thoughtful and compassionate and always showing concern for others. Ambassadors are Robert Feldstein of Walter C. Black Elementary (East Windsor Township); Sophia Swiderski of Antheil Elementary (Ewing); Ava Cohen of Ben Franklin Elementary, Sofia Garcia of Eldridge Park Elementary, Samantha Gunton of Lawrenceville Elementary,Nyla Rawles of Slackwood Elementary (Lawrence Township ) and Nairobi Taylor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary (Trenton). Recipients also include Hamilton Township School District students Valentina Bossi of Robinson Elementary, Kathryn Burger of Morgan Elementary, Abbey Elmer of McGalliard Elementary, Zachary Finacchio of Alexander Elementary, Brynne Laico of Yardville Elementary, Kaithlyn Maldonado of Kisthardt Elementary, Carlo Pihokken of Sayen Elementary, Lizbeth Sanchez of Sunnybrae Elementary, Joshua Simon of Wilson Elementary and Daniel Wilson of Yardville Heights Elementary.
