The Haddonfield Civic Association hosted its annual dinner on April 15 to honor three students and present the Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award.
Association president Joe Levine briefly addressed the group’s 95-year history.
“Now, 95 years and 88 dinners later, we continue that spirit with our 88th recipient, Joe McElroy,” Levine said of the Driscoll award winner. “We’re proud to also honor our three Haddonield Memorial Hight School senior scholarships … Congratulations to you all. To everyone here, thank you for your support. It truly means a lot. If you’re not a member yet, I invite you to join us.
“Be a part of Haddonfield history.”
The student contest – created by the association’s education committee and English and social studies departments at the high schoool – asked entrants how their lives have been shaped by civic engagement and self-determination .
The student awards were presented by Rosie Hymerling, a civic association board member.
Senior Drew Cataldo earned the Harry Kaufmann Performing Arts award, which goes to someone nominated by students in the school’s music and theater program.
“The Kaufmann award seeks to recognize one (high-school) senior who exemplifies Kaufmann’s twin passions of civic engagement and participation in the performing arts,” explained Hymerling. ” … The nominee should be an active and valued participant, whether on the stage or behind the scenes, and should demonstrates a commitment to the broader community.”
Cataldo is a member of the school’s marching band and drama club who wants to see their traditions kept alive.
“When I first joined marching band my freshman year, I heard that we got to have band meals at other people’s houses,” he recalled, “and I thought that’d be really fun, so that’s the whole reason why I joined. But with that I learned how much of a commitment things like this can be, with membership and people joining, and it really stunk to see something that I deeply cared about just not have the same involvement it used to have.”
Senior Anna Sell got the Quanci Visual Arts Award, named for association member Lisa Quanci. Hymerling noted that art is an integral part of every subject in school.
Sell described how her artwork was inspired by experience as a gymnastics coach.
“My artwork depicts someone helping a child across a balance beam, symbolizing guidance and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next,” she noted. “I see this idea come to life in my own experience as a gymnastics coach at Tumbling On Haddon.
“Working with young children, I help them learn not only basic gymnastic skills, but also confidence, perseverance and trust in themselves.”
Hymerling was touched by Sell’s depiction of a child on the balance beam.
“When I looked at this picture it touched me deeply,” she pointed out. “The identity is unknown, but the child is there in person. You don’t see any of the parent, but you see a body. You don’t see a head, but you see her body. Her identity is just as important as the identity of the child.
“If I were a child, I would want you to nurture me.”
Senior Benjamin Osawa – whose winning essay Hymerling said nailed the concept of civic engagement – earned the Bradshaw Literary Award. He will attend Rutgers in the fall.
Osawa thanked Adrienne Rhodes, co-founder of the Preserving Black Haddonfield History Project, who helped support his volunteerism.
“Without Adrienne, I simply would not have been able to do anything I wrote about,” he acknowleged. “Frankly, it only takes one. It only takes one person, and for me, that one person was Adrienne. I’ve been working with her for many years now.
” … She’s a mentor for me,” he added. “She’s allowed me to be civically engaged and taught me its value.”
Lisa Wolshina, last year’s Driscoll winner, teared up as she introduced McElroy.
“Last year … I thanked everyone, or most people, who came before me winning this award, because it was so nice to be in their company,” she remembered. “And now, I’m in the same club as Joe McElroy. Joe, he’s amazing …
“You’ll hear all about him in a moment, but what an incredible person.”
Driscoll award winner Joe McElroy (left to right), Jack O’Malley, Lisa Quanci and Philip Zoebisch, the town crier, at the civic association dinner.
After cheers for McElroy, he noted in an acceptance speech that he learned throughout his life – especially while serving in Vietnam for two years – that it’s important to rely on one another because it can lead to a better community.
“There are many of us who are just as deserving of this recognition,” McElroy offered. “My life experiences, especially my time serving in Vietnam, taught me something that stayed with me ever since. We depend on each other … A town like ours doesn’t just happen. It’s built and sustained by people who care enough to give their time and energy.
“That spirit of volunteerism is the very fabric of our community.”
Joe McElroy (left) accepts his award at the civic association’s 88th annual dinner.
