HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE: National Jefferson Awards Gold Medal

A Short Reflection on what it means for Benedictine Academy 

to be a National Jefferson Awards Ambassador Gold Medal School

 

At Benedictine Academy, we are so proud and yet feel so undeserving to stand along side of these great humanitarians, the Kennedy’s, Sam Beard, Elie Wiesel, Andrei Cherny, and Troy Vincent, and in the shadows of the great people in history such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.  If we are quiet, we can here God whispering in the silence of our hearts, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, Benedictine Academy. The Lord has anointed you to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent you to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners." Isaiah 61:1.  Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord our God for choosing us to do His holy will.  How blessed and grateful are we!

 

Benedictine Cor Defenders of the Heart

(Karol, Kayla,Marina, Karina,Sgt. Mike Jones, Mary, Assemblywoman Huttle, 

Mrs.M., Sr. Donna Jo, Gov't Official, Ewa, Sydney, Vanessa, Eileen, Jacob Toporek)

 

Benedictine Academy was awarded the National Jefferson Awards Ambassador Gold Medal because of the forward thinking Christ-centered leadership of principal, Ken Jennings. His deep commitment, enthusiasm, and belief in the Mission of the school to form our students into true 21st century leaders propelled our students beyond the limitedness of the four-walled classroom into the global community.  At Benedictine Academy, Mr. Ken Jennings believes and empowers each student to take an active role, using their unique gifts and talents, to do something to help transform our society into a more just and peaceful world.  Ms. Andrea Banks-Suggs, Vice Principal, works toward this end with the entire staff and student body.  

Being a College-Preparatory School is more than SAT scores. "To be accepted into the top ranking colleges and universities of Notre Dame University, Princeton,  New York University, Tisch, School of the Arts, our students excelled in academics, as well as in outstanding accomplishments by making a measurable impact in our society", explains Sr. Donna Jo Repetti, OSF, Director of Guidance.  She works with each student over their entire four years to prepare their profile so that they can reach their highest aspirations.

Benedictine Academy's Jefferson Awards Ambassador Team is recognized for its outstanding leadership service as Modern Activists by answering the call of President Obama and the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia to become educated about the dangers of human trafficking. Benedictine Academy became the first Freedom Partner School of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. This year, Benedictine Academy's Campus Ministry Student Leadership Team, known as the Benedictine Cor Defenders,  helped design a new educational curriculum; co-authored a New Proclamation of Freedom presented to the U.S. Government; testified before the New Jersey State legislature; and raised community awareness on Modern Day Slavery. The mission of Benedictine Academy is to empower others to become "do-gooders" and change the world to be a more humane civilization.  

 

(The SIA Leadership Team: Vanessa Fragiacomo, Karina Costa, Kayla Roque, Sydney Sigue, Adrienne Bagtas, Ewa Kowalczyk, Anglin Thevarajah, Jada Yarbough, Samantha Frejuste, Mrs. Michalski, Eileen Conaty, Alexander Desir, Andrea Lopez, Marina Santiago, Janelle Isaacs, Toni Davis-Wilson, Karol Pierre, Nathalie Barillas, Natasha Hicks, Mary Palma, Joyce Mendoza)

 

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It with deep gratitude that we share the honor of our 

National Jefferson Awards Ambassador Gold Medal

with Jenn Lim and Delivering Happiness organization. 

Their philosophy to transform our world into a better place "one nudge at a time"
with WOW experiences reflects the wisdom and spirit of our saints!

A special thanks to Sam Beard, Maryann Younger, Robert Provost and Karen Hatcher.

We are deeply grateful for your support, encouragement and guidance,
 and most of all for believing in us and the youth of today.

We also give thanks for the amazing people the Lord sent into our lives 
inspiring us and empowering us to do His work. 
Sr. Donna Jo Repetti, OSF and the Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia
James Kellogg
Thank you Ken Morris and the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives Team, 
Debra Steinberg of VS. Confronting Human Slavery, 
Cindy Vero, WKTU
Rowena Madden and Jacob Toporek,
Andrea Goeglein of Serving Success and Gary Russo. 

  Special Prayers and Blessings for Sr. Sharon, Sr. Germaine,
& our Benedictine Sisters, 

Benefactors, Families, Staff, Students and Friends.

A special thank you to Sergeant Mike & Barbara Jones, 
Dr. Floyd & Dolly Donahue and Mrs. Centanni 
for being guardian angels on our path. 

We are also grateful to Mr. John & Elenice Airoso, parents of Marina Santiago,
for all their support and for sharing in the joy 
of the National Jefferson Awards Ceremony in Washington DC.
 

The National Jefferson Gold Medal belongs to all of you!