Excellence Honored at Holmdel Journal Awards Ceremony

The winners of the 2d Annual Holmdel Journal Community Excellence Awards program were announced at a luncheon Monday attended by 110 people at the Meyner Reception Hall at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

• The Holmdel High School Custodial Staff was honored as the "Unsung Hero of the Year" for the round-the-clock care of the busy high school, especially in the challenging hours before, during and after the August 26-28 weekend it was turned into a regional shelter for 600 people during Tropical Storm Irene

• Holmdel High School student social science teacher Jill McCracken was selected as "Educator the Year" for her efforts to connect Holmdel to the world peace movement through "Adopt a Platoon" and her own initiative with Kosovo youth, called the Global Connections Promotional Initiative.

• Mike Simpson was declared the "Public Servant of the Year" for his unpaid work as Holmdel's Emergency Management Coordinator. In 2011, he helped orchestrate a unified township response to trouble caused by blizzards, Tropical Storm Irene and power outages. He worked 24/7 to offer Monmouth County residents shelter, compassion and comfort at the first-ever Holmdel High School emergency evacuation shelter.

• And "Student of the Year" was awarded to Alyssa Scher, a model student who approaches life with optimism and selflessness. She worked as counselor to young children with cancer at Camp Dream Street, and volunteered to spend time with the elderly at a local assisted living facility. At a local hospital, she worked closely with a geneticist, plastic surgeon and radiation oncologist.

They, along with other listed below, were nominated by community members in 2011. The finalists were selected by three of last year's winners: 2011 Public Servant of the Year Eric Hinds; 2011 Business of the Year owner Sylvia Allen; and 2011 Educator of the Year Marilyn Kohlbecker. 

UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Timothy Hearne
• Janice Liebenow
• Kathy Logan
• Kiwanis Club of Holmdel

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• David Kaiserman
• Sean McCafferty
• Sr. Bernadette Larson MSC

PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Larry Fink
• Holmdel First Aid Squad

STUDENT OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

• Mike Nolan
• Natasha Pavlinetz
• Jason McMullen

The Holmdel Journal Community Excellence Awards program was sponsored by TD Bank.