The American Association of University Women Freehold branch has presented the six highest ranking female students from the Freehold Regional High School District with monetary awards of $500.
The awards are named for Rose Fishkin, who was a Cornell graduate, a member of the Freehold branch and a believer in lifelong education for women. Proceeds from the AAUW’s yearly book sale, which will be held from June 20-23, enable the organization to fund the awards, according to a press release.
This year’s recipients are Kristen Gambardella of Colts Neck High School, Tara McDonald of Freehold High School, Maha L. Khan of Freehold Township High School, Sara Recarey of Howell High School, Ellie Gabriel of Manalapan High School and Shreya Nara of Marlboro High School.
• Gambardella is a student in the Law and Public Service Program at Colts Neck, vice president of the National Honor Society, a board member of the Science Honor Society and president of Cougars for Cancer Awareness. She works at an oral surgeon’s office and during the summer at a camp for underprivileged children. She volunteers at a therapeutic horseback riding program. Her interest in science will continue at the University of South Carolina with studies in premed.
• McDonald is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, DECA (marketing club) and HOSA (health occupational students). She is a Med-Sci leader and a Borough Fights Cancer member. Her research project with fruit flies will help to determine how the size of the compound Palmitic and Arachide is used to treat ALD progression (Adrenoleukodystrophy). As a member of the Volleyball Club, McDonald has traveled across the United States competing in tournaments. Boston College awaits her this fall as a biochemistry major on the pre-med track.
• Khan is an AP Scholar and a member of National Honor Society, and the math and science honor societies. She is a National Merit Scholar and forensic debater, and co-president of the Model UN. As a violinist in the Manalapan Youth Orchestra, Khan participated in concerts for senior communities and township residents. She led a fundraising team supporting horseriding for children who have special needs. The University of Chicago is Khan’s choice and she plans to major in economics and hopes to study medicine post-college.
• Recarey participates in the Freehold Performing Arts and dance is her passion. She is a member of the Shore Math League, National Honor Society and the Academic Challenge Team. During the summer of 2017 she attended the New Jersey Governor’s School of the Sciences. Her research project has implications for developing and improving time-released drug delivery technology. She obtained her EMT certification and was elected Platoon
Sergeant for the cadet division at the Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad. These experiences have led Recarey to pursue bio-engineering at Harvard in the fall.
• Gabriel competes in Manalapan High School’s Science League and is a member of the National Honor Society, and the science and math honor societies. She tutors students at her high school, is an AP Scholar of Distinction and is a finalist in the Presidential Scholars Program. She started a nonprofit program, “My Swim Friends,” for children and young adults with neurological challenges in honor of her younger brother. It has grown to 150 members in three years and she extended the program in the fall as “My Sports Friends.” Community service began when Gabriel raised $8,000 for CentraState Medical Center and earned honors as a Junior Humanitarian. Yale University is her choice of schools and she will be studying bio-engineering and hopes to develop devices to help make the lives of the medically challenged more functional.
• Nara is a senior in Marlboro High School’s Business Learning Center and is a co-founder of the Female Rights Education and Empowerment Club. A National Merit Finalist, secretary of the CEO Advisory Board, treasurer of Malboro’s DECA chapter and a Girl Scout Gold awardee, she created workshops in her town concerning women’s rights. Nara traveled to India during the summer of 2017 to teach a course in entrepreneurship to students in the slums of Hyderabad. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, majoring in economics.
