Student dances her way to N.B. Scholar Award

JENNIFER AMATO Shannon Dolan, North Brunswick Scholar Award recipient for October.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Shannon Dolan was honored as the October Scholar Award recipient at the Township Council meeting on Monday. The program was created to honor students who excel in academics, athletics and/or the arts.

Shannon Dolan

Grade: eighth-grader at Our Lady of Lourdes in Milltown

Academics: honor roll student

Arts: participates in gymnastics and dance at the First Position School of Dance in Milltown; competitor for nine years; received the platinum award for acro, which is a combination of acrobatics and dance, and jazz; is a national champ ionship

soloist in acro; member of Team Rave in New York

Volunteer efforts: fund-raises for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Central Jersey Brain Tumor and Resource Center; volunteers at her school's Fall Festival and Winter Wonderland

Persistence: was diagnosed in April 2006 with scoliosis and wears a body brace 16 hours each day

Comments: thanked the mayor, her parents, her grandparents and her dancing school teachers

The Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services is accepting nominations for the Scholar Award program. Coaches, teachers and parents of children in grades three through 12 can submit their recommendations to the DPRCS Office at 710 Hermann Road or to LBenson@ northbrunswickonline.com.

Nominations must be in writing, no longer than one page, and a copy of the student's most recent report card must be attached.

- Jennifer Amato