N.B. honors student scholars, volunteers BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer Kristen Walsh NORTH BRUNSWICK - In the tradition of honoring student scholar athletes and artists, as well as volunteer organizations in the community, the Township Council presented awards at their meetings the past two months. Kristen Walsh and Megan Fosko were named the February Scholar Award recipients by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services. The award is presented to students in third through 12th grade who excel in academics, athletics and/or the arts. Kristen Walsh is an eighth-grade student at Linwood Middle School. She is an honors student and has received the Student of the Marking Period award. She is the captain of the Linwood basketball cheerleading squad, which she has been a member of for three years. She is a seven-year member of the North Brunswick Township Indians Pop Warner Cheerleading program. She is the co-captain of the North Brunswick-based All Sports Academy Dragons recreational cheerleading team. Walsh has played recreational softball for six years, recreational soccer for two years and does gymnastics. The Lightning She also participates in the chorus and drama at Linwood. She volunteers at Our Lady of Peace Parish and is a member of the North Brunswick Buddy Ball program. Megan Fosko is an eighth-grade student at St.Mathias, Somerset. She was an honor roll student last year and has straight A's this year. Fosko placed second in her age group in the 100 individual medley for the North Brunswick Township Rapids swim team summer competition, and she swims for the Raritan Valley YMCA Riptides. As a member of the Girl Scouts, she donated the first quilt she sewed to the family of a newborn baby girl born at Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick. She now sews quilts and pillows and donates them to residents in need. She also volunteers at the Franklin Food Bank. The March proclamations honored the Lightning Recreational Basketball team and My Daughter's Keeper. Under the direction of coach Bob Malhosky, the basketball teamwas honored for doing well athletically while recognizing the importance of education. Team members Brian Pelszynski, Sneh Shah,Michael Stone, Umair Masood, Kunj Vyas, Karan Gill andAnish Patel each have been on the honor or high honor roll this school year. Megan Fosko Stephanie Clark is the founder and CEO of My Daughter's Keeper, a North Brunswick-based organization that seeks to empower adult caregivers and their daughters, to form self-respecting young women. Pregnancy, substance abuse, peer pressure, communication, teen health, proper morals and goals and self-development are focused on. The group holds lectures, workshops, teen activities and retreats. Clark is also the author of "Life as a Single Mom: It Isn't Easy or Is It?" and is working on a book about starting a business and a teen workbook on character development. She was the keynote speaker at this year's township Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. "With connectivity being a focus," Celebrate North Brunswick Committee Chairman John Albert said, "We look to bridge the gap with other towns, communities or generations.…Volunteering is good for the soul."