Local Seniors Recognized As Unsung Hero

By Cheryl Conway

Roxbury High School Senior Jenna

Waldron and Randolph High School

Senior Brenda Madrid Licona were recently recognized by the Morris County School Board Association for overcoming obstacles and still achieving their best ability.

They are among 40 students throughout the Morris County school district selected to receive this year’s Unsung Hero Award. In its second year, the 2023 Unsung Heroes Student Recognition Ceremony was held Wednesday, March 29, at the County College of Morris in Randolph.

The purpose for the inaugural program is to honor “the students who make your district a better place because they are a part of it,” as stated on the cover of the program. Waldron of Kenvil was nominated by Roxbury High School Principal Dominick Miller.

“Jenna has overcome a lot of challenges in her time at Roxbury High School,” says Miller in his nomination letter. “Some of these are experiences that most of the adults I know have not even been through or dealt with. In spite of that, Jenna is a leader in the classroom with her happy and fun spirit, a hard worker, and incredibly creative. She always approaches a task with a positive outlook and extends her leadership beyond the classroom through Rox-THON, NHS and other academic societies.”

Licona of Randolph was nominated by Randolph High School Principal Jessica Caruso Baxter.

“Brenda immigrated to the states in 4th grade on asylum,” shares Baxter. “She had to learn the culture, language and basics to survive upon that move. She has had to take the lead in her education and her goals. Brenda is in the top 20% of her class, which is remarkable in itself. On top of this Brenda’s mom is suffering with stage 4 cancer which is terminal; Brenda had cared for her mom since was first diagnosed. Her mom relies on her as she doesn’t speak English, so Brenda is her translator as well as her caretaker.

“Brenda is bright, hardworking, optimistic and mature beyond her years,” continues Baxter. “She has endured more in her young life than most of us ever will. She asks for nothing and is extremely thankful and grateful for everything even in these awful circumstances. I don’t know too many people, especially an 18-year-old who could handle all of this as eloquently as she has,

Inaugural Unsung Heroes Event Is Formed

Two years ago, the Morris County School Boards Association established the Morris County Recognition and Awards Committee to research and recommend ways to acknowledge well deserving Morris County school students and Board of Education members, explains Bernadette Dalesandro, president of the Morris County School Boards Association and president of the Netcong Board of Education.

The committee is made up of Morris County school board members “who believe that recognition of outstanding student contributions in their respective schools and communities will help drive strong student outcomes and support continued on page 11