League of Women Voters Honors High School Leaders

Giving the League of Women Voters' Citizenship Award to a high school junior is a treasured tradition in all three League towns of Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit.

At the June 18 League of Women Voters' social meeting, Marlene Sincaglia presented the GLHS award, Pat Dolan the NPHS award, and Barbara Packer the SHS certificate and check for $100. All the recipients are outstanding women as evident from the details below.

Lauren Santullo was selected as the 2012 League of Women Voters Citizenship Award recipient for . Among the activities she enjoys are Junior Statesmen of America, where at a recent regional conference she proposed a bill for the mock Congress, and Model UN, where members become aware of how the problems of one country affect other countries.

Lauren belongs to the Student Auxiliary, Student Ambassadors and the National Honor Society. She also volunteers at her church and with the Berkeley Heights Recreation Department. As a Girl Scout she participated in Operation Shoebox which sent small toiletries to troops overseas. Lauren believes that a good citizen is "well informed, keeps up with the issues and has a responsibility to help his/her community"

Aditi Padmanaban, a junior at l with sparkling eyes and a wonderful smile, received the 2012 Elizabeth Barabash League of Women Voters Citizenship Award. This member of National Honor Society has been involved in politically focused groups, such as Model UN, Youth and Government, and Future Civic Leaders, belongs to several science clubs, played in the Concert Band and participated in the French Exchange Program. In 2011 she received the Premier Delegate Award at the Model UN convention. She placed in several categories in the 2010 Hydrogen Car Race.

Aditi has volunteered regularly at Overlook Hospital and worked during a summer to assist special needs children at a school in Bangalore, India. She was born in Summit.

Tasha Kewalramani was chosen by the Social Studies Department of Summit High School to receive of the League of Women Voters Citizenship Award for 2012. Born in Summit and educated at Summit’s Public Schools, Tasha has mastered three sports, swimming, tennis and softball. She believes that being a good citizen means helping others reach their full potential which is why she tutors high school students who have trouble with certain subjects, helps autistic children learn to play tennis, and takes leadership roles in all the sports she plays. Last year she was captain of the girls' tennis team and next year she will be captain of the girls' tennis team and the girls' swim team. She is an excellent student and recently won the Princeton Book Award for her school.

— This story was submitted by Marlene Sincaglia.