SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source Page 1 of 4 Current Issue: November 2009 Wednesday, November 11, 2009 South Jersey Weather: Light Rain 49°F SEARCH ADVERTISE DINING OUT CONTACT ...from issue on 6/2009 HOME SJ READERS' POLL Have you ever taken your child to receive alternative healthcare? That’s our only form of healthcare Sometimes KIDS 2 Watch 2009 Photography by David Michael Howarth Take a look at what SJ kids are up to – they’re inspiring and artistic, commendable and cool. These kids are showing the world what great things they can do. Imagine what that means for the future. Tara Perrige, 16 Never “People say I’m smart,” says Tara Perrige, a junior at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School. That may be because Tara carries a 4.0 grade point average (5.0 unweighted, she notes), earned a 2170 on her SATs (out of a possible 2400) and has attended several courses through the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).Her brains and curiosity have taken her far and given her vast opportunities. What’s that? vote FEEDBACK SJ RESTAURANTS “Last summer I went to China with LeadAmerica’s Ambassadors Abroad,” says Tara. She was one of 39 U.S. students chosen to attend the national leadership program after being nominated by someone who knows her well, although she has never been told who that was. The two-week trip took students to Shanghai, Beijing and Xi’an, one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. Tara also received two college credits for participating. “I really loved visiting the Great Wall,” Tara says. “I felt like I had accomplished something – being where people have walked for the past 1000 years.” Intrigued by Chinese culture, Tara began a course to learn the Chinese language through Johns Hopkins University CTY. “I’m interested in learning the language – both verbal and written. I really want to learn the characters, too.” Closer to home, Tara also com-pleted a service project in Camden, where she lived in a community center for three days and volunteered at local sites, including a nursing home, thrift store and packaging factory.“I learned a lot there. We have pre-conceived ideas about people and places, but they’re not always true. I learned that while I was there.” Tiel Hardwick, 15 It took two years of planning and projects, but Tiel Hardwick recently received the second highest honor in the Girl Scouts – the Silver Award. Tiel, a ninth grader at Shawnee High School, completed her final project earlier this year, organizing a “Thinking Day,” with crafts, songs, gamesand other activities surrounding her theme: “We can all make a difference.” To fill her audience, she spoke at troop-leader meetings, enticing the leaders to bring their scouts. More than 100 girls attended. “It took me two months to plan that one day,” she says. “I didn’t want anyone to be bored, so I spent a lot of time planning activities.” Way back in sixth grade, Tiel earned the Girl Scouts’ Bronze Award by building a butterfly garden at her grade school, researching what flowers attract butterflies and then getting them donated by local businesses. “I like to stay busy,” she says. And she does. Tiel bakes apple French toast casseroles to give to her church’s Christian Caring Center and collects canned food and personal hygiene items for a local food pantry. “I feel good inside when I help others.” SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source She’s now turning her attention to the Girl Scouts’ highest honor – the Gold Award. “I want a project that will give kids something to do, to help them stay off drugs.” No doubt she’ll have that Gold Award, and soon. “Sometimes I feel overwhelmed,” Tiel says. “But I realize if I work hard, I get things done.” Colby Bryszewski, 16 Like many SJ teens, Colby Bryszewski will spend his summer at a park near his home. But unlike most teens, Colby will be dressed in a Police Explorers’ Class A uniform, volunteering to patrol the park and ensure the community’s safety. Last summer, Colby clocked 800 hours volunteering as a police explorer, charged with the very real job of securing Chestnut Branch Park in Mantua. His commitment has earned him the Police Explorers’ Advisor Award (the first time Colby’s post has given that honor) and a promotion to captain – a first for someone his age. “I like to help out – it’s how I was raised,” says Colby, a junior at Clearview Regional High School. As a Police Explorer, Colby is able to ride with police officers at any time, something he has done – and learned from. “I know how to talk calmly in an emergency situation,” he says. “I may be the first person to arrive at the scene of an accident, and I know how to handle that. I’m not going to freak out.” This summer, Colby will attend summer camp at the Gloucester County Police Academy, but that’s just a stepping stone to the real thing – which he will apply to after college. For now, Colby is planning for a summer wine festival, which will bring 3,000 people to Chestnut Branch Park. Before the event, Captain Colby Bryszewski will spend hours creating work schedules for other Explorers and designating their patrol areas. Then he’ll report for duty himself. Ready, and able. Kenny Morgan, 17 Every day after school, Kenny Morgan heads to the Boys & Girls Club in Camden where he volunteers with the little kids, helping with homework, giving them snacks, or simply playing. It might not be what you would expect from a high school senior getting ready for college, but it’s what he loves. “I’m at the club every day until about 9,” he says. “I adore working with children.” Kenny was named this year’s Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County, and he is quick to note that he is the first male – ever – to receive this honor at the Camden club. He’s been working with the organization for two years, mentoring kids and volunteering to help wherever he was needed, even playing bingo with seniors (and liking it). He was tapped to represent the organization at special meetings with potential donors and board members, and serves as vice president of the Keystone Club, a teen group devoted to serving the community. In the fall, he’s off to St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina, where he will major in education. When he gets there, he says, he’ll search out the local Boys and Girls Club and get involved. Says Kenny, “I want to help as much as I can.” Chandler Lutz, 13 After spending last summer recording her first CD, Moorestown’s Chandler Lutz debuted her original song “Believe in Dreams” at Carnegie Hall last fall. “I had been singing other artists’ songs, and I was ready to go to the next level,” she says. Last year, Chandler met composer Tim Janis. “I fell in love with his music and I was lucky enough to work with him. We wrote my song together.” This year, Chandler will join Janis in his Celebrate America tour, performing her original song at concerts across the country. The concerts will be aired on PBS. “I’m also planning to work with Tim to write a whole CD of original songs,” Chandler says. Chandler also signed with the famed Wilhelmina Models, appeared in Nickelodeon’s The Naked Brothers Band and performed at Trump Casino in Atlantic City. SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source Page 2 of 4 SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source But maybe her greatest work is through the Angel Ball Foundation, which she and her parents started in 2002. The foundation has raised nearly a million dollars to grant wishes to people battling a terminal illness. “My parents always told me if you believe in your dreams, they’ll come true,” she says. “I guess you could say that’s my motto.” You’ll soon see three SJ stars on the silver screen, when the movie they just completed filming is released this summer. Co-produced by James Brolin, Standing Ovation is a Disney-esque movie shot entirely at the Shore, and many of its stars live right here in SJ. Rocco Fiorentino, 12 At 12, Rocco Fiorentino is an accomplished jazz singer and pianist, bringing audiences to their feet in clubs like the famed Birdland in New York City. He’s also an effective advocate for the blind, serving as Ambassador of The Little Rock Foundation, an organization started by his parents. (Rocco has been blind since birth.) Last year, Rocco appeared before the state legislature after Governor Corzine proposed slashing services for the blind. His speech helped land $1.2 million in funding for Braille services and education. Rocco, a sixth-grader at Voorhees Middle School, has racked up plenty of honors: Build-ABear Workshop’s Huggable Hero Award, the Helen Keller Award of Independence, and the Hands On Award from the National Braille Press. But his passion, he will tell you, is music. He plays a record producer in Standing Ovation. And he happily recalls meeting icons Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder, who sang You are the Sunshine of My Life while Rocco played the keyboard. In the fall, look for him on Sesame Street teaching Elmo about blindness. And in the future, look for his name in lights. Pilar Martin, 11 Cast as a lead in Standing Ovation, Pilar Martinez says she can’t get enough of performing. “I like to pretend,” she says. “I like acting like a different person. And I like bringing out my emotions when I sing.” Pilar does it all – acting, singing and dancing since she was 7. She’s performed at the NOKIA Theatre in Times Square and locally at the Walnut Street Theatre and Bucks County Playhouse. She’s also done commercials and special performances, like the Guinness World Record television special on Food Network and an instructional juggling video for Comcast Interactive TV. (Yes, she knows how to juggle.) For Pilar, a sixth-grader at Moorestown Friends School, the movie role was her break into motion pictures, and she hopes it’s just the beginning. “I loved everything about it. We spent about a year filming, and in the end, we were all hugging each other and crying, saying we were going to miss each other. We became like a family. I definitely want to go on with my acting, singing and dancing.” Dexter Darden, 17 He had his first break at age 8 when Paul Newman saw him in a talent show and told him to get into show business. (Yes, the Paul Newman. Dexter was attending a camp sponsored by the veteran actor.) It was good advice; Dexter has spent the past 9 years training, auditioning and appearing in various shows. Look for him as Chester in Minutemen, airing now on the Disney Channel. Off screen, Dexter has modeled for Louis Vuitton and Salvatore Ferragamo, played harmonica with Paul McCartney and spent three years performing for Carnival Cruise Lines. He’s had supporting roles in Law and Order, The Sopranos and Third Watch, and appeared last year in Cadillac Records, starring Beyonce. SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source Page 3 of 4 SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source Page 4 of 4 Dexter has an apartment in L.A. for when he is working there, and he commutes to New York jobs from his home in Sicklerville. “I don’t know if I will ever move to L.A. or New York,” he says. “I like Jersey. I grew up here. It’s my home.” PRIVACY POLICY Login SJ Magazine Articles your South Jersey source ADVERTISE