EMERSON, N.J.—Bergen County Clerk John Hogan has announced that the second quarter recipient of the Five Star Student Award is Franklin Praschil from Emerson High School.
Franklin, who received a certificate and a $500 check from the John S. Hogan Foundation, was recognized for a memory garden he created out of an Eagle Scout project.
The idea was inspired by the loss of his grandmother, along with sudden unfortunate young deaths within his community.
“I felt the need to do something. I could not sit aside and watch people feel bad. A healing garden is something our community needs,” Franklin explained.
Through various fundraising and with help from Emerson’s Police Department and community members, Franklin was able to raise $27,000 to make his “little project, not so little anymore.”
He said, “Through this experience I can advise others to follow their hearts, believe in themselves, and dance in the rain.”
Hogan honors one student from kindergarten through college every three months under the Five Star Student Award program.
According to Hogan’s chief of staff, Mark Romano, the goal is to reward students who continually strive to learn and better themselves within their communities in some unique fashion.
“We are interested in student volunteers who dedicate his/her time to helping others as well as student entrepreneurs who have developed a creative business model or product. Also recognized will be students who have overcome some form of adversity and have found a meaningful way to give back to their community,” Romanto told Pascack Press.
Romano added that Hogan wants to acknowledge and award the efforts of bright students and have them share their stories, inspiring others in the process.
Write in and submit a story of a deserving student, along with any photos and/or videos, showing why they merit Five Star Student Award recognition.
Send to Mark Romano, County Clerk’s Office, County of Bergen, One Bergen County Plaza, 1st Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
For more information, call (201) 336-7027 or write mromano@co.bergen.nj.us.