Young Women of Bergen County Receive Leadership Awards from The Community Chest

The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County has announced the recipients of its fourth annual High School Young Women’s Leadership Awards program.

In response to the applicants of the program, Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director of The Community Chest said, “We were very impressed with the caliber of the applicants for these leadership awards. Each demonstrated exceptional talents and a commitment to social justice causes. A tremendous need always exists for good leaders and especially now, young women with strong leadership abilities and a commitment to social consciousness are critical in our communities.”

Na Yoon Koh, a senior at Cresskill High School was awarded The Community Chest’s Young Women’s Senior Leadership Award of $2,000. She was recognized for her leadership in supporting younger students in the Cresskill School district through educational means during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a research intern at Plamica Labs where she has contributed to publishing a review paper in the journal Nanomaterials. She also has experience working in a research laboratory through an internship at Englewood Health. Additionally, Koh is a cello principal in the Julliard Pre-College program and leads the cello section in weekly practices at the Julliard Centennial Concert. She is a symphony/orchestra scholarship recipient and has won the National Young Arts Competition in classical music in 2019 and 2020. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Society. Koh participates in extracurriculars as well, such as being a member in her high school math and science team and volunteering as a student leader and assistant music therapists with New Beginning for Social Needs. She plans to attend Yale University in the fall.

Christine Salazar, resident of North Bergen and a junior at Dwight Morrow High School-Academies at Englewood, has received The Community Chest’s Young Women’s Junior Leadership Award of $250 and an internship opportunity. Salazar was recognized for her involvement in her school and community. She founded Mission Green, the environmental club in her high school, as a freshman and is currently the vice president. She is also the vice-president of the Film and Media Club, vice-president of the Tri-M, Honor Society, and a Freshman Experience Peer Leader. Salazar is a member of the marching and concert bands, chorus, Model United Nations, Red Cross, Grieco Scholarship Club, Rho-Kappa Honor Society, Make-A-Wish Club, Class of 2022 Council, and the Diversity Club.

Daniela Mazzoni, a senior at Dwight Morrow High School-Academies at Englewood was recognized as the first runner-up of The Community Chest’s Young Women’s Senior Leadership Award. She received a certificate in honor of her leadership in her community.

Penelope Om of Cresskill, a junior at Bergen County Academies, was named first runner-up in The Community Chest’s Young Women's Junior Leadership Award. She received a certificate in honor of her leadership in her community.

For further information about The Chest, visit www.thecommunitychestebc.org/ or contact (201) 568-7474.