BRIDGEWATER –Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School (SCVTHS) is pleased to announce that Shane Shanahan of Somerville, a Senior enrolled in the Welding program, has been selected as a Somerset County “Unsung Hero” by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).
According to the NJSBA, “Unsung Heroes make outstanding contributions to their schools and committees, even though they are often overlooked under traditional student recognition guidelines. Unsung Heroes can be students who make their school a better place because of their warm personality, their empathy, and concern for others. They tend not to let obstacles stop them.”
Throughout his time at SCVTHS, Shane has been involved in activities that help both the school and local communities. In his role as a Student Ambassador, he visits middle schools throughout Somerset County to discuss his experiences at SCVTHS and to promote Career and Technical Education programs. He is a member of the school’s newly formed Content Creator program, which allows him to develop social media messaging that highlights the achievements of his classmates and their programs. Shane has also been active in campus beautification efforts through his participation in the Campus Clean-Up program, and has contributed to fundraising efforts for the school’s SkillsUSA program by building planter boxes that were given as prizes at the annual golf outing. He also regularly mentors other students in the welding program, and recently used the fabrication of a decorative Christmas tree that he designed as an opportunity to provide a skill and confidence building project for his younger classmates.
In the community, Shane has been involved in addressing food insecurity through volunteer work with the Somerset County Food Bank as well as helping those less fortunate by helping out at the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP). He has also recently begun work with the Helping Hands program, and regularly assists elderly neighbors with grocery shopping, yard work, and snow removal.
Maria Santiago, Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant at SCVTHS, praised Shane for his hard work and positive attitude, as well for his contributions to both the school and local community. “Shane is a polite young man who gets along with everyone in the school. He is a natural leader who is involved in his community outside of school.”
When asked how he felt about being named an “Unsung Hero” Shane said, “I am humbled to accept the Unsung Hero Award and inspired by the other winners and their stories. It gives me hope for our future generation to see people who do good even when their efforts go unrecognized.”
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