FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com march 12, 2015 • GIRLS WORLD EXPO • The Queens Courier 7 CONGRATULATIONS! DURGA SHIVMANGAL HIBA ZAHIR The combination of leadership skills and Some young women coast through their academic excellence is both powerful and lives. Others have to climb mountains to rare, and Duga Shivmangal has both. reach their goals. Hiba Zahir has been a An eighth grader at PS/MS 124 in mountain climber. Queens, Durga is described by those At the age of 13, Hiba has been who know her in words such as giving, raised by her sister. This has not kept helping, sharing, generous, humble, and polite. her from succeeding and doing so with a smile on her face and Academically, Durga consistently has a GPA of more than 100. She a commitment to helping others, including taking a leadership is a valedictorian candidate, and a Junior Honor Society member. position in efforts to end bullying. In terms of leadership, Durga provides a dynamic and positive role An eighth grader at William McKinley IS 259, Hiba has already model for others by being active in a number of school activities proved herself as an artist and a poet, a leader, and a contributor and organizing charitable events. She is involved with Youth to the community good with participation in a project at the VA Congress at Councilman Rubin Wills’ offi ce and also fi nds time to hospital in Brooklyn. tutor and mentor many of her peers. For her strength in the face of adversity, for her smile that For her excellence in academics, her leadership talents, her illuminates the lives of others, and for her overall strength of person involvement in school activities and her positive infl uence on those and personality, we name Hiba Zahir a Girl of Merit. around her, we name Durga Shivmangal a Girl of Merit. MARYAM MIAN Many young women have great potential. A few, such as Maryam Mian, make something of it. Maryam is the youngest of fi ve siblings. Being the youngest child of a single mother has given Maryam strength, independence, and high expectations of herself and others. Outgoing and giving, Maryam not only excels herself but also encourages striving for ever-greater goals on the part of those around her. Through her outgoing personality and energy, she transfers to others much of her own reach for success in school and in life. The John Bowne High School 11th grader has participated in many school events and engaged in diverse community service. She has been honored as a Student of the Month, and is in the top 10% of her class. For her personal strength, her academic achievements and her commitment to her community and school we name Maryam Mian a Girl of Merit. SAJADA ECCLESTON You’re never too young to care about others and about your community, and you are never too young to start doing something about it. Sajada Eccleston got her start at the age of 7 and the now-13- year-old hasn’t stopped since then. Sajada won the Lawerence Road Middle School award for Outstanding Character and Community Service in 2013 and came back to repeat in 2014. It’s hardly a surprise that Sajada is so community oriented—her parents were missionaries and she has traveled with them to many countries providing humanitarian relief. None of that has kept Sajada from being an honor student at Lawerence Road Middle School. Sajada has changed literally hundreds of lives. Some were the people she helped, many were the peers she has inspired to do the same thing. For her extraordinary service to so many, and for being an inspiration to peers that multiplies her impact many times over, we are pleased to name Sajada Eccleston a Girl of Merit. RUBY HUANG Shakespeare had Hamlet say that, “The play’s the thing.” If he’d known Ruby Huang, he might have modifi ed it to “Ruby’s play is the thing.” Ruby is an articulate and accomplished public speaker. Though in only the 7th grade, she has poise, speaking skills, and presence of someone many year her senior. Ruby captures the attention of audiences, including those in her classes, through her ability to leverage literature and make signifi cant statements in class. The exuberance and embrace of public speaking make Ruby a role model for others learning to speak English as a second language. She is an inspiration, mentor, and role model for the English language learners around her. For her public poise, support of peers, and for all the effort that has gone into acquiring the speaking and English language skills she so wonderfully commands, we name Ruby Huang a Girl of Merit. OLIVIA PRICE There aren’t many fi fth graders whose community service resume is as long as that of Olivia Price. Though only 11, the John F. Kennedy elementary school student has volunteered time and effort to a wide range of causes, from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Lymphoma Research Foundation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the New York Angels Ambassador Pageant. Olivia is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and is working on her Girl Scouts Bronze Level Award. The long term goal of this community dynamo is to become a teacher. We think she already is, and for her service and commitment to her community, her nonstop energy and effort to make the world a better place, and her care and concern for others we name Olivia Price a Girl of Merit. SAVANNAH COPPOLA What we have here is a triple threat achiever. Savannah Coppola is an honor roll student with a 95 average at Archbishop Molloy High School, a dancer at the Landrum School of Performing Arts, a member of the senior All-Star Competition Team, and an active participant in many community activities. Savannah is on the board of directors of Fashions for St. Jude, a nonprofi t that produces an annual fashion show fundraiser from which 100% of the proceeds go to the patients of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. More children benefi t from Savannah’s efforts at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital of Bayside, where she helps the patients make arts and crafts and uses her dance knowledge and ability to encourage creative movement. She is also active in the annual holiday toy drive for the hospital. For her deep devotion to helping children who are ill, for her keen passion for compassion, and for her versatility and diverse skills, we name Savannah Coppola a Girl of Merit. JANAH CHOUCAIR What will a pleasant attitude, a positive outlook, leadership qualities galore and artistic ability get you? In this case, Janah Choucair. Janah leads by example. She is a respectful yet powerful personality who has a unique ability to encourage others to speak up and speak out while also putting forward her own point of view. She helps others see her point of view, rather than demanding they accept it; her opponents become her supporters. Janah brings to every encounter the unique perspective of a second culture, the determination of an immigrant family dedicated to success, and a warmth and graciousness that will not be denied. For her ability to transcend cultures, her artistic ability and people handling skills, and her drive to overcome obstacles and succeed we name Janah Choucair a Girl of Merit. MARIA TROIA Some people have musical or vocal talent. Others are excellent at math, English, or other academic subjects. Many others are dedicated to improving their communities. And on a few occasions, someone comes along who does it all and does it very well. That would be Maria Troia. Maria has been training in dance since she was three. She has grown into not just an excellent dancer, but also an exceptional role model for younger girls. Academically, she is a multiple Principal’s List award winner at Archbishop Molloy High School while taking all AP and honors classes. She is a member of the school dance team and the Molloy Spirit Leaders. Now a senior, she has already received college scholarship offers from a dozen prominent schools including Seton Hall, Fordham University, and Adelphi University. For her multiple talents, her lifelong dedication to dance, and her outstanding academic achievements we name Maria Troia a Girl of Merit.
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