Hicksville High School sophomore Rhea Manjrekar, who has complemented her academic success with outstanding community service, has been recognized as a Leader of Tomorrow by the South Asian Political Action Committee (SAPAC).
SAPAC honored young South Asian residents of Long Island for their remarkable community service, and recognized Manjrekar for her work with the Children’s Hope India 3 charity. As part of her community contribution last year, Manjrekar spearheaded a fundraiser campaign to help underprivileged children attend summer camp. The total amount of funds raised was $12,000, surpassing the goal of $3,000.
“It feels so amazing to be able to help out,” Manjrekar said. “I really just wanted to give back to the community, and it’s so gratifying to be able to send children to camp who may not have been able to otherwise.”
In addition to her community service, Manjrekar is enrolled in all Honors classes, plays on several athletic teams, practices the viola, takes dance classes and participates in beauty pageants. She is the Miss Teen India New York runner-up and the Miss New York Statewide Junior Teen.
Her principal Raymond Williams, who was in attendance for Manjrekar’s acceptance of the award by SAPAC during a ceremony at Mint restaurant in Garden City on Saturday, April 26, said that the sky’s the limit for the remarkable student.
“Rhea is such a promising student with positivity that extends to everybody she is around,” Williams said. “What she is doing for the community and how selflessly she devotes her time are just incredible. The academics, service, well-roundedness—she is truly a star.”
—From the Hicksville School District
