DeLuca receives award

VERNON — For the second time in her college career, Emma DeLuca of Vernon received the prestigious Richard Panicucci Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary community service involvement.
The award was among those presented at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s 61st Annual Athletic Awards Banquet on May 2.
During her four years as a member of the FDU Knights Softball team, DeLuca spearheaded many community service projects and recruited the involvement of members of the Softball Team and the campus community.
Among the projects DeLuca led were three consecutive years of Food Drives at all home games through which approximately 750 pounds of food was collected and donated to a Teaneck food pantry, two consecutive years of off-season crafting with residents of an assisted living community, volunteering at a preparedness awareness event in nearby Moonachie during recovery from Superstorm Sandy, six weeks of off-season volunteering with low-functioning adult residents at a Teaneck nursing home and a 2015 Veterans Day tribute whereby flags were displayed on the softball field in honor of local servicemen & women which also raised funds for a national Veterans organization.
DeLuca graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University on May 17, 2016, with a bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. After a brief reprieve from the classroom DeLuca plans to continue her education and obtain a Master of Science Degree in a Physician’s Assistant Program.