Seventh-grader named ‘Youth of the Year'

VERNON — Zachary Ploch, a seventh grade student at Glen Meadow School in Vernon, and member of the Sussex County YMCA, was recently presented with the Russell Colgate Youth of the Year Award at the Metropolitan YMCA of Oranges’ Annual Fellowship Dinner. One young member from each of the Metro YMCA’s five branches received this award for exemplary behavior at the YMCA and in their personal lives. A member of the Sussex County YMCA since February 2005, Zachary joined the Teen Leaders Club approximately two years ago, and has been an active volunteer ever since. He attended the Teen Leaders Camp at the Fairview Lake YMCA in 2008 and helped to lead a workshop. Zachary also volunteers regularly for Teen Nights as well as for special events. In August he and his family played an integral role in the YMCA Playground Build, tackling the task of moving hundreds of yards of mulch to make the playground safe. In addition to his time spent with the YMCA, Zachary is involved in many extra curricular activities at school, such as jazz band, student council and mock trial. Recently he has been involved in an assembly program about the effects of racism in the community. David Carcieri, executive director of the Sussex County YMCA, said, “Zachary exemplifies the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in all that he does.”