Phillipsburg Middle School student recognized as state leader of the year, school service project among state's top 10

PHILLIPSBURG | Phillipsburg Middle School has a plenty to brag about.

The student council's annual service project as well as Molly Zgoda, the council president, snagged awards Jan. 8 from the New Jersey Association of Student Council during a conference in Trenton.

Zgoda, 14, of Phillipsburg, was recognized as New Jersey State Leader of the Year for Middle Level. The service project, to make blankets to donate to local causes, was selected as one of the top 10 in the state.

"It's a huge year for us," said Melissa Faye, the student council adviser.

On Thursday homeroom representatives from the school's three grade levels gathered in the cafeteria to complete project Global Warming. The 21 blankets they are making will be donated to local dialysis clinics, Faye said.

Zgoda, an eighth-grader, is the first student from the school to capture the student leader honor in more than 10 years, according to Faye.

At the Jan. 8 event, the Global Warming project was announced as a top tier service project. While Zgoda stood in line for a photo with other students and advisers, her name was called for the middle level leader of the year award, she said.

"It was so amazing," Zgoda said. "I was so happy that we won the top 10 award (for the service project), I just wasn't expecting something else."

Nancy Jo Zgoda, Molly Zgoda's mother, said her daughter was calm after earning the accomplishment, but her happiness was unmistakable on the ride home.

"She played it so cool at school, but then we got in the car and she says, 'Mom, it was out of the whole state, the whole state!'" Nancy Jo Zgoda said.

Known throughout the school for her leadership skills, athleticism and involvement in extracurricular activities, Molly Zgoda said she immersed herself in student government as soon as she could.

"It's a great way to reach out to students and try to make things better at school," she said. "You met so many new people."

Besides the constant community service activities, Zgoda said the council is organizing the first Winter Ball, a semi-formal dance for seventh- and eighth-graders to be held in a few weeks.

Faye said student council owes so much of its success to support of the school's administration and the community.

Now in her fourth year of advising student government, Faye lauded the hard work of each individual on council.

"They're from all walks (of life), all races, and all economic levels," said Faye.