Brick schools superintendent Dennis Filippone and BMHS teacher Ann Marie Tarnowski (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Brick Memorial High School’s Key Club, a service organization made up of students and advised by a teacher, has received what is considered among the organization’s top honors worldwide.
“In an age of entitlement, when people think they’re supposed to get things, this group of students strive every day with their advisor, Mrs. [Ann Marie] Tarnowski, to give back to the community,” said Interim Superintendent Dennis Filippone.
The club won the platinum division award this year and was also recognized as an “internationally distinguished diamond club” for its efforts. The Brick students specifically received kudos for creating the Gobble Gallup Walk-a-Thon to help needy families at Thanksgiving time. The designation is only given to 50 clubs in the entire world.
Tarnowski, the group’s advisor, said there were 175 students at the club’s first meeting of the 2017-18 school year.
“These are kids who are giving back,” she said.