WALL TOWNSHIP — The Wall Township Crimson Knights Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the Wall Township Public School District, held its fifth annual Crimson Knights Gala last Saturday at Spring Lake Manor to honor stand-out members of the community.
The gala honored Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Lt. Cmdr. Amy Zaycek, from the Wall High School Class of 1997; Excellence in Community Leadership Award recipient Nancy Peterson, Girl Scout of Jersey Shore community leader and national delegate; and Meritorious Board of Education Award recipient Gail Maher, for her service of 25 years as a teacher of mathematics at Wall Intermediate School. The trio was honored for their outstanding contributions and effects on the Wall Township community.
Ed Parise, president of The Crimson Knights Foundation, spoke to The Coast Star about the gala and its success this year.
“We had about 165 people attend, and we had the Wall Township High School Orchestra with Director Les Hollander, who was a first-year gala honoree, so it was great to have him there,” Parise said. “We also had some members of the Wall High School Business and Finance Academy, who were there to help direct people into our cocktail hour and help organize. They were a huge help.”
Parise says that many members of the Wall schools community and surrounding areas were present to connect with each other, while simultaneously honoring the foundation’s efforts for the district.
“People were mingling, and the food was amazing,” Parise said. “The honor guard for the event was performed by the Wall Navy ROTC program. Our emcee was actually Dr. David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College, and we also had last year’s honoree Police Chief Sean O’Halloran show up, and some more previous honorees attended and showed their support.”
Parise noted that representatives from various organizations were present for the three women who were being honored on gala night.
“Captain Ken Smith from the Earle Naval Base, a commanding officer, presented Lt. Amy Zaycek with her Distinguished Alumni award,” Parise said. “Some Girl Scouts were also there for Nancy Peterson and led the Pledge of Allegiance, which was so nice.”
Parise spoke on the privilege of honoring members of the Wall Township Public School community, including math teacher and WTEA President Gail Maher, and Superintendent of Wall Township Public Schools Dr. Tracy Handerhan.
“Honoring teachers like Gail Maher, and the Superintendent of Wall Public Schools Dr. Tracy Handerhan is amazing,” Parise said. “Dr. Handerhan loves this event so much, and it’s great to be able to show our appreciation for what she does. She has a tough job. The way that she deals with the job is great, and it’s amazing to show our appreciation for someone of that caliber.”
Parise spoke more about what the Crimson Knights Foundation is all about, saying the main goal is to connect local businesses with the Wall public schools to facilitate support of the school community.
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