Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders Recognize Heroic VoTech Students

SOMERVILLE – The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders recognized the three Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) students who helped to avert a potential disaster on Route 22 after their bus driver suffered a medical emergency. 

Freeholder Director Patricia L. Walsh presented citations to North Plainfield residents Gavin Costello, Kala Wright and Angelo Mel-Tos at the Freeholder Board’s work session on Tuesday, March 22.

“Everyone wants to be a hero, even in some small way, but not everyone can be one,” said Freeholder Director Walsh. “Gavin, Angelo and Kala have demonstrated that they have the courage to think quickly and take immediate action to help others during an emergency. It would not surprise me if we were to hear more about these three young leaders in the future.”

Gavin Costello is a freshman in the SCVTHS Welding program and Angelo Mel-Tos is a senior in the Graphic Communications program. A freshman in the Law and Public Safety program, Kala Wright was selected as the SCVTHS Student of the Month for February 2016.

After the presentation of the Freeholder Board’s citation, Bridgewater Mayor Dan Hayes and Police Chief Manuel Caravela presented Civilian Awards to the three students.

Other officials in attendance at the meeting included North Plainfield Mayor Michael Giordano, Education and Services Commission Superintendent Hal Dunsavage, SCVTHS Superintendent Chrys Harttraft, members of the SCVTHS and North Plainfield High School boards of education and Executive County Superintendent of Schools Juan Torres.

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