Woodbridge High School senior wins Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship

The desire to volunteer was instilled in Luke Vazquez at a young age.

“My family made community service a priority in my life for as long as I can remember,” said Vazquez, noting through helping others he learned compassion, teamwork, and empathy.

“Some of my earliest memories are helping my Grandma pack boxes full of food and gifts at my local Thanksgiving and Christmas drives. As I matured over the years, I became more involved in local programs and opportunities to aid the less fortunate.”

Vazquez’s commitment to community service over the last four years as a student at Woodbridge High School – particularly in the area of helping children and families in need – is extensive.

“The idea that I can make a positive impact on others' lives and the fulfillment I get from service are the driving forces behind my participation in everything I volunteer for,” Vazquez said. “I especially love the opportunity to help children.”

An honor roll student and National Honors Society inductee whose vast resume of extracurricular activities includes participation in four sports, Vazquez is the recipient of a Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship.

The Villanova University-bound Vazquez will receive $1,000 to apply toward his college education from The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Established in its namesake’s loving memory in 2017, the foundation has donated nearly $350,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

The nonprofit has also spearheaded multiple initiatives resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter coats, baby supplies, school supplies, and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.

In addition, the foundation has awarded 46 scholarships totaling $33,000 to high school seniors.

Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa Tufaro was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired others including Vazquez.

Vazquez has volunteered with Special Olympics, Senior Olympics, Saint James Social Concerns, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Through the latter, Vazquez was able to form a strong bond and make a profound impact on the middle school student he mentored.

On Youth in Government Day last year, Vazquez was selected to represent his high school at Woodbridge Town Hall to introduce community service ideas and potential improvements to the township. As director of the Woodbridge Park Summer Food Drive, Vazquez created a township-wide initiative across more than 30 parks with the help of town hall to combat food shortages at the Saint James food pantry.

Upon receiving an invitation this spring to represent Woodbridge in the Tee Off Against Hunger fundraiser benefiting Hands of Hope for the Community, Vazquez wanted to do more than participate in the event.

He worked with his family to create a social media post to collect donations for the nonprofit, which distributes food to Middlesex County residents in need.

Generous neighbors dropped nonperishable food items off at the Vazquez residence and filled the family’s Venmo account with $500, all of which were donated to Hands of Hope for the Community during its fundraiser at TopGolf in Edison.

“What a remarkable young man to come up with that idea and then raise the food and money to help us,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Charles E. Tomaro, who serves as Hands of Hope for the Community’s president.

A senior class officer, Vazquez was involved with the high school’s Heroes and Cool Kids and Freshman Mentors programs.

Vazquez was secretary of the National Honors Society and a member of the Rho Kappa Honor Society recognizing academic achievement and excellence in Social Studies.

He also found time throughout his scholastic career to participate in baseball, basketball, track and field, golf, the Yearbook Club, and the S.O.S. (Save Our Strays) Club, which helps animals find homes through live adoption events and fundraisers with shelters.

Luke’s parents, Jennifer and Rob, instilled in their three children – including Jake, a rising junior at Princeton University, and Riley, a sophomore at Woodbridge – the importance of volunteerism and community service.

“Luke’s (benevolence) inspires other people to do the same,” Woodbridge High School golf coach Matt Gigliello said. “(Charity) is something he was geared to.”

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Woodbridge High School senior wins Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship