Straight "A"s, athletic skills and leadership will always define students of achievement. But in the tumultuous world of youngsters facing a host of personal adversities, such definitions are too narrow. Many go unnoticed - until now.

Thirty-four such students are recipients of the 2016 UnSung Hero Awards from Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, bestowed in a ceremony at Frog Pond Elementary in Little Egg Harbor.

The awards, according to Prosecutor's spokesman Al Della Fave, bring recognition to adolescents who have transcended obstacles of many types - from learning disabilities, to devastating ailments, to Superstorm survival, to loss of a parent, just to name a few.

In the course of his comments to the recipients, the Prosecutor underscored the value of every advance, regardless of size or stature, toward building a community of leaders.

"I quote Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment'," he said.

The recipients:

Marlena Darby,Toms River High School South
Peter Shenouda,Toms River High School North
Kyle A. Seehausen,Toms River High School East
William Raney,Stafford Intermediate School
Mark Styn, Point Pleasant Borough High School
Michael Favato, Point Pleasant Beach High School
Dominique Behrens, Pinelands Regional High School
Andrew Robles, Ocean Gate Elementary School
Rose Dishon, O.C.V.T.S. - Waretown Center
Edward Owens, O.C.V.T.S. - Toms River Center
Monica Colino, O.C.V.T.S. - Lakehurst Center
Sierra Pierce, O.C.V.T.S. - Jackson Center
Jordan Serra, O.C.V.T.S. - Brick Center
Samantha Goetz, New Egypt High School
Katelyn Page, Manchester Township High School
Jesus Valverde, Long Beach Island Grade School
Josue Trigueros, Lakewood High School
Eduardo Jauregui, Lakehurst Elementary School
David Woodruff, Lacey Township High School
Michael Franceschi, Jackson Memorial High School
Casey Iorio, Jackson Liberty High School
Sloane Nelson, Island Heights Grade School
Maribel Serrano, Hugh J. Boyd , Jr. Elementary School
Mia Sweet, George J. Mitchell Elementary School
Eric Helfrich, Frog Pond Elementary School
Gabriel Shehady, Frederic A. Priff Elementary School
Carlie Evans, Eagleswood Township Elementary School
Maiya Andrews, Central Regional High School
Patrick Neafsey, Brick Township High School
Alyssa Rimmer, Brick Memorial High School
Joseph Boyle, Berkeley Township Elementary School
Cuinn Deely, Beach Haven Elementary School
Kerry Boyle, Bay Head Elementary School
Chloe Dennerlein, Barnegat High School

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