Nearly three decades ago we came up with this idea to honor the “good kids” who make up the majority of high school students in Ocean County.  The Student of the Week program would pay tribute to a senior each Monday during the school year with an on-air and online tribute as well as a framed certificate.  The selected student would be chosen by their own school and in recent years the program has run for 38 weeks so each of the Ocean County high schools and the OCVTS would have two students honored between September and June.

Prior to that first year we went to Gateway Toyota to see if they would be interested in becoming the program sponsor and they enthusiastically jumped on board.  That was 1996 and despite a myriad of changes the Toms River auto dealership has continued to sponsor this positive program which honors students who shine in the classroom, in the community, in music, theatre, athletics and more.  Our 27th year of the Student of the Week program returns to 92.7 WOBM when the new school year begins in September.

More than a few years ago we decided to add to the program by awarding a $1000 scholarships to one of the honored students at the end of the year.  The only fair way to do it was through a random drawing and last month Gateway Toyota general manager Rick Cardwell selected John Dodaro of Lacey Township High School during a live drawing on our morning show.

Yesterday we met John (and his father) at the dealership to present him with $500 checks from both Gateway and WOBM/Townsquare Media.  The timing was perfect as John leaves for the University of Albany this weekend to begin football practice next week.  He’s already earned his associates degree through a partnership with Ocean County College and will major in engineering at the school in the state capital of New York.

He also hopes to make an impact on the football field with the Great Danes who ironically visit Monmouth University on October 8th.

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