Moorestown High School senior Bela Delvadia has a passion for volunteering. She grew up wanting to give back to those less fortunate and in 2010 learned about true poverty during one of her trips abroad. That trip sparked her desire to do more for those in need.
Delvadia’s drive and hard work have paid off, as the Moorestown Service Clubs Council named her the 2016 Moorestown Student Citizen of the Year. She will be honored for all of her good work in the community at a dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
“I feel very honored. It was kind of a surprise (receiving the award). Doing service is something that I naturally do, without a second thought. I just sign up and help others,” Delvadia said.
When Delvadia is not in the classroom, she is giving back to both the Moorestown community and the community-at-large. She believes that in giving back, you get more.
“I think, since we’ve been given so much with our community, we should give back to everyone around us and show everyone in our community that we care,” Delvadia said.
Each summer, she has volunteered in the children’s department at the Moorestown library. While in school, she has volunteered more than 600 hours at many community events through the Interact Club such as Acapella for Autism, Soup for the Soul, book fairs and the Special Education Advisory Council. She also co-created a shoe drive to send gently-used shoes to families in Haiti through the Souls4Soles Organization. She is also a volunteer with the local emergency medical squad.
Delvadia’s volunteerism spreads beyond Moorestown. She has also travelled abroad to participate in service projects. In 2010, she raised around $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation while summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. In the summer of 2014, Delvadia went on a service trip to Peru with the World Challenge organization to help provide aid in remote villages. Returning to Peru this past summer, Delvadia spent three weeks on a medical mission with the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she traveled through the Amazon providing care to patients alongside physicians and medical students.
Delvadia is also active academically at school. She is the captain of the girls golf team, secretary of the Honor and Service Society, and ranks in the top 10 percent of her class academically. She also likes to DJ in her free time.
Delvadia was not aware she was nominated for the award, but is very honored to be named the 2016 Moorestown Student Citizen of the Year. She hopes people will look up to the award and strive to find time to volunteer and help those in need.
“I hope that people realize you should always give back to everyone around you and take time to do service in your community, as well as help other communities besides our own,” Delvadia said.
Delvadia intends to pursue a career in medicine. Wherever she goes to school, she would like to continue to do medical missions and be a part of a local emergency squad.
A dinner honoring Delvadia and Moorestown Citizen of the Year Dr. Jonathan Miller will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 3 starting at 6 p.m. at the Moorestown Community House. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at the Community House or The First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown.
