Senior Oliver Pangilinan recently completed an outstanding initiative, raising over $64,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Pangilinan was nominated by a family friend to be a New Jersey Student of the Year candidate through the Society. After the organization contacted Pangilinan, he accepted the nomination and the challenge of raising the most money in the field of candidates.

Each candidate creates his or her fundraising campaign of choice, with Pangilinan naming his “1,000 Gifts for a Cure.” His motivation came from his family’s own experience with cancer when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“No child or parent should have to experience hearing the words, ‘your loved one has cancer,'” Pangilinan said. “As a senior at CBA, applying to colleges, getting ready to finish high school, and excited to see where my college journey will lead me, I’m a part of the next generation, responsible for continuing the fight.”

Over seven weeks, Pangilinan used his CBA network to raise the funds, with the swim team, crew team and Mothers’ Club playing a big role in his campaign.

Ultimately, he raised over $64,000, which finished as the second runner-up of the 13 candidates. Pangilinan was just one of three candidates to raise over $50,000, which earned him the Top Campaign Fundraiser Hero Award. He was recognized and presented his award during last week’s grand finale event hosted by the Society.

“To be able to be a part of such a great cause is an amazing feeling,” he said. “Having heard firsthand stories and experiences of many cancer survivors, this charity truly hits home now that this campaign is over.”

Pangilinan’s donation will be used for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society research. A member of the CBA swim and crew teams, as well as a service immersion trip participant, he will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall.

About the Students of the Year Campaign

The Students of the Year campaign is a philanthropic leadership development program through which highly motivated, high-school leaders embark on a journey of professional growth, ensuring that they stand out when preparing for college and beyond. During the program, students foster professional skills such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and project management in order to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Student leaders fundraise for LLS in honor of children who are blood cancer survivors. The title Student(s) of the Year is awarded to the candidate or co-candidate team in each community that raises the most funds during the 7-week competition.