To recognize the extensive community service he has completed, Christian Brothers Academy senior Paul Gannon was recently named the school’s recipient of the Monmouth County Guidance Directors Association’s Caring Award.

Gannon’s volunteerism has extended way beyond the walls of the Academy, including traveling on service immersion trips with his classmates. This past fall, he visited the De La Salle Blackfeet School in Browning, Montana, where he worked with the underprivileged students in the chronically-poor community.

“Spending time with the children at the Blackfeet School moved Paul deeply and confirmed for him the necessity to continue to work hard to support those in need,” said Guidance Director Colleen Hayes. “Paul is a young man who gives it his all to his volunteerism and the people he helps greatly benefit from his efforts.”

Around Monmouth County, Gannon has been active in fundraising for important initiatives. He was part of the student group that raised $50,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and also played a big role in the annual CBA Thanksgiving Food Drive for local food banks. Gannon has lent a helping hand at St. Mary’s by the Sea, which provides a respite from cancer treatments for women in the area.

As a captain of the varsity crew team, he has volunteered with the Special Olympics to teach athletes how to row. Gannon also serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for CBA school masses.

Each high school in Monmouth County selects one recipient for the Monmouth County Guidance Director Association’s Caring Award. This award is voted on by the high school’s guidance department for a student who has volunteered their time, effort, dedication and has made a difference in their community.

The Monmouth County Guidance Director Association is a professional, non-profit organization of Guidance Directors from public and private schools in Monmouth County.

Check out the nomination video for Gannon’s award: