The North Bergen Board of Commissioners recognized a guidance counselor from their local high school for receiving the W. Cary Edwards Statewide Volunteer of the Year Award, the first Hudson County resident to ever earn the award.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The commissioners honored Samantha Lugo at their December 18th meeting for her dedication and leadership in advancing community health, youth engagement, and volunteerism.
Lugo has served as a guidance counselor at North Bergen High School for over 20 years, has played a pivotal role in fostering positive change within the township, officials said today.
“To be recognized by my community, my county and the state I have lived and grown up in is such a pleasure,” she said in a statement.
“I’m sure I can speak for all of us that do this work when I say we do this because we love it and being allowed to work with the youth in my community is genuinely a privilege. I’d like to thank Mayor Sacco for this honor and to all officials who have made this possible.”
Lugo has also been a committed member of the North Bergen Township Municipal Alliance for over five years, during which the community has become a recipient of a federal Drug-Free Communities Grant.
Through her efforts, the township has witnessed a surge in youth volunteerism, particularly with the alliance, where she serves as moderator of the youth task force.
In this role, she coordinates student volunteers for key community initiatives, including the township’s Safe Spot Program.
“This program is a really great idea and it’s something all municipalities should have been doing a long time ago,” added Nick Biamonte, the North Bergen Coordinator from the Municipal Alliance.
“Retailers now have more detailed guidance so that we can work together as a community to keep tobacco out of young people’s hands.”
In addressing critical health challenges, Lugo led efforts to combat underage access to tobacco and vaping products through the North Bergen Tobacco Age of Sale Enforcement (T.A.S.E.) program.
By demonstrating to elected officials that local merchants were selling these products to minors, Lugo played an instrumental role in the development of a stand-alone North Bergen Tobacco License.
Scheduled to take effect in 2025, the license will empower the local health department to monitor and regulate all tobacco sales in the community.
“Samantha Lugo has set an example of what true community leadership looks like. Her work has directly improved the lives of our youth and families, and we are incredibly grateful for her efforts in creating a healthier and safer North Bergen,” exclaimed Mayor Nick Sacco.
“Samantha’s dedication to our students is unparalleled. She has not only guided our youth academically and emotionally but has inspired them to become active, engaged members of our community. Her work with the Municipal Alliance and the Safe Spot Program reflects her deep commitment to the success and well-being of our students,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter.
