Jack Nunn
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2008 Scholarship Winner
Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy
Hunter College
"Jack is one of the most civic-minded students I have ever taught. He has dedicated his time, energy and talents to a number of projects that benefit others in his community. His deep sense of civic responsibility is evident in the seriousness with which he approaches his commitments to the school's environmental club and technology support program, his volunteering for the National Park Service, Urban Park Rangers and Wave Hill, and his work in the NYC office of Child Support Enforcement&hellip. His involvement in the larger community is exceptional for a high school student. Jack truly puts his community's needs at the core of his choices."
—Marisa Harford, English Teacher
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Volunteer, United States National Park Service
- Organizer, R.K.A. Environmental Club
- Intern, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Technology Department
Excerpts from Jack's Essay
There was something special about Liberty Island, which made it a rewarding place to volunteer. Perhaps it was the long history or the struggles that shroud the Statue. Each time I crossed the harbor, I experienced new groups of people, heard new languages and faced new duties. As a lifelong New Yorker, I have been privileged to live in a free and democratic society. I have enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, summer job opportunities, free College Now classes and the "American Dream." With all that I have taken from our society, I felt obligated to give back. By volunteering at The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, I had the opportunity to serve both my city and my nation.
Aside from helping tourism in my city, I was ultimately helping to preserve a national history and legacy, a legacy I can trace back in my own family history. Two of my grandparents and four of my great-grandparents passed through Ellis Island…. [It] was the first stop in this new life. This new, improved life was passed down to my parents and ultimately to me. I am only in the position I am today because of the hard work of previous generations.
