TOMS RIVER, NJ — Three Toms River high school students will be among those recognized at the Ocean County Personnel and Guidance Association's 31st Annual Caring Award Ceremony.

Gabriel Rodriguez from Toms River High School South, Nicole Cocco from Toms River East and Allison Fleury from Toms River North were chosen by the guidance counselors at their high schools for the award, which recognizes the "Most Caring Students" in Ocean County. "The purpose of this award is to recognize students who have given of themselves to a person, group, or cause unselfishly and without expectation of reward," a notice on the county guidance personnel website says.



Rodriguez has participated in mission trips abroad and was part of a service team from Toms River that visited the Dominican Republic to build houses for those in need earlier this year. He tutors fellow students, is a member of the International Thespian Society, and serves as the National Honor Society president at Toms River South. Cocco volunteers at her local fire company and helped take care of families whose homes were devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Now she volunteers as a tutor and helps children with autism, is a volunteer with East's Challenger League program and also helps out with Ocean of Love, the nonprofit that assists families of children who have cancer.

Fleury volunteers with Clean Ocean Action, Relay for Life and is part of the "Good Kids" theatre project that tackles the topic of sexual abuse. She also has appeared in some of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office videos that aim to convince students to stay away from dangerous behaviors. The Caring Award Committee asked each recipient of the award to put together a 2-minute video highlighting their achievements and service to others. Watch them below:







