Woodside resident Sumit Pal was honored recently with the Student Leader of the Year award at the 8th Annual Junior Achievement of New York (JANY) Awards Gala.
The 17-year-old was “overwhelmed with joy” when he was told he would be given the award.
Pal was selected to be a part of the JANY Ambassador program, which requires students to participate in a number of activities such as public speaking seminars, career and college counseling, cultural activities and job shadow experiences.
JANY is a non-profit organization that connects New York City and Long Island students, in grades K-12, with volunteers to build leadership skills and to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The gala, which took place on October 14, recognizes ordinary individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in support of JANY’s mission.
Pal was recognized for outstanding peer leadership, personal and academic growth and service and passion for enterprise.
During Pal’s sophomore year at Information Technology High School, his student activity counselor suggested that the school’s top five students should apply for the JANY program.
“I was fortunate enough to make it in,” said Pal while speaking about JANY’s program. “It helped me extraordinarily. I was always very shy and very passive. I wasn’t much of a leader, but the program helped me speak in front of large crowds, which made me feel accomplished. I could have never imagined myself doing that in my early years in high school.”
Pal remained in JANY for two years until he graduated high school, and he still likes to think of himself as a part of the program.
The Student of the Year was born in India and raised in Elmhurst; he has been residing in Woodside for the past nine years.
“When people say this is the land of opportunity, they’re right. I don’t think I would have even been considered if I were still living in India,” Pal said.
He currently attends New York University Polytechnic where he studies computer engineering with the goal of becoming an entrepreneur.
“I’m thankful for everything the Ambassador program has done for me. It has completely changed my life.”
