By Emily Schopfer
FARMINGDALE – The YMCA of the Jersey Shore honored the lasting impact of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during its 37th annual breakfast commemorating the civil rights activist’s life.
While the event has grown over its nearly four decades, its “north star has always been to honor the legacy of Dr. King,” said Michael A. Wright, YMCA of the Jersey Shore chief volunteer officer and MLK Committee chair. “There’s no better way to begin a fresh year inspired by Dr. King’s mission to serve others.”
A key part of a morning “filled with unity and celebration” was the recognition of two Monmouth County high school students as the 2025 YMCA Youth Essay Contest winners.
This year’s contest prompted students to write about social media’s impact on social change. According to the YMCA, each of the two winners will receive a $3,000 scholarship courtesy of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey Natural Gas and Porter Plus Realty, as well as a full-year youth membership to the YMCA.
Synai Blychanton, a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Red Bank Regional High School, and Mia-Rose Scalice, a senior at Middletown High School North, were this year’s essay winners and student presenters.
Blychanton spoke about her personal experiences with how quickly stereotypes and hateful comments can spread on social media. “Unity doesn’t happen by accident – it takes intentionality, accountability, and compassion,” she wrote in her untitled essay.
“Social media has become both a shield and a spotlight: It protects curiosity while holding hate accountable,” wrote Scalice in her essay titled “Social Media’s Effect on Societal Views.”
In addition to the essay winners, the YMCA recognized Annika Raj with the Youth Changemaker award. Raj, a Holmdel resident and senior at Biotechnology High School, is the YMCA Model UN Secretary General and part of the YMCA’s Youth and Government Program. She was selected to represent the Garden State in Washington, D.C.
The Youth Changemaker Award is a new addition to the event. “We recognize that the world is changing fast,” said Wright. “Knowing that we are inspiring the next generation of civic-minded leaders is most meaningful.”
In this fast-changing world, Wright feels that Dr. King’s vision is especially relevant, “as we see more of our local community and nation divided by conflict, politics, affordability, and civil freedoms. We are hopeful and committed to nurturing a place and space where people of all ages, interests, backgrounds, and walks of life can come together for a common purpose and mutual understanding.”
The article originally appeared in the February 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
