District News

At an evening banquet on March 2, 2026, thirteen students across the county were recipients of the Unsung Hero Award on behalf of the Somerset County School Boards Association. They were celebrated by parents, guardians, family, friends, and members of their school community. Of this unique group of very special young people, Allison Arcentalez Shaigua was selected from the Somerset Hills School District to receive this honor.

“Allison is one of the most resilient, driven, and compassionate students I have ever encountered,” shared BHS School Counselor Amanda Ellis. 

Throughout high school, Allison managed complex family circumstances that led her to take on a caregiving role within her household. As a result, she learned how essential it is to take ownership of her own life. Allison built confidence in herself, her choices, and her actions. She made the conscious  decision that rather than wait for the “right time,” she would passionately pursue her goals in the here and now. She began volunteering at the Bernardsville firehouse as an EMT. Navigating a world where language and money create a barrier to accessible healthcare, Allison also started to work with her local health department to emphasize the need for affordable healthcare services in the area. With a local demographic of uninsured families, Allison has been coordinating with mobile health clinics to create opportunities for free or low-cost primary care. To understand how charity care can be beneficial to uninsured residents, Allison also connected with Overlook Hospital; she is in the process of bringing a hospital representative to town to make families aware of their eligibility and sign them up for financial assistance. 

In addition to Allison’s unwavering commitment to the Somerset Hills community, she is a top-notch student who enrolls in the most rigorous coursework Bernards High School has to offer. At BHS, she serves as president of the Green Team, is a Board member for Student Leaders, is a founding member of the BHS HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) chapter, and is an avid dancer and dance instructor. What makes Allison’s accomplishments even more remarkable is the strength and perseverance she has shown in the face of personal challenges. She carries significant responsibility at home, yet she has never let these circumstances define her or dampen her spirit. Instead, they have fueled her motivation to pursue a career in neuroscience and emergency medicine. In every way, Allison embodies the qualities of an Unsung Hero. 

At the event, Allison was celebrated by her father and members of the Somerset Hills School District: Amanda  Ellis, School Counselor; Dr. Brian Brotschul, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Coleen Butler, Assistant Superintendent; Sam Frenda, Board President; Heather Santoro, Board Vice President; and Board members Pat Wry, Allicen Librera, and Kelly Hunt.

The Unsung Hero Award is given out annually by County School Board Associations in coordination with the New Jersey School Boards Association. The award recognizes students who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities, even if their achievements do not fall under more traditional student recognition guidelines. Unsung Heroes are students who make their school a better place because of their warm personalities, empathy, and concern for others. They persevere and do not let obstacles stop them…two critical lessons of life, learned early.