May 28, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Wyckoff Miss Teen America congratulated by committee by John Koster Theresa Marie Depken was recognized by the Wyckoff Township Committee as New Jersey’s National Teen- ager Scholarship Organization Miss 2014, an honor she received at the state pageant in Ocean City. The 19-year- old life-long Wyckoff resident will represent New Jersey in the national competition in Nashville, Tennessee. “I think it’s terrific,” said Fred Depken, Theresa’s father and Wyckoff’s state-certified fire officer and local fire marshal. “I’m very proud of her. I think she really deserved it.” Theresa is a 4.0 GPA student at Bergen Commu- nity College and hopes to study fashion design in New York and pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is vice president of the Student Council and a recipient of the college’s Contributions Award. In addition, she is a member of the Students Practicing Random Acts of Kindness, the Theatre Club, the Cooking Club, and the Photography Club. She is a volunteer in Wyckoff and has contributed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service to the Wyckoff Fire Department Auxiliary during the past seven years. She served as a volunteer for Safety Town, which teaches younger students the rules of pedestrian safety. A volunteer with the Wyckoff Summer Sizzlers, a summer camp for grade school students, Theresa is also a Buddy Volunteer for the Miss Amazing Pageant for girls with disabilities and speaks to fellow teens on the Left: Theresa Marie Depken at the crowning ceremony. Right: Theresa with her parents and Mayor Christie (far right). topic of suicide awareness. The mission of the 44-year-old National Teenager Scholarship Organization, which sponsors the event, is “Assisting Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.” The group helps arrange tuition, grants, and cash scholarships for female students. The awards are based on outstanding academic leadership, school and community service, communica- tions skills, and personality.