YMCA of the USA Awards Hunterdon County High School Students $5,000 to Lead Change in Central NJ

Flemington - River Crossing YMCA is excited to welcome home local high school students Anna Huang of North Hunterdon High School and Noah Engelhardt of Hunterdon Central who were awarded $5,000 this month to implement their Vote16NJ project in Hunterdon County.

The 2026 YMCA Changemakers Summit took place June 16-18 in Charlotte, NC. Out of the 80 students who participated, Huang and Engelhardt were one of four teams who were chosen as winners by their peers. Vote16NJ is a non-partisan organization whose goal is to have local communities pass laws to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in school board elections as a first step towards a lifetime of civic involvement.

Now in its fifth year, the YMCA Changemakers Summit offers civically-engaged 10th–12th graders the opportunity to propose a project that addresses a critical issue or need in their communities. Three teams receive $5,000 to implement their project in their community. These projects are completely youth-led. Each year, students participating in the program select an issue based on the needs of their local communities and craft a proposal to address it.

“Through programs like YMCA Changemakers, the Y empowers young people to reach their full potential as thoughtful, caring and dedicated community leaders,” said Len Yacullo, Director of IT & Special Projects for River Crossing YMCA. “I am so incredibly proud of River Crossing YMCA’s own Anna and Noah for their participation in the summit and for the lasting impact their project will have on our Hunterdon County community for many years to come.” 

Vote16NJ has been gaining momentum across New Jersey. In January 2024, the City of Newark passed an ordinance granting 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in school board elections, becoming the first municipality in the state to do so. Then-Governor Phil Murphy publicly championed statewide legislation, S3240/A4369, that would expand the right to every community in New Jersey. The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice has called the effort "a historic, once-in-a-generation movement driven by students, families and local leaders." Huang and Engelhardt's $5,000 award will now help them advance that mission in Hunterdon County and beyond.

The Changemakers Summit is informed by the YMCA’s Changemaker Strategy, which aims to prepare young people to be active contributors and stakeholders in decision-making within their communities. The Changemaker Strategy is guided by 3 principles: beliefs and values, meaningful experiences, and intentional settings.

Header photo caption: Ebone "E" Mitchell, National YMCA's Director, Strategy and Quality Practices – Teens with Noah Englehardt and Anna Hunag, Winners of the 2026 Annua YMCA Changemakers Summit in Charlotte, NC (June 16-18). (photo courtesy YMCA of the USA)