Five Manor College students, including one Elkins Park native, have been selected as finalists for the Mother Josaphat Medal. 

The award is presented each year to a Manor College student who exhibits a “responsible lifestyle evidenced through reverence, respect and service,” the College said. The medal is the highest honor for a student at the college. 

Finalists were nominated by faculty and staff at Manor College during the fall semester. The winner will be announced at the institution’s annual Founders Day celebration on January 25, 2024 at 12:00pm in the Mother of Perpetual Help Hall Auditorium. 

These are the students who have been selected as finalists for the Mother Josaphat Medal: 

Tamara Ellerbe (Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical High School, Philadelphia)

Tamara Ellerbe is a senior at Manor College studying Human Services. She is a Presidential Ambassador at Manor and is often found giving tours around campus to incoming students. She is additionally a member of Rotaract and the Criminal Justice Society, and helps around campus including with Manny’s Market and the Career Closet. Off campus, Ellerbe helps with a cleaning service company and takes care of family members. 

Sylvania Juste (Samuel Fels High School, Philadelphia)

Sylvania Juste is a sophomore at Manor College studying for her Associate’s degree in Pre-Nursing. Juste is a Presidential Ambassador and a member of the women’s soccer team. She is focused on the community of campus, often volunteering or being seen with a smile on her face. Outside of campus, she works a full-time job delivering pizzas and finds time to volunteer at her church. She is one of seven children and often cooks, cleans and babysits during the week.

Natasha Moore (Covington Academy, Elkins Park, Pa.)

Natasha Moore is a sophomore at Manor College studying for her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Natasha is a Presidential Ambassador and a member of the Student Senate and Campus Activities board. She’s volunteered in events for the Rotary of Jenkintown and led a coat drive on campus for the homeless in Philadelphia.

Hailey Ramirez (Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Philadelphia)

Hailey Ramirez is a senior at Manor College studying Criminal Justice. She is a member of many groups, including Student Senate and Rotaract. She is the Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a Presidential Ambassador. In her free time, she gives back by donating clothes to women’s shelters and works full-time for a security company while going to school. 

Brooke Strassle (Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Conshohocken, Pa.)

Brooke Strassle is a senior at Manor College studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development. At Manor College, she is a resident assistant in the Residence Hall, a member of the Women’s Volleyball team, a Presidential Ambassador and works as a preschool teacher in Jenkintown. She organized several volunteer opportunities including writing holiday cards for sailors on ships and sending holiday cards to a local senior living facility.

For more about the Mother Josaphat Medal, you can click here.

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Photos: Manor College