Lt. Governor Asks Mahwah Teens to 'Take the Chance and Lead'

New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno told a group of 204 Mahwah students graduating from the MMA Youth Leadership Academy Friday afternoon that they were not at a graduation ceremony, but an “obligation ceremony.”

The keynote speaker was referring to the role she feels each YLA grads must now play in the future – they need to be the leaders of the next generation, she said.

Guadagno advised the YLA recruits to embrace any educational opportunities they come across, noting that their participation in the weeklong summer academy run by the Mahwah Police Department and Mahwah Municipal Alliance was the first step to getting a “great education.”

Guadagno related her educational experiences to her previous government position, Monmouth County Sheriff.

“My education gave me the opportunity to run for sheriff in 2007, and it gave me the confidence to know I could when people were saying women couldn’t be sheriffs,” she said.

Guadagno also challenged the recruits; “When you are called upon to lead, take that chance and lead.”

The Lt. Governor was one of many officials and politicians that attended Friday’s ceremony, including state Senator Gerry Cardinale, Assemblywoman Holly Schipesi, County Executive Kathleen Donovan, Mayor Bill Laforet, and Council Members John Roth, Harry Williams, and Chuck Jandris. Local businesses owners, MMA sponsors, police officers, MMA volunteers, and a gym full of parents and friends also attended the ceremony on the Ramapo College campus Friday.

The graduation highlighted the accomplishments of all of the recruits, and awarded spirit and leadership awards to individual participants.

Mahwah Sgt. Rob Curtis, who runs the YLA, told the recruits he was, “proud,” of what they accomplished over the past week.

“You were magnificent this week,” he told them.