On Friday, November 22, members of the Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) community came together for the annual Night of Champions awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. Each year, this event recognizes and celebrates amazing athletes, coaches, and volunteers who were nominated by their peers for their passion, achievement, and commitment within the Special Olympics movement and beyond.
Thank you to our loyal coaches, volunteers, sponsors, law enforcement, and supporters for your ongoing dedication and passion to support our athletes and Unified partners. You truly are the magic behind every practice, event, competition, and initiative we had this year! We honored and recognized many dedicated individuals for their commitment and devotion to our athletes and program in New Jersey. Congratulations to all the award winners. You are true champions!
Tom Kaminski (Chief Robert Belfiore LETR Unsung Hero Award) 
LETR Summer Games Grillers (Chief Robert Belfiore LETR Unsung Hero Award) 
Glenn Toepert (Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame) 
Bruce Mathews (Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall of Fame) 
Andrew Vanderpoel (Bessie Perlman Achievement Award) 
Catherine Reischman (S. Michael Higgins Special Olympics Scholarship Award) 
Michael Kmiec (Outstanding Athlete; Atlantic, Cape May & Cumberland) 
Elizabeth Adams (Outstanding Athlete; Bergen) 
Mikayla Johnson (Outstanding Athlete; Burlington) 
Billy Corsetti (Outstanding Athlete; Camden, Gloucester & Salem) 
Tianna Ferguson (Outstanding Athlete; Essex) 
Shediel Rivas (Outstanding Athlete; Hudson) 
Philip Sosidko (Outstanding Athlete; Hunterdon & Warren) 
Greg Benjamin (Outstanding Athlete; Mercer) 
Brian Curci (Outstanding Athlete; Middlesex & Union) 
David Ciaccio (Outstanding Athlete; Monmouth & Ocean) 
Teresa Kelly (Outstanding Athlete; Morris & Sussex) 
Charlie Casella (Outstanding Athlete; Passaic) 
Robert Hopkins (Outstanding Athlete; Somerset) 
Dotty Grieb (Spirit Award) 
Marc Logue (Spirit Award) 
Upper Township Challenger Sports (Outstanding Local Training Program) 
Post Family (Outstanding Volunteer Family) 
Deborah Clelland (Outstanding Volunteer Coach) 
Bocce Officials (Outstanding Volunteer Official) 
Scott Phillips (Outstanding Volunteer – State Level) 
Carlene Visalli (Outstanding Volunteer – County Level) 
Ocean City Recreation (Outstanding Volunteer Group) 
Macopin Middle School (Outstanding Unified School) 
Colleen Ciecura (Special Olympics Hall Of Fame) 
Gail Paradise (Special Olympics Hall Of Fame) 
Bob Ryan (Marc S. Edenzon Lifetime Achievement Award)
If you would like to nominate somebody for future awards: Fill out this form!