Students receive DeNicola Bright Light Award at CES
In the photo on the left, Colonial Elementary School student Delaney Sturm stands with Morgan DeNicola, Cosmo DeNicola, and Natalie Scarantino Sadler of the DeNicola Family Foundation. In the right, James "Bubba" Katona stands with the Foundation members. Colonial Middle School sixth-grader Jessica Jara, was unable to attend the recognition at Colonial Elementary School, but can be seen below.
Colonial Middle School sixth-grader Jessica Jara partnered with Delaney Sturm to collect pajamas. She was unable to attend the Dec. 22 ceremony at CES for recognition.
Colonial Elementary School students Delaney Sturm and James “Bubba” Katona were honored before their peers on
Dec. 22 as recipients of the DeNicola Bright Light Award.
The award is given out by the DeNicola Family Foundation and recognizes young people who serve as role models and inspire others through their kindness, dedication and willingness to give back.
Delaney and James have both worked independently to organize pajama drives for hospital patients. The fifth-graders have given back to others as a result of being on the receiving end of kindness as patients themselves. Here are their stories:
- Delaney has partnered with Jessica Jara (a Colonial Middle School student) to give back to Nemours Children’s Hospital since she was a toddler. Delaney, who has juvenile arthritis, and Jessica, who is a pediatric cancer survivor, both receive healthcare from Nemours. They started holding toy drives for the hospital several years ago and then switched over to collecting pajamas. You can still donate to their collection through Dec. 31, 2025 through their Amazon wish list. (Jessica was unable to attend the Dec. 22 presentation at CES but is one of the recipients of the DeNicola Bright Light Award as well).
- James has been collecting pajamas for St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children following his own experience receiving pajamas as a patient there. He suffered a burn accident at an early age and has been paying it forward ever since. His collection goal this year was to top 1,000 pairs of pajamas. James’ pajama drive wrapped up on Dec. 19, 2025.
Both students were surprised on Dec. 22 when they were called up in front of their peers to receive awards from the DeNicola Family Foundation. Cosmo DeNicola, Chairman of the Foundation, along with Natalie Scarantino Sadler, Program Director, and Morgan DeNicola, Executive Director, presented the students with plaques and honored them for their community service efforts. The students will also receive $500 donations to their pajama drives.