Lenape High School Successfully Defends Title In Deborah’s Heart Challenge and Art Competition
For the third consecutive year, students from Lenape High School came out on top at the annual Deborah Heart Challenge and Art Competition, held on Sunday, February 24 th at Pemberton Township High School in Pemberton, New Jersey.

The event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, drew students from eight area high schools to test their knowledge of the heart, lungs, and vascular system, Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s three specialty services. Moderated by CN8’s “Comcast Newsmakers” Host and Producer Joe Bisicchia, a distinguished panel of judges comprised of Deborah’s own medical experts first quizzed students in an individual round, and then each high school team participated in a team round followed by a 10-minute rapid fire round.

At stake were more than $3,400 in prize money and top honors in a ten-year long competition that holds as much prestige for academically-oriented students as the Super Bowl does for football enthusiasts. 

In taking the title, Lenape’s Heart Challenge Team – made up of members Andrew Jakubowski, Ashley Sam, Isabella Wechsler, and Dylan McDivitt and led by Team Advisor Mrs. Kate DeSantis – had to stave off teams from Cherokee, Seneca, Shawnee, Pemberton, Holy Cross, Rancocas Valley, and Moorestown Friends High Schools.

Deborah’s marketing department, with co-host Pemberton Township High School, sponsor the annual event during National Heart Month to increase an awareness of heart and lung health among teenagers. In addition to the academic quiz portion, the event also consists of an art competition, for which students from participating schools create multi-dimensional and multimedia artwork. Entries are prejudged and then showcased throughout the event. Brittney Brydges of Pemberton and Shannon McClernon of Shawnee each took Best of Show in their respective art categories.