2025 HCA Scholarship Award Recipients

I remember those warm spring days with a sticky orange slice in my mouth at halftime, after running up and down the soccer fields at Crow’s Woods, laughing with all my friends. The silences were filled with parents and neighbors cheering us on from the town, where everyone knows everyone and truly cares about each other. Those moments of community and connection is what makes make haddonfield so special to me.

It wasn’t just the game that made those days memorable. It was the sense of belonging, the laughter, the way people came together to support each other. Those places were more than just open space; they were with friendships and memories were formed whether it was on a sports field at an ice cream, social, at the full fair, we’re just walking around Kings Highway there was always a feeling of pride and togetherness in the air

But these open spaces, like Crow’s Woods, have long served as more than just athletic venues. From peewee sports to high school games, they are the gathering place where we compete, connect, build friendships, and create memories that last a lifetime. These fields are where generations of Haddonfield residence have laughed, played, and grown together.

However, as development continues to grow these open spaces are becoming hotter and harder to find. Without the proper attention we risk losing these fields. That service is vital gathering spots for our community, where our youth develop their athletic abilities and where our families come together to celebrate the spirit of competition and camaraderie. The spaces need to be refurbished and maintained and so ensure that they remain safe, accessible and welcoming for future generations.

Open spaces in Haddonfield have always been at the heart of our community. If I were running for commissioner and potentially mayor, my focus would be on preserving and expanding our green fields and spaces, ensuring Haddonfield continues to be a place where future generations come together, grow in community and create lasting memories just like those warm summer days I remember.