On August 5, we were proud to honor Ashley Gbemudu, a recent graduate of Springfield Township High School as a TD Bank Young Hero in our award ceremony at the National Liberty Museum.

Ashley Gbemudu considers herself a normal teenager, but many around her call her a “citizen of the world” because of her compassion for others.

All throughout junior high school and high school, Ashley has been a great leader to her peers. She was voted class president in 8^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade. In addition to being class president, Ashley spent time as a peer tutor and student mentor.

She held the office of vice president for one year and president for three years of Springfield’s Youth in the Loop for Life, an organization that promotes awareness and supports youth with lupus, juvenile arthritis and juvenile diabetes.  This experience in working with Youth in the Loop inspired her to get involved with the Arthritis Foundation and the Tri-State Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America where she sponsored events to raise money and had the opportunity to attend the Lupus Symposium in Washington, DC.

Her involvement with Youth in the Loop for Life and the Lupus Foundation of America demonstrates her great concern and compassion for people with life threatening illnesses - characteristics that will help guide her in achieving the goals she sets for herself.

Her school counselor, Mary E. Soboleski, described her as “simply, a young woman who sees her life as a life of responsibility and takes her responsibilities seriously.” Her aunt, Sandra Clark explained that “Ashley’s sense of self as a citizen of the world is what inspires me the most.”

Ashley is currently Drexel University with the goal of becoming an oncologist. We wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.  

Her local newspaper, the Springfield Sun featured her in a recent article.

Admin: B.Blumenthal