WALL, NJ — A Wall Township High School student is among twelve NJ high school students awarded scholarships from the Sharing Network Foundation for their passion and dedication to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Thomas Ekberg received his scholarship from the Daniel S. Buckiewicz Scholarship Fund, which was created in memory of organ and tissue donor Dan Buckiewicz to encourage students to have conversations about donation with their families and friends.
Ekberg’s dedication to organ and tissue donation advocacy is deeply personal, as his family’s experience with polycystic kidney disease (which affects several relatives, including his aunt) led to a life-changing moment in November 2023, when his mother donated a kidney to his aunt, saving her life.
Witnessing this act of generosity and the complex emotions involved inspired Ekberg to become a passionate advocate.
He serves as Vice President of his school’s Donate Life Club, organizing community outreach and education to dispel misconceptions about donation.
He will soon go on to attend The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where he plans to study exercise science and pursue a career as a physical therapist, aiming to support transplant recipients in their recovery.
Ekberg’s advocacy is fueled by a commitment to ensuring that more people understand the gift of organ and tissue donation, as well as the lives it can save.
“We are grateful for the generous support of our partner funds and their ongoing commitment to rewarding students who share a commitment to our lifesaving mission,” said Sharing Network Foundation Executive Director Amanda Tibok. “We know that all of our scholarship awardees will continue as strong leaders educating others about donation and transplantation throughout their college years and beyond.”
The Sharing Network Foundation’s high school scholarship program provides an opportunity to recognize and award graduating high school seniors whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
Applicants were measured on academic achievement, community and volunteer efforts, extracurricular activities and advocacy for organ and tissue donation. Since the scholarship program’s inception in 2011, over $140,000 has been awarded to 74 dedicated student advocates.
The 2025 graduates were presented with their scholarship awards at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence.
To learn more about the Sharing Network Foundation, you can visit their website.
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