Community service has long been a guiding principle at Pennington, and recently, a member of Pennington’s Class of 2026 received one of the most prestigious service honors possible for civilians: the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). This distinguished federal program is part of AmeriCorps and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Junior Shubh G. earned the PVSA Gold Award in recognition of the impact he has made to improve the lives of those in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. Volunteering his time over the course of 300 hours, Shubh contributed to efforts to expand the drinking water supply for refugees while also working to bring technology and games to the remote region. 

Not content to rest on his laurels, Shubh is eager to expand and grow these outreach efforts moving forward, especially as the project looks to gain more funding from NGOs. Working directly with the people in the camps to understand their specific needs has also been the most rewarding part for Shubh. Extolling an empathetic mindset, Shubh believes that,  “It’s important to create a product with the user, and not just for the user.”

Next month, Shubh will return to Malawi with other Pennington students who have taken part in this ongoing water filtration initiative. As a key player on Pennington’s Varsity Boys’ Tennis team, Shubh also plans to share his passion for the sport with the Dzaleka community he’s dedicated so much time to serving , even while half a world away.