Friends turn out to pay tribute to beloved teen

BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

More than 2,000 people turned out at Manalapan High School on June 3 to take part in a 5K walk-run that honored the memory of Carlee Wines, a 2006 graduate of the school who died in January. Although a good turnout was expected at Sunday's 5K walk and run to honor the memory of Carlee Wines, the more than 2,000 people who registered for the event exceeded all of the organizers' expectations.

The June 3 event was held at Manalapan High School, Church Lane, to help establish the Carlee A. Wines Memorial Scholarship.

Wines, a Manalapan graduate in 2006, died in January of injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident at the University of Connecticut, where she was a freshman.

According to teacher David Hunt, who helped organize the event, more than 2,000 registrants came together in celebration of a life filled with promise that was cut short at the young age of 19. Hunt said $40,000 in proceeds was realized through donations and registration fees.

Dori Kershner, of Middletown, said she had a casual acquaintance with Wines and wanted to help support the Wines family and the trust fund that had been established.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff "I'm just here to support the scholarship so at least someone can benefit from her tragedy," Kershner said.

Manalapan Principal Anthony G. Procopio has said the scholarship will be awarded to "a student who embodies the leadership, character and energy that Carlee possessed."

Jenny Kasamis, a teacher at Howell High School and the school's peer leadership adviser, attended the event accompanied by Howell senior Ashley Geiselman, 17. Both said they came to support an event that was the work of the peer leadership group at Manalapan.

Nicole Christ, a member of Manalapan's peer leadership group, said 904 people had registered by June 1 and another 1,500 people registered on June 3. She said the turnout exceeded all expectations, but was not surprising given the young lady everyone was there to remember.

"Carlee was a great girl. One of the best people you were going to meet," she said.

Hunt is a Manalapan history teacher and one of the directors of the school's Peer Leadership program. He said he knew Wines from her participation in the peer leadership program.

Hunt said a 5K walk and run was chosen as a fundraiser because Wines had been a runner and a 5K race participant.

Manalapan Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth said she was "proud to find out" she was number 2,017 to register.

"It was heartwarming to see the number of people that turned out to honor her memory," Roth said.

Mike Confessore, 19, said he came to remember "a great girl, a good friend."

Adam Drianksi, 19, and Jared Rosenzeig, 18, said they, too, felt it necessary to participate in order to show that Wines was a person who had been loved and valued by all who knew her.

Charges have been lodged against several individuals in connection with the accident that resulted in Wines' death. Anthony Alvino, 18, of Lindenhurst, N.Y., has been charged with being the driver of the Nissan Armada witnesses say struck Wines and sped away.

Wines was struck as she was crossing a street on the UConn campus. She died of her injuries two days later.