James Barker Receives Youth Award

Harrison resident and high school senior James Barker, 17, recently was honored by St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, a division of St. Joseph’s Medical Center. An Advanced Placement student at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, Barker was one of only 22 students in Westchester to be named a St. Vincent’s Auxiliary honoree. Barker was recognized for his work with Song Catchers of New Rochelle, where he has given piano lessons to younger students for the past two years.  Song Catchers is a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable access to high quality music education, training and enrichment to area children and their families.  

Barker also sits on the Breast Cancer Alliance Teen Board and has participated in the Mission Peru service immersion with Iona Prep, as well as other charitable endeavors fostered by the Iona Prep Campus Ministry program.

Each year, the St. Vincent’s Auxiliary presents awards to high school students whose volunteer service exemplifies the hospital’s core values of respect, integrity, compassion and excellence.  Barker was honored along with his Iona Prep classmate, Preston Calderin, 18, of Peekskill.  

Congressman Mondaire Jones presented the winning students with a Certificate of Achievement.