Outstanding New Jersey students rewarded with holiday shopping spree

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A group of outstanding students in New Jersey were rewarded with a shopping spree.

The second annual Heroes and Helpers event was held Thursday at Target on Route 1 in South Brunswick, honoring the accomplishments of exceptional students.

Ten recipients were selected from a pool of 9,000 students in the district.

The students received a gift card and their own personal police officer to accompany them through the store on their shopping spree.

Those chosen have been involved in many different types of school and community activities:

Helping autistic kids in the classroom and on the playground

Helping kindergarteners learn to read or volunteering to tutor other students

Raising money for kids with cancer at Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia

Working in a soup kitchen and helping with food drives

Promoting breast cancer awareness

Raising money for the treatment of Ebola patients in Africa

Promoting the Circle of Sisters

Promoting Autism awareness

The students shopped with funds provide by the Target, the local police union, and the school district. The students were chosen by their individual schools for being positive role models who give back and care for the community.