Shona Kumar spent five years building relationships with Livingston veterans, starting with a VFW essay contest in seventh grade. In June, that work carried her to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, where she accepted the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award as New Jersey's sole representative.

The award, presented annually by the museum, honors one student from each state and the District of Columbia for embodying leadership, teamwork, tolerance, creativity, and perseverance. Kumar, a rising senior at Livingston High School, traveled to New Orleans on an all-expenses-paid trip for the ceremony, held June 4–6, 2026, as part of the museum's American Spirit Awards.

"It was an incredible honor to represent New Jersey and receive this award on a national stage," Kumar told TAPinto Livingston. "Meeting other student leaders from across the country and learning more about the sacrifices of the World War II generation was both inspiring and humbling."

Kumar's path to the national stage began when she entered the VFW Voice of Democracy essay program as a middle schooler. She has won the competition four times since, working closely with members of VFW Post 2856 in Livingston. In 2025, she was named Miss Buddy Poppy and honored during Livingston's Memorial Day ceremonies. She has also spoken at the township's Veterans Day and Korean War Recognition Ceremonies.

Livingston Deputy Mayor Ketan Bhuptani nominated Kumar for the Billy Michal award. AP U.S. History teacher Ernest Cuneo introduced her class to the opportunity, according to Kumar.

At the ceremony, Kumar said 30 original Rosie the Riveters were in attendance. She spent time with wartime worker Dolly Marshall, whose firsthand account of factory life during World War II gave her a personal connection to the era she studies and advocates for. The event also honored composer John Williams and ALS advocate Steve Gleason.

Beyond veterans' causes, Kumar founded Young Hearts for Change, a youth-led nonprofit that has collected 10,000 books and supplies, hosted speech and debate programming for more than 100 students, and raised $2,000 through GoFundMe for Livingston's Hometown Heroes banner program honoring local veterans. The organization also secured equipment donations for the Livingston and Parsippany police departments and partnered with Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors to provide school supplies to families in need.

Kumar serves as co-president of the LHS League of Women Voters Club and worked as a poll worker during New Jersey's 2025 gubernatorial election and the 2026 special NJ-11 congressional election. She thanked VFW Post 2856 member Charles Quinn for continued mentorship in preserving veterans' stories.

Kumar heads into her senior year at Livingston High School when classes resume Aug. 31.