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2 English tutors top poll of ‘excellent’ individuals
2016/1/14 0:27:57

  THE 10 winners of this year’s Shanghai International Excellence Awards have been decided following a monthlong online vote.

  American John Cucinello, director of community and service at the Western International School of Shanghai, topped the charts with almost 1.3 million votes. He was praised for his work running a Saturday school that teaches English to disadvantaged children from across the city.

  Taking second spot was another English-language tutor, Canadian Joshua David Freund, who was recognized after jumping into the Huangpu River in November to save a local man who was attempting to commit suicide.

  The awards, which are jointly organized by Shanghai Daily and International Channel Shanghai, are presented annually to the 10 most influential individuals from the city’s international community.

  A total of 32 people were nominated this year, including business leaders, community event organizers, charity campaigners and opinion leaders. Their profiles were uploaded to the Shanghai Daily website and members of the public were invited to vote for their favorites.

  More than 10 million ballots were cast before the winners were confirmed on Friday. A formal ceremony to honor them will be held on January 30.

  The eight other winners are: Valerie Brown, head of the US Consulate’s Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai; Sean Pang, co-founder of Shanghai Kechara Soup Kitchen; Detlef Britzke, boss of breast pump maker Medela; Birendra Kumar Sah, a surgeon at Ruijin Hospital; Jurgen Sterkau, GM of JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Changfeng Park; Daniela Anahi Bessia, TV show host; Luca Biagini, CEO of CNH Industrial China and William Koetting, architect director at Walt Disney Imagineering.