For his unwavering commitment to ending genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan, Governor Corzine was honored this week by Haddonfield Memorial High School chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND).

The high school students presented the Governor with their Humanitarian Award for his strong leadership in working to end the genocide in Darfur.

“Raising awareness and prompting action regarding the atrocities committed in the Darfur region remains among my proudest accomplishments as a member of the United States Senate,” said Governor Corzine.

Four years ago, when many were still debating whether the killings in Darfur constituted genocide, then-U.S. Senator Corzine believed the evidence was overwhelming and called on the United Nations and the Bush Administration to lead an international effort to bring immediate humanitarian and military intervention to Darfur.

Governor Corzine has traveled to the refugee camps and was a key sponsor of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions on those responsible for the genocide.

As Governor his passion on this issue has not waned. In May of 2006, because of the Governor leadership, the state of New Jersey divested all of its holding from Sudan, a portfolio of more than $2 billion.

But in Haddonfield, the Governor decided to shine the spotlight on the students by issuing an official proclamation commending them "for recognizing that injustice committed against our fellow man is an injustice committed against each and every one of us.''

He also praised the students for raising $3,000 to purchase 100 solar cookers for Darfur refugees. The cookers will literally save lives because they enable refugees to cook food without having to travel far from refugee camps to collect firewood, where they risk being attacked by Janjaweed militiamen.

The conflict in Darfur, which began in 2003, has claimed up to 300,000 lives and displaced 2.7 million people. More than 80 percent of those in refugee camps are women.