Four exemplary and patriotic Islip High School students – Lauren Calloway, Elizabeth DeSimone, Emmie Jensen and Sally Voska – chosen for last summer’s Empire Girls State leadership program were honored on Nov. 16 in a ceremony at the Islip American Legion Auxiliary Rusy-Bohm Post 411 in Islip. It was the first time in more than 30 years that four female juniors were chosen for Girls State from Islip in one year.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the weeklong 2020 program was held virtually online instead of at SUNY Brockport. This permitted alternates Jensen and Voska to attend along with Callaway, who was selected to attend as a citizen. Post 94 in Babylon accepted additional Islip alternate DeSimone to fill their citizen’s spot.

Special guests at the ceremony included Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Dennis Bennet, representing State Sen. Phil Boyle, as well as Suffolk County American Legion Commander James Beecher, Suffolk County Empire Girls State Chairwoman Patricia Bergin, Rusy-Bohm Post 411 Auxiliary President Paulette DeCrescenzo and Rusy-Bohm Post 411 Commander Dominick DeCrescenzo.