The Islip School District recognized student achievement at its Night of Champions celebration during the Board of Education meeting on May 3. District and school administrators, teachers, coaches, and family members applauded as elementary and secondary students who demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, music and leadership received certificates honoring their accomplishments.
Elementary recognitions, presented by Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School Principal Briana James, went to Liam Enriquz Ochoa (New York State PTA Reflections Award of Merit) and Ibrahim Shrivardhankar (NYSATA February Student of the Month for Nassau and Suffolk Counties).
Next, Superintendent Dr. Dennis P. O’Hara recognized Carinn Argenziano as winner of the New York State Attorney General’s Triple C Award and Pink by the Bay window painting contest winner Kaitlyn Trocchio.
Music honors, also presided over by Dr. O’Hara, were presented for All-County Vocal Jazz (Ella Beiser, Lucas Bohr, Richie Castronova, Leah Cyran, Maggie Frazer, Madeline Lang, Daniel Rubinson and Jordyn Zurbaran) as well as All-State alternates (Hannah Evans, Maggie Frazer and Isabella Green.
Islip High School Assistant Principal Lisa Ward recognized the school’s three American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State Citizens (Sarah Alvarez, Joyce Johnson and Samantha O’Connell) and alternate (Genna Schifter).
School Counselor Nicole Hall and Student Services Advisor Meghan Stern honored members of the high school’s Buccaneer University program, including Presidents Hunter Rindos and Samantha O’Connell, Vice President Noah Whitehouse, Secretaries Richard Rindos and Kacey Schassberger, Treasurers/Fundraising Chairs Maya Levy and Kayley Guzman Morales, and social coordinators Fiona Dvorkin and Kaeli McAnally.
Ms. Ward returned to present the Advance Placement awards, recognizing the high school students earning AP Seminar and Research Certificates (Richie Castronova, Kayla Hassell, Ava Kurka and Serena Trabacchi), AP Scholar designations (Jesse Caro, Juliana Marconi, James Wimmers, Cassandra Zaneski, Brianna Zavala and Abigail Zimmerman), AP Scholar and AP Seminar and Research Certificates (Sean Files, Angela Padilla Crespo and Hasnayn Raza), AP Scholar and AP Capstone Diploma (Keera Kittles), AP Scholar with Honor designations (Hannah Evans, Madeline Mulholland, Yousuf Shrivardhankar), AP Scholar with Honor and AP Seminar and Research Certificates (Sarah Alvarez, Selina Chan and Connor Edwards), AP Scholar with Honor and AP Capstone Diplomas (Bipro Dhar and Desiree Pagan), AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Seminar and Research Certificates (Carolyn Do, Joyce Johnson, Carlo Lanza, Justin Rhodes, Richard Rindos, Steven Schadt), and AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Capstone Diplomas (Liam Biscari, Anthony Lopez and Timothy Mak).
In the final academic recognition, Dr. O’Hara honored Anthony Lopez and Desiree Pagan for earning the NSDC Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning.
Sports recognitions, presented by Athletic Director John Sparacio and his coaches, went to students for golf (Gabriella Flora), bowling (Salvatore Bono, Robert Boyce, Gavin Connell, Gavin Eubanks, Arthur Hampson, Tristan Hassler, Jack Kornahrens, Nathaniel Moran, Dylan Nieves, Brendan Ortenzi, Aidan Petelin, Jacob Petelin, Jacob Schifter, John Swindells, Jake Urban, Tyler Vetrano, Donovan Zecchini), wrestling (Juan Pantaleon, Zachary Miller, Matthew Hole Lopez, Thomas Andria and Mora Peterson), girls volleyball (Maggie Hayes and Jacqueline Bryant, cross-country (Matthew Karabatzoglou and Liam Biscari), boys winter track (Marc Rosado and Kenny Pastrana), gymnastics (Brianna Lanza, Fiona DeFalco and Isabella Field), boys soccer (Sam Chieco), girls soccer (Brielle Zink and Madison Micheletti), tennis (Ava Andria, Annika Cripe, Ava Delisle, Maya Levy and Sarah Scheidel), girls basketball (Cassandra Zaneski and Kaeli McAnally), boys basketball (Lars Heimlich), football (Vincent Rosselli and Jameson Seeger), girls winter track (Elizabeth Bryant, Joyce Johnson and Desiree Pagan), and the recipients of the Suffolk Zone Leadership Awards (Jacqueline Bryant and Hunter Rindos).
“Night of Champions is a great way to recognize all of our athletes, for everything they’ve that done that makes the Islip School District what it is – a great place,” Board of Education President Philip Dineen said.
“To echo what Mr. Dineen said, we are celebrating the achievements of our students,” Dr. O’Hara said. “We are celebrating them academically, athletically, their performances and their talents in the arts, and we are recognizing their character, their integrity and their grit. Although I’m still relatively new to your community, every day that I see your children in the schools, it is a reminder of how blessed I am to be here, and tonight is no exception.
“Your children and our students, they are scholars, they are athletes, they are leaders, and most importantly, they are ladies and gentlemen,” Dr. O’Hara continued. “Thank you to all the parents for your support and for all the effort you put into raising wonderful young people.”
Date Added: 5/25/2022