Sixteen seniors at Amityville Memorial High School will continue their athletic pursuits at the next level as they will take their talents to colleges across Long Island, New York and the United States. They were honored at Senior Athlete College Celebration Day on June 2.

The Suffolk County champion boys track and field team will have six of its members compete for college squads including Emmanuel Oguntoye and Alijah Benymon at Virginia State University, Terrance Hinds at Bowie State University, Jowell Dixon at the University at Albany, Brandon Gilpin at Morehouse College and Kalvin O’Neal at Johnson C. Smith University. Kayla Miller, from the girls track and field team, also will head to Johnson C. Smith University.

La’Niya Clark, who scored her 1,000th career point earlier this year, will suit up for the SUNY Old Westbury basketball team. Destiny Knox will play volleyball at Nassau Community College and Diana Bernard will join the softball team at Suffolk Community College.

Three members of the Long Island champion boys soccer team will continue playing including Timothy Hermann for New England College, Aaron Mathurin for Morrisville State College and Elvis Amaya for St. Joseph’s College. Denis Douglas will play football for Wagner College, Nicholas Clark joins the football team at Monroe College and Marquell Sterling will play basketball for St. Thomas Aquinas College.

During the event, the first to be live-streamed on the school district’s website, each athlete spoke about their future plans, thanked those who have supported them over the year, and put on the hat of their new school. Joining in the celebration were administrators, coaches and family members. 

“We’re very proud of these young men and women for all of their accomplishments at Amityville Memorial High School,” said Athletic Director Evan Farkas. “We look forward to seeing them excel in college, both in the classroom and on the playing field.”

View all of the senior awards at Amityville Memorial High School.

More than 100 seniors at Amityville Memorial High School were recognized for their academic accomplishments and service to their school and community at the annual Senior Awards Ceremony on June 1.

Students received certificates for their achievement in various classes and their leadership in school clubs. Several local organizations, businesses and families sponsored scholarships. Guidance counselors Maria Leon-Pineros, Stacy Murphy and Jacqueline Noon read off each student’s awards and post-high school plans. 

“June is a wonderful month for celebrations, especially for our graduating class of 2017,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly in congratulating not only the seniors but also all those who have supported them. 

Joining in the celebration were family members, Board of Education trustees and administrators. The ceremony included remarks from Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel, a video tribute to the top 25 graduates and a photo montage. A reception followed in the courtyard. 

The district congratulates Amityville Memorial High School senior Esteban Idrovo Ponce, who was honored at the Suffolk County School Superintendent’s Association 23rd annual valedictorians luncheon on June 1 at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge. The event honored the top graduates from Suffolk County’s Class of 2017. Esteban, who earned the top spot in his class with a weighted grade point average of 112.13, was joined by Board of Education President Terry Fulton, Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel, guidance counselor Jacqueline Noon and his family.

Several students from the district were recognized for their contributions to local art shows.

At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, fourth-graders Jesus Barrios, Timothy Pratt and Emma Reme, and sixth-graders Messiah Marshall, Amaya Nelson and Makayla Warrick had their pieces selected for the Suffolk County Arts Leaders Association children’s art show. The SCALA show was held at Old Town Hall in Babylon.

Messiah and fifth-grader Aysia Francis represented their school in the Colors of Long Island Art Exhibition at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. All students completed their work under the direction of art teacher Susan Zaratin.

Astrid Dixon, a ninth-grader at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and her art teacher, Nicole Scoca, will have their self-portraits displayed in the sixth annual SCALA Invitational Art Show at Farmingdale State College. Suffolk County art students have their exceptional artwork on display next to the artwork of their teachers in a side-by-side format. The reception will take place on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Gallery of Hale Hall and the show runs through June 8.

Eight students represented the district in the 14th annual 12x12 High School Art Exhibition at LIU Post including ninth-graders Odalys Murcia and Ebony Toney, 10th graders Milagro Arevalo, Sharmin Arshad, Angela Kalin and Katherin Rojas and seniors Christina Brown and Kayla James. There art teachers are Nicole Scoca, Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Rickard and Nicole Pappas.

Aleyna Kokoglu, a student at Amityville Memorial High School, received the Visitor’s Choice Award in the Long Island’s Best Art Exhibition/Competition this year for her artwork, “Elegance.” He piece was exhibited at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.