At the board of education meeting on Feb. 25, Sewanhaka Central High School District celebrated the recent achievements of several students and staff.
New Hyde Park Memorial High School senior Marco Valle, a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, assisted with the Superintendent’s Update at the start of the meeting. Student Ambassadors have been an integral part of the board of education meetings this school year, sharing successes and events throughout the district.
Superintendent Regina Agrusa began the awards and commendations by honoring NYSSMA All State musicians. At the NYSSMA All-State Conference in December, New Hyde Park Memorial High School students Abigail Chung performed on the clarinet in the Symphonic Band and Clayton Yu performed on the French horn in the Symphonic Orchestra. Additionally, Elmont Memorial High School student Dylan Angus and New Hyde Park Memorial High School student Janice Park were honored for their selection as alternates.
The accolades continued with the recognition of H. Frank Carey High School student Meerab Choudry, who has been selected among 25 New York State high school seniors as a U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominee. Chaudhry (who was not in attendance) was recommended to be nominated for this honor by Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages.
Five students districtwide were honored for their selection as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. About 15,000 of the semifinalists become finalists after completing a detailed application, providing information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors received. The National Merit finalists are Brice Chiu (not in attendance), Rachel Jacob and Clayton Yu from New Hyde Park Memorial High School; Julian Santana from H. Frank Carey High School; and Edward Shen from Floral Park Memorial High School.
District Director of Special Education Mallory Poledro then shared updates of the district’s Unified Sports Program and involvement with the Special Olympics of New York. A team from the LifeSkills program at New Hyde Park Memorial will be participating in the motor activity training program, and they will be training and competing in track and field. Additionally, Special Olympics of New York will be training staff to be their coaches, including physical education teachers, special education teachers and teaching assistants. Poledro shared an exciting achievement for New Hyde Park Memorial, as they have been named a National Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics. On Jan. 13, a special banner was unveiled at the school before the boys varsity basketball game. Additionally, Poledro recognized the dedicated Unified Sports coaching staff and Special Education Chairperson Christine Trupiano.
The celebrations continued with Floral Park Memorial High School’s art and literary magazine, Trumpet. The magazine’s 2024 edition, Trumpet: Mosaic of Journeys, earned the highest rank of “First Class” in the National Council of English Teachers REALM program. This is the first time the Trumpet magazine has received this honor.
To conclude the tremendous achievements, Elmont Memorial High School’s Athletic Director and Chairperson of Physical Education Kru Patel was recognized for receiving the 2025 Emerging Athletic Director Award from the New York State Athletic Administrators’ Association.
