Three teams from the �鶹��ý Automotive Technology program from the Northport Campus earned the top three spots in this year’s Greater New York Auto Dealers Association (GNYADA) competition, besting more than 25 other teams throughout the state.

Held virtually this year, the competition is a test of skill and knowledge, with a time component that awards scholarships and other prizes to top finishers. In the state-wide contest, secondary students were challenged to complete a 50-question Automotive Service Excellence IASE) test; correctly identify tools; work on an HVAC challenge; diagnose running problems and replace parts using the Virtual Car Diagnostic Simulator; and write a repair order listing the issues and the related repairs.

Assisting the students in their successful preparation for the contest were Automotive Technology instructors Ralph Savarese and Michael Angelino.

The winning teams are as follows:                                                                                                                             

First Place Team: Hunter Johanson of Smithtown and Ryan Proce of South Huntington, who each were awarded:               

• $2,000 Scholarship from GNYADA
• 100% Tuition Scholarship from Automotive Training Center
• $7,500 Scholarship from Lincoln Technical Institute
• $10,000 Scholarship from Ohio Technical College
• $15,000 Scholarship from Universal Technical Institute

Second Place Team: Jake Mayer of Commack and Manahil Ejaz of South Huntington, who each were awarded:

• $1,000 Scholarship from GNYADA
• 100% Tuition Scholarship from Automotive Training Center
• $5,000 Scholarship from Lincoln Technical Institute
• $7,500 Scholarship from Ohio Technical College
•  $10,000 Scholarship from Universal Technical Institute

Third Place Team: Christian Colavito of Commack and Dylan Walsh of Elwood, who each were awarded:

• $500 Scholarship from GNYADA
• 50% Tuition Scholarship from Automotive Training Center
• $2,500 Scholarship from Lincoln Technical Institute
• $5,000 Scholarship from Ohio Technical College
• $5,000 Scholarship from Universal Technical Institute

Although they did not place, Andrew Sangiovanni of Harborfields and Liam Wine of Northport each received a $1,500 Scholarship from Lincoln Technical Institute and a $1,000 Scholarship from Ohio Technical College.

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Also performing well were second place finishers Emily Bholan (Smithtown East) in Fashion Design and Rocio Rivas Lizama (Huntington) in Job Interview.

Earning third place prizes were Dominick Stanco (Commack) in Architectural Drafting and the Quiz Bowl Team of�� Andrew Brown (Amityville), Matthew Campisi (Commack), Dylan Hunt (West Babylon), Keith Iaccarino (Half Hollow Hills East) and Elizabeth O’Donnell (Commack).

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Five �鶹��ý students were honored by the Board of Education of Western Suffolk BOCES at its annual Recognition of Outstanding Students program, which was held in conjunction with the May 8 board meeting.

Students were selected for recognition by their teachers and administrators, who took turns at the podium to talk about the honorees’ accomplishments. Receiving honors were:

Julia Gabrell of West Babylon, a second-year student in the Advertising/Graphic Design Program at the �鶹��ý Dix Hills Campus. Julia serves as the AM President of SkillsUSA, the student leadership organization for �鶹��ý, and is also part of the Compassion Without Borders team. This year, Julia was selected to receive the Suffolk County High School Principals Association Leadership Award. ��Upon graduation, Julia will attend Farmingdale University.

Djamilie Jules of Wyandanch, a��student in the Criminal Justice Program at �鶹��ý Republic. Djamilie�� is a member of Junior ROTC, took part in the Town of Babylon UJIMA internship program and is a SkillsUSA member and officer. ��She is a scholar with a 90-plus average at �鶹��ý and her home school. She plans to study political science and computer science at Stony Brook University.

Kevin Kelly of Harborfields, a student in Construction Electricity at �鶹��ý Dix Hills. As a competitor in the SkillsUSA contests, Kevin placed first on Long Island and in New York State in the Industrial Motor Control Competition.�� Later this month June, Kevin will travel to Louisville, KY for the National SkillsUSA Competition. ��Kevin maintains excellent grades�� plans to apply for an apprenticeship in the electrical union.

Mateusz Mojsa of Commack, an�� Automotive Technology student at �鶹��ý Northport. Mateusz’s top-notch skills were showcased in the Greater NY Automobile Dealers Association Competition as well as the SkillsUSA regional and state competitions.�� Matt passed the ASE MLR Certification exam and was selected to participate in the Automotive YES work-study program enabling him to work with a master technician at Paul’s Rods and Restos.

Alexa Peters of Smithtown, a student in the Cosmetology program at �鶹��ý Northport.�� Alexa was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and is a SkillsUSA Officer.�� She earned first place in the regional SkillsUSA Job Interview Leadership competition. ��She maintains her grades and has near perfect attendance.

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A Message from the Chief Operating Officer of Western Suffolk BOCES

As you are aware, in the interest of protecting our students and staff and prior to any legislation mandating action, Western Suffolk BOCES initiated a program in June 2016 to test all potable (drinkable) water outlets for lead within our schools and facilities. We followed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines regarding how we conducted the testing and which water outlets we tested.�� In September 2016, we sent letters to all parents and staff members informing them of the water testing results for their respective buildings.

Of the 14 buildings within Western Suffolk BOCES where water testing was conducted, eight (8) buildings had negative findings for lead. In the remaining six (6) buildings where positive findings were returned, we immediately secured these water sources and they are no longer in use. The complete Western Suffolk BOCES findings are listed on the “Western Suffolk BOCES Potable Water Testing Results” chart. ��We are in the process of remediating these water outlets by replacing these units. These units will not be returned to use until the remediation is completed and follow-up testing confirms that the levels in the water are within EPA guidelines.

The North Babylon School District tested the potable water in Brennan Middle/High School, a building it owns.�� Two faucets in the Brennan Middle/High School building had positive findings for lead and those outlets are being remediated by the district. New York State is testing the water outlets at the Sagamore Children’s Center, where Western Suffolk BOCES conducts an educational program. With regard to Western Suffolk BOCES ALC Program classes, the host districts are conducting the required water testing.

This month, the New York State Department of Health expanded upon the EPA guidelines that were initially followed for the water testing we conducted and is now requiring that every faucet in every school building be tested for baseline lead levels.�� This includes water outlets previously not tested such as custodial utility sinks, outside faucets, etc. Although we have already conducted testing for 171 water outlets that were identified as potable (drinkable) water sources under the EPA guidelines, we are now beginning testing on all remaining water outlets to meet the new and expanded New York State Department of Health regulations.

As with the procedure to date, should any of the outlets result in positive findings for lead, we will immediately secure those outlets and perform the necessary remediation. We will share the findings of the new water testing with parents, staff and adult students through our main website, .

Thank you.

Michael Flynn
Chief Operating Officer

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�鶹��ý students took home top prizes in several categories at the Long Island Cosmetology Teachers’ Guild 52nd annual Student Hairstyling Competition May 9.

The guild is comprised of Long Island teachers who meet monthly to share ideas, skills and educational materials related to the cosmetology field.�� At the annual competition, students vie for prizes in six categories:�� Senior Styling, Junior Styling, Color, Mannequin Styling, Junior Fantasy, and Senior Fantasy, awarding medals to��first through sixth place finishers. (See photos .)

Nineteen��of the 36 medals awarded this year were earned by students in �鶹��ý’s high school and adult programs. Congratulations to the following winners and their teachers–JoMarie��Anderson, Kathy Burke, Joanna Holik, Karen Milian and Alyson Ponzetti:

Mannequin Category

1st: Corinne Charbonneau, Elwood HS
2nd: Whidlyn Kernizar, Amityville HS (photo left)
3rd: Michaela Hunt, Kings Park HS
5th: Salma Almonte, West Babylon HS
6th: Yani Schiappacasse, adult student

Color

1st: Rosalie Evan, Elwood HS (model: Madison Hirshon, Commack HS)
3rd: Cassandra Pierce, Kings Park HS (model: Alexandria Bruzzi, Harborfields HS)
5th: Emilie Padnick, Northport HS (model: Danielle Klein, Commack HS)

Junior Styling

2nd: Colleen Moran, Northport HS (model: Dana DiGiglio, Deer Park HS)

Senior Styling

1st: Gabriella Collaro, adult student (model: Emily Ciaccio, adult)
5th: Alanah Kleeman, Smithtown HS (model: Gionna Ibenez, Commack HS)
6th: Katelyn Stanjones, Northport HS

Junior Fantasy

1st: Cierra Roberson, West Babylon HS (model Bailee Lawlor, Lindenhurst HS photo right)
2nd: Janet Valverde, Deer Park HS (model: Francesca Polsinelli, Cold Spring Harbor HS
4th: Katie Harrison, Commack HS (model: Emily Matias, Lindenhurst HS)
6th: Amanda Seger, North Babylon HS (model: Kim Puglisi, North Babylon HS)

Senior Fantasy

3rd: Ashley Ingordino, Lindenhurst HS (model: Olivia Costellano, Lindenhurst HS)
4th: Haily Reese, West Babylon HS (model: Isabella Commarata, West Babylon HS)
6th: Jasmen Behling, North Babylon HS (model: Stephanie Passos, Half Hollow Hills East HS)

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A �鶹��ý student’s loving tribute to her younger sister won first place in the documentary category and Overall Outstanding Film award this spring at the 12th annual Film Festival sponsored by Locust Valley High School. Amanda Gordon, a Lindenhurst senior in �鶹��ý’s Digital Film/Video Production class, captured top honors for the second year in a row with “Lovin Lauren,” a documentary about the life of Lauren Gordon, her younger sister.

“I made the documentary to show that there is more to children than their diseases,” noted Amanda. Her sister was initially diagnosed with “Infantile Spasms” or brain seizures and then later diagnosed with Low Functioning Autism. Lauren is a 14-year old student at the James E. Allen Jr./Sr. High School in Melville.

After judging more than 100 entries from high school students across Long Island, Sandy Kenyon, entertainment reporter and movie critic for Channel 7 Eyewitness News, publicly lauded her documentary. He later tweeted to Amanda “Everything I said about your film is true. It was the grand prize winner by a WIDE margin: meaning, no other film came close!”

“Amanda is a storyteller at heart. She is a great student with a really good work ethic,” added Steven Stankowski, Tech’s instructor for Digital Film/Video Production. Last year Amanda won first place in the Music Video category and Overall Outstanding Film for her “Story of My Life.”

Debra Markowitz, the Nassau County Film Commissioner and VP of the Long Island International Film Expo, presented Amanda’s awards and announced that this year’s documentary will automatically be entered in the Long Island International Film Expo which runs July 13 – 21.

Three other Tech entries were named finalists. “The competition was very stiff,” said Stankowski. “Placing in the top five was tremendous given that there were 50-100 entries in each category.”
Finalists were:
Commercial: “Tostitos” by Juan Carlos Flores, Kyle Tilden, Jaylen Hunter, Samuel Morales, James Wirths and Savanna Morris
Drama: “Forgotten” by Kai Macci and Brett Eidelkind
Movie Trailer: “Only Time Will Tell” by Anthony Sabino, B Dan Bautista and Kyle Schwartz

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�鶹��ý students won 21 medals including first place in 10 events at the Long Island regional competitions for SkillsUSA.

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After BOCES evaluated several bid proposals, the website re-design project was awarded to , an award-winning website design and digital marketing company in Farmingdale. During the initial design planning, it was clear that the Maxburst team had a firm grasp of the students who attend �鶹��ý and how to make the website appealing to them. No wonder! Donny Escolastico, Maxburst’s lead art director and a partner in the business, completed �鶹��ý’s computer electronics course.

“A friend recommended Tech and those two years were the best years of my high school. I liked meeting students from different schools,” remembered the West Babylon native.��After Tech, Donny attended Nassau Community College and then earned his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Briarcliffe College.

Give us your feedback!

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Students in the 9th Grade Turnaround Program get hands-on experience in �鶹��ý’s kitchen. Learning about Tech’s Culinary Arts program is just one of the careers that these students explore as they make up coursework and prepare to return to their own high schools.

Note This program is no longer available. For more information about alternative education programs for high school students, call 631-425-9050.

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NYS legislators met recently with local��education leaders, school��board officers, and parent representatives at BOCES’ annual Legislative Priorities meeting. The guests enjoyed a buffet brunch prepared and served by students in �鶹��ý’s Culinary Arts program including Rachel Williams (c.) of South Huntington and Bruce Arneaud (r.) of Commack. Pictured with the students is Kim Ricco (l.), a paraprofessional in Tech’s Culinary Arts program.

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