Long Beach High School senior Sage Bernstein has earned the prestigious Tim Bassett Leadership Award through Athletes Helping Athletes. She is among nine Long Island student recipients of this inaugural distinction, named after late New York Nets professional basketball player and longtime member of AHA’s training staff Tim Bassett. The recognition honors student athlete leaders who display an extraordinary commitment to mentoring younger peers, demonstrate a keen understanding of the life skills inherent in sport participation and exhibit the characteristics of the “ultimate team player.”  

Sage has participated on four varsity teams, including the two-time Conference Champion soccer team, on which she has made an especially powerful impact. She served as a four-year starter and two-year captain, was named MVP as a sophomore and earned All-Conference, All-County and Conference Goalkeeper of the Year accolades. In addition to her soccer success, Sage has competed on the basketball, lacrosse and track and field teams and has earned Scholar Athlete Awards for all sports since her freshman year. 

Outside of school, Sage has played club soccer on the Albertson Fury National Premier League and Massapequa Lil Rowdies Elite Developmental Program Soccer League, the latter of which was named NY State Cup Finalist in 2019. 

Sage is actively involved in the high school’s Athletes Helping Athletes club and recently coordinated a project that prepares fifth graders for middle school. She has also volunteered her time at the Martin Luther King Center, helping children in the community with their schoolwork and serving as a mentor. 

With skills that extend beyond the field and classroom, Sage is fluent in Spanish, knows the basics of American Sign Language and plays the violin and Ukulele. She will be attending St. Francis College, where she will continue her soccer involvement.

Photo Courtesy of Long Beach Public Schools

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomores and sisters Alexandra Carlson and Kate Carlson took to the streets for a four-mile virtual walk in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. Joined by their mother, Port Jefferson Middle School special education teacher Christina Carlson, they did it to support the EJ Autism Foundation. More than 300 people participated in the event to bring recognition to the organization that works to create autism awareness and helps support schools and programs on Long Island that teach students on the spectrum. 

Photo caption: From left, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Alex Carlson (with Bella), Port Jefferson Middle School special education teacher Christina Carlson and sophomore Kate Carlson (with Lady) participated in a virtual walk for the EJ Autism Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Port Jefferson School District

Tyler Cuttitta, a junior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, has been utilizing his time during the quarantine to serve others.

Since the beginning of April, Cuttitta has been volume 3D printing medical mask adjusters for essential workers. The extenders offer a comfort to the ears and heads of mask-wearers. He has already donated more than 150 extenders. 

“My mom sent me an article about a teenager in Canada who was printing these for nurses in his area,” he explained. “I downloaded the script and began printing five at a time. We have given them to nurses, pharmacists, postal workers, etc.”

While he currently has a waiting list of 54, Cuttitta is also willing to make them for any other nurses or front-line workers who need them.  

Photo caption: Sanford H. Calhoun High School junior Tyler Cuttitta has been utilizing his time during the quarantine to serve others by volume printing mask extenders. 

Photo courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Kudos to Garden City High School junior and 2021 class president Tim O’Hanlon. While this is an unsettling time for all, Tim isn’t allowing the current situation to stop him from doing good for others. 

“Typically, junior year is dedicated to building résumés, visiting colleges and preparing for SATs, ACTs and New York State Regents exams,” said Garden City High School Class of  2021 faculty sponsor Allison Moss. “As we all know, this is not a typical year. Juniors, like the rest of us, have put everything on hold while still trying to complete their assignments remotely.”  

Tim thought of a way for his peers in the Class of 2021 to shift their focus and work together to show appreciation to the health care workers and others working the front lines during the crisis. He asked his classmates to write a letter, a “quick note to the people who are working so hard during this difficult time.” Tim also asked his classmates to consider writing to COVID-19 patients who are not allowed visitors. 

“This is an easy way for our class to come together to do some good, even though we are not together in school,” said Tim, who asked classmates to email him notes to print and compile for distribution. Moss has also helped Tim to get the word out.

Class members are answering the call. After less than a week of the campaign, letters have already been delivered to the Garden City Police Department, Key Food of Garden City and NYU Winthrop Hospital. Tim and Moss are hopeful more will follow.

“Thank you to everyone for sending in letters!” Tim said. “Please keep them coming. Some have been long, some only a few lines.  Your note does not have to be long. A few lines are great. Let’s keep this going!”

Photo caption 1: Winthrop University Hospital worker receives GCHS Class of 2021 letters.

Photo caption 2: Garden City police officer receives GCHS Class of 2021 letters.

Photo caption 3: KeyFood worker receives GCHS Class of 2021 letters.

Photos courtesy of the Garden City School District 

Members of Jonas E. Salk Middle School’s Builders Club in the Levittown Public Schools are giving back during these trying times. Sixth grader Violet Paplow sewed 100 masks and donated them to Stitched Together Long Island which provides masks to essential workers. In addition, Builders Club President Benjamin Campbell, Treasurer Meaghan Campbell, Caitlin Killian and Victoria Eckler collected and donated non-perishable food items to the Levittown Food Pantry to help families in need. 

Photo captions:

1) Jonas E. Salk Middle School Builders Club member Violet Paplow sewed masks for essential workers. 

2) Builders Club President Benjamin Campbell (right) and Treasurer Meaghan Campbell (left) with their sister Cara, helped collect food items to donate to the Levittown Food Pantry.  

Photos courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools