On June 5, Northport High School’s humanitarian group, “Students for 60,000,” began what will be an ongoing project of delivering pizza pies to nearly 30 families in East-Northport. The team has partnered with Timothy’s Pizzeria in Centerport, Fattusco’s Ristorante Pizzeria in Northport, Nina’s Pizzeria in Northport, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza in East Northport, Mario’s in East Northport, Filetto’s Ristorante in East Northport and Chefs of New York in East Northport.

“COVID-19 continues to place difficult strains on the community, but the generosity and altruism of our neighbors remains a powerful constant,” Students for 60K adviser Darryl St. George said. “These experiences can be an opportunity for the students and community to directly engage in profoundly meaningful service. As difficult as these times are, let moments like this remind us of what is best in humanity.”

Photo captions: Northport High School’s humanitarian group, “Students for 60K” recently partnered with local pizzeria’s as part of an ongoing project to help feed families impacted by COVID-19.

Photos courtesy of Northport-East Northport Union Free School District 

Photo caption: Ward Melville High School’s award-winning lacrosse team and their families helped to give thanks to some of the essential workers helping to keep the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, the team’s families come together to raise money to provide 239 meals to the frontline workers at Stony Brook Hospital. The team extends its thanks to Sweet Mama’s and The Bench for providing these delicious meals to the workers.

Photo courtesy of the Three Village Central School District 

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