Number of Participants: 27
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $2,282
Event Type: Children & Youth
Activity: Club
School: Comsewogue High School
Date: May 29, 2025
Location:
Comsewogue High School
North Bicycle Path, Port Jefferson Station
NY
About:
Comsewogue High School’s Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) club continues to make a meaningful and lasting impact across the district. Led by Physical Education teacher Nicole Kidd, the AHA club brings together dedicated student-athletes who serve as mentors to younger students, promoting health, leadership, and character development.
Three times a year, these student-athletes visit Comsewogue’s elementary schools to deliver age-appropriate lessons on critical topics such as wellness, decision-making, and personal growth. Each lesson is carefully designed to spark discussion and encourage younger students to adopt healthy, informed habits early in life.
Before each school visit, Comsewogue’s AHA members undergo specialized training alongside student-athletes from neighboring districts including Miller Place, Mt. Sinai, and Rocky Point. These sessions are led by professional trainers from the AHA program—many of whom are former collegiate or professional athletes and coaches. The most recent training also featured a guest presentation by Dan Bedard, a professor from Adelphi University’s Sports Management program, who shared valuable insights on leadership and personal development.
“It was an honor to host several schools from across the region for an informative and empowering training session,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Quinn. “Our Athletes Helping Athletes initiative exemplifies Comsewogue’s commitment to building mentorship opportunities between our students, promoting wellness, and fostering a culture of leadership and integrity.”
The most recent lesson focused on helping elementary students understand the real-life challenges associated with alcohol, tobacco, vaping, and other drug use. Comsewogue’s student-athletes shared personal stories and delivered evidence-based strategies to support healthy choices, with an emphasis on refusal skills and making informed decisions—especially as these situations now arise at increasingly younger ages.
Currently, the AHA program includes 26 student-athletes, a number that may fluctuate slightly each year based on the number of fifth-grade classrooms across the district’s two elementary buildings. Participation in the club is selective—students must apply and complete an interview process to be accepted, and not all applicants are admitted.
In addition to the three annual school visits, AHA members play an active role in the larger school community. They help lead the district’s fifth-grade field days, participate in events such as Trick or Treat Street (Safe Halloween), and regularly volunteer at sports-related events, including the recent Color Fun Run.
“These students are not only leaders on the field, but in the classroom as well,” said Kidd. “They are high achievers who balance demanding academic and athletic schedules while making time to give back. It’s truly inspiring to watch them grow as role models for our younger students.”
Looking ahead, the AHA club aims to continue expanding its involvement in community events—though scheduling remains a challenge due to the busy lives of its exceptional student-athletes. Still, the heart of the program remains the same: building meaningful connections and promoting a culture of leadership, health, and service throughout Comsewogue.
