Number of Participants: 1
Hours Donated: 100
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Boys Soccer
Date: June 23, 2023
Location:
Pierson Middle-High School
Jermain Avenue, Sag Harbor
NY
About:
Meet the 6 finalists for the Marcus A. Henry Award
https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/marcus-a-henry-award-2023-finalists-llqxjpwh
NICHOLAS BADILLA
Pierson, Sr., soccer, swimming
Look at virtually any aspect of Nicholas Badilla’s time at Pierson and one sees someone who can be described as having a “a big heart.”
Whether on the soccer field or in the swimming pool, Badilla made himself into a key contributor in games and spent time helping younger athletes with everything from technique to mental preparation.
In the hallways of the Sag Harbor school, it is there, too. In chamber music and jazz band, where his chief instrument is bass, he performed on videos sent out to entertain people in the community during the pandemic and, as student council president, he organized various fundraisers.
And there is his community service work. For his church, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, Badilla joined efforts to feed and clothe the unhoused. He volunteered his tech skills to help a local business modernize its record keeping. He even served as a lifeguard for the Town of Southampton.
“A lot of it stemmed from my father (Joe Badilla), who is committed to the church and to giving back, and from [its priests] Fr. Alex and Fr. Constantine, who dedicated their lives to service,” Badilla said of his community service. “They encouraged it and I find it fulfilling to have an impact on someone who [benefits] what we do.”
Badilla is also a standout in the classroom, with a weighted GPA of 98.9 while taking a dozen International Baccalaureate-level classes, and a 1,450 score on the SAT. He will attend the University of Miami.
“I’m relatively new to the school and have spoken to many [on the faculty] about Nicky and have been so impressed by how they describe his character and leadership qualities — he is a great representative of our school,” Pierson athletic director Brian Tardif said. “He does so much beyond sports here. Students in his grade and those below him see him as an example, but so does our staff and administration.”
“I played piano my whole life but in middle school, I transferred to playing bass and there was a reward,” Badilla said. “I loved playing within a group of people. I love the community that it brought . . . It’s a great feeling to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
– Roger Rubin