Number of Participants: 1
Hours Donated: 100
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Boys Lacrosse
Date: June 23, 2023
Location:
Longwood High School
County Route 24, Middle Island
NY
About:
William Francois’ skills as a long-stick midfielder won’t be all he’s remembered for at Longwood High School. A program-changing leader in lacrosse, Francois captained the Lions for three years and scored the double-overtime winner against Bay Shore this spring in Longwood’s first playoff appearance since 1995.
Francois finished with 12 goals and six assists this year.
He’s also a three-year varsity wrestler who captained his team this year and placed third at 215 pounds at the state tournament.
“I think the main thing about leading is you have to recognize how to exert your leadership skills on certain groups of people,” Francois said. “Some, you might need to pick them up a little more, some you might need to take a step back and let them do their own thing. In the end, it’s all about letting other players and your teammates develop themselves on the field. Or if it’s off the field, then making them better people.”
Francois was an active member of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps and participated in community service projects through St. Frances Cabrini Church in Coram. He also volunteered at Longwood Youth Sports Association lacrosse clinics on weekends.
“It’s super rewarding when you can share your talent, and all of the kids look up to you,” Francois said.
Francois’ 101.4 weighted GPA ranks fifth in his class of more than 700. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society at Longwood where he studies Spanish.
He completed seven AP classes, including courses in government and politics and macroeconomics this school year. He will play lacrosse and study political science at the United States Naval Academy, and is leaning toward joining the Marine Corps through the Naval Academy, where he’d commission as a second lieutenant upon graduation.
He believes his time at Longwood has prepared him to lead at that next step.
“Just from the leadership roles that I’ve had at Longwood, you meet so many people in so many different circumstances due to how diverse it is,” Francois said. “Participating in both the wrestling and the lacrosse teams and having that leadership role as a captain on both, it really allows you to connect with people of all different backgrounds, and you can really learn how to help those in need.”
– Dean Zulkofske
