Suffolk County Legislature Honors 35 Distinguished Young Achievers

Thirty-five Suffolk County teenagers were honored for achievements in community service, personal development, exploration and physical fitness as part of the Suffolk County Legislature’s Distinguished Youth Award program.

The students, representing 11 legislative districts, received their awards during a ceremony at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge.

Participants between the ages of 13 and 18 spent the year pursuing individual goals in four areas: Volunteer Service, Personal Development, Exploration and Physical Fitness.

Twenty-two students earned Gold Awards, eight received Silver Awards and five earned Bronze Awards. Gold Award recipients are required to meet goals in all four program categories.

Nearly all of the participants selected Exploration as one of their categories, which included opportunities to visit Suffolk County parks and experience the region’s natural areas.

“These are exactly the kinds of efforts that should be newsworthy and acknowledged,” Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony A. Piccirillo said, praising the students for taking an active role in improving themselves and their communities.

Piccirillo also recognized two Gold Award recipients from his legislative district, Liana Thotam of Holbrook and Nicholas Golding of Lake Ronkonkoma. “The young people completing this award program are truly some of the brightest among us, able to repeatedly set and surpass personal goals across multiple disciplines,” Piccirillo said.

The Distinguished Youth Award is a voluntary program designed to encourage young Suffolk residents to become more involved in their communities while developing skills and pursuing personal interests.

GOLD AWARD

Ellanora McNally — Wading River Maya Steindl — Southold Eleanor Ramsey — Hampton Bays Daria Hlushak — Miller Place Liana Thotam — Holbrook Nicholas Golding — Lake Ronkonkoma Samvath Karanam — Hauppauge Justin George — Central Islip Ella Muilenburg — Smithtown Logan Singleton — Nesconset Avery Sherman — Melville Maeve Connolly — Melville Alexander Garrido — Huntington Station Garrick Lo — Huntington Station Aniyah Mubasher — Huntington Logan Seltzer — Dix Hills Brayan Velasquez Losa — Huntington Station Isabella David — Huntington Emma Grabelsky — Dix Hills Maira Siddiqi — Bay Shore Jake Perillo — South Huntington Ethan Levenstien — Dix Hills

SILVER AWARD

Nohelly Desrosiers — Mastic Sean Donnelly — Rocky Point Lindsay Tenbrink — Smithtown Christopher Gomez — Huntington Station Emma Francis — Dix Hills Kenji Flores — Huntington Station Jayme Francis — Dix Hills Danielle Bausano — Huntington Station

BRONZE AWARD

Jillian Potenza — Smithtown Louis Schmettan, Jr. — Saint James Emma Castellanos — Huntington Station Demetra Manaris — Dix Hills Ava Cedeno — Melville