Twenty Long Island students and two school newspapers have been recognized for their journalism work.

The teens and publications were honored with Quill Awards during Adelphi University’s Press Day in February. This year’s event included 158 students from 18 high schools in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens.

The Garden City university’s awards include 12 categories ranging from best layout to most outstanding reporter for content that appeared in local high school print and online publications.

First-place winners, their high schools and categories: Andrew DeMaria, East Islip, best feature article; Maree Drayling, Hewlett, best layout; Madison Lee, Jericho, most outstanding reporter; Bhavin Balgobind and Mia Shu, Jericho, best news article; Eva Brown, Janice Kwon, Emmy Libertoff, Ethan Rubin and Vivienne Scharf, Jericho, best news video; Daniella Inserra, Lynbrook, best sports story or column; Sophia Woods, Lynbrook, best arts review; Shannon Malone and Amelia Velez, Patchogue-Medford, best use of social media; Kiara Arcillas, Sewanhaka in Floral Park, best visual; and Hussain Ali, Myles Canales, Zuhayr Islam, Aziza Adewale James and Miles Vender-Wilson, Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School in Queens, best opinion piece.

In addition, Roslyn High School’s The Hilltop Beacon was named most outstanding print newspaper, while Patchogue-Medford High School’s The Red and Black was named most outstanding online newspaper.

“This award was very special to me, as I am passionate about journalism and plan to continue reporting in the future,” said Jericho’s Madison Lee. “I’m very grateful that my hard work throughout the year could be recognized.”

BRIDGEHAMPTON

Interim superintendent

Brigid Collins has been appointed interim superintendent of the Bridgehampton Union Free School District. She replaced Mary Kelly, who retired.

Collins was superintendent of the upstate Andes Central School District for two years, and before that was an administrator in the Montauk Union Free School District for 16 years.

“The district is in a period of transition due to the retirement mid-year of the former suprintendent, and I hope that I will be able to provide stability and support in whatever way is needed,” Collins said.

GARDEN CITY

Oratorical winner

Stratford Avenue Elementary School third-grader Owen Galarza was one of three elementary students nationwide to win first place in the National Park Service’s Douglass Oratorical Contest. It is the second consecutive year he earned the distinction, according to the Garden City school district.

Participants memorized and delivered a speech once given by the late orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass either virtually or in person before a panel of judges.

Owen gave his speech last fall at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C.

For winning, he is eligible to recite his speech during a special program to be held at the site in July.

MANHASSET/
STONY BROOK

Olympiad winners

Teams from R.C. Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook and Manhasset Middle School won first place in the Eastern Long Island and Western Long Island Regional Science Olympiads, which included 79 middle school teams. They are now eligible for the state tournament in Syracuse April 24-25.

Other state qualifiers came from Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School in Port Washington; Great Neck South Middle School; H.B. Thompson Middle School in Syosset; James Wilson Young Middle School in Bayport; P.J. Gelinas Middle School in Setauket; Port Jefferson Middle School; South Woods Middle School in Syosset; West Hollow Middle School in Melville; and Wisdom Lane Middle School in Levittown.

Each team consisted of up to 15 students who demonstrated their lab, learning and building skills in 23 categories including meteorology and rocks and minerals.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.