School Notebook: top volunteers honored

Two Long Island students recently earned major victories for volunteering.

Christopher Yao of Jericho High School and Raymond Mohler of Lynbrook South Middle School were selected earlier this month as New York's top two youth volunteers for 2012 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program that honors youngsters for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Each received a $1,000 award and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this spring to join other state honorees at a recognition ceremony.

Yao, who was diagnosed with a jaw-bite problem in sixth grade, was honored for developing an annual read-a-thon that has paid for 60 cleft-lip surgeries in developing countries. He also founded a nonprofit called Kids Change the World that has helped establish a center for orphans in Kenya and provides free educational materials to students around the globe.

"I know how it feels to go through tough situations and wanted to help others with conditions much worse than mine," said Yao, a sophomore.

Mohler created the Little St. Nick Foundation to provide holiday toys to hospitalized kids. The nonprofit also recruits athletes to sign autographs and be photographed with the children.

He came up with the idea after being hospitalized at age 4 because of a rare hip disease.

"I felt bad for the children I left behind who were not coming home for the holidays," said Mohler, an eighth-grader.

Four other local students -- Kayla Babbush of John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, Lynn-Indora Edmond of Commack High School, John Farese of Sayville High School and Annalise Mozer of J. Taylor Finley Middle School in Huntington -- were among the state's distinguished finalists.

The awards are issued by Prudential Financial along with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

PLAINVIEWHolocaust survivor visits

Howard B. Mattlin Middle School students learned about possible similarities between bullying and the violence of the Holocaust during a visit from Werner Reich of Smithtown, who is a Holocaust survivor.

During his visit, Reich shared his story of survival and displayed old ads and photos that contained examples of discrimination against different groups, including the Irish and African-Americans. He also described the Nazis as "gangs of cowards that enjoyed power."

"The Nazis enjoyed senseless destruction, and they enjoyed humiliating people," he said. "This can be compared to knocking books out of another student's hand and forcing him to pick them up off the floor."

WANTAGHBusiness plan contest

Wantagh Middle School students recently engaged in a marketing experience during a new business plan competition that doubled as a final for teens in Nancy O'Connor's business management technology classes.

As part of the project, students worked in small groups to create fictional businesses -- ranging from a cupcake store in Times Square to a local 1960s-themed restaurant. They developed marketing plans that included mock television and radio commercials and then presented the plans to local business leaders.

SELDEN

Healthy hearts

Hawkins Path Elementary School recently raised more than $10,000 for the American Heart Association through its annual "Jump Rope for Heart" fundraiser in which students solicited sponsorships from family and friends before participating in various cardiovascular activities.

Overall, about 160 students, 40 parents and a dozen staff members exercised together.

The top fundraiser was fifth-grader Kayla Heusel, who raised more than $1,600. The event has brought in some $25,000 over the past three years, school officials said.

COUNTYWIDEValentines for Veterans

Dozens of Nassau County schools celebrated Valentine's Day earlier this month by showing appreciation for war veterans through a county program called Valentines for Veterans.

The schools -- including East Broadway Elementary School in Levittown, East Lake Elementary School in Massapequa and Sea Cliff Elementary School -- asked children to create homemade cards as part of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. The cards were distributed to veterans in local hospitals and nursing homes by the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency.

"This is a tiny way that we can tell the veterans 'thank you' and to let them know that we care about them," said Jill McCoyd, an art teacher at East Broadway Elementary School.

COUNTYWIDE

Valentine's Day

Dozens of Suffolk County schools celebrated Valentine's Day earlier this month through various programs and activities for kids to demonstrate love and appreciation for others.

In Mastic Beach, Tangier Smith Elementary School participated in an art competition, titled "My Furry Valentine" and coordinated by Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, in which students submitted photographs of themselves posing with their pets at home. The children also "adopted" rescued dogs or cats at the shelter and collected provisions for each of the animals.

In Stony Brook, Minnesauke Elementary School students created Valentine's Day cards and tissue-paper roses for residents at Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook.

In Riverhead, Riley Avenue Elementary School hosted a Valentine's Day Tea Party.

ISLANDWIDE"Advanced Visions"

The artwork of 50 students from 36 Long Island high schools was shown in a recent five-week exhibit at LIU Post in Brookville. The showcase, titled "Advanced Visions VIII: High School Artists of Excellence in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn and Queens Counties," featured the work of students in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and portfolio preparation programs.

Those receiving awards included Kaitlyn Frantin of Half Hollow Hills High School East for most original work of art, Brian Parisi of Hicksville High School for best use of media, and William Mayer of Northport High School for most expressive work of art.