East Meadow homecoming court takes time to help peers

The best part about being nominated to the East Meadow High School homecoming court, according to Olivia Megale, is “representing a school we’ve all been so involved in.”

The senior and president of the fashion club was one member of a diverse homecoming court Saturday, which included varsity athletes, members of the National Honor Society, All-County chorus members and the senior class president.

But they all participate in one activity.

“We’re all peer leaders,” said homecoming queen Isabella Oliverio. “So we’ve all mentored the younger grades. We all have that one thing in common.”

East Meadow High School peer leaders are a select group of seniors who visit classes and host monthly discussions and activities that help younger students with academics, extracurricular participation, personal challenges and decision-making. Peer leaders volunteer for the role in their junior year and undergo an interview process.

Once selected, they are trained by the school to lead discussions on a variety of issues facing high school students.

Oliverio’s fellow nominees share her passion for peer mentoring and encouraging younger students to become as involved in the school’s extracurricular community as they have been.

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Their own involvement in the school’s wide variety of afterschool activities embodies the goal of the peer leader program -- educating by example, not just instruction.

The court’s involvement in school activities and dedication to both the school and its underclassmen “really brought us together as a group,” said homecoming court member and varsity soccer player Nicole Leary.

Oliverio, who adds homecoming queen to her long list of accomplishments that include Tri-M Music Honor Society, varsity swimming and Model Congress, places particular value on her role as a peer leader.

“I think it really shows our integrity and our pride to support this school and to just be involved,” she said.