Way to Go: Cory Epstein, Bellmore

A Bellmore student tied together his school community -- and may have set a new world record -- using the unlikeliest of items: neckties.

Cory Epstein, a John F. Kennedy High School senior, collected 10,868 ties and led volunteers who tied them together to promote community unity. The chain of ties circled the school's soccer field 45 times and beat the current world record of 8,695 ties, he said.

Epstein is completing an application and preparing the necessary photo and video evidence for Guinness World Records.

"I kept hearing we need to do something to tie everyone together," said Epstein, who led the drive as part of his duties as a student ambassador for the school. "With that word 'tie' in mind, I thought maybe we could do something with ties."

Epstein received donations from students and staff throughout the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, as well as the four elementary districts that feed into Bellmore-Merrick. He also received ties from local organizations such as Men's Wearhouse and Goodwill Industries.

The ties will be given to groups such as Career Gear, a nonprofit that offers interview clothing and job counseling to men in need.

Epstein is a member of the Key Club and is treasurer for both his school's Class of 2016 and the English Honor Society.

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.