Way to go: Sabrina Singh, Garden City

Sabrina Singh won first place in a local essay contest for her thoughts about sustainability on Long Island.

The Garden City High School junior took the top spot among 100 entries in Celebration of Suburban Diversity, an annual essay contest sponsored by Hofstra University's National Center for Suburban Studies and Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

This year's topic asked students to explore environmental sustainability as it pertains to Long Island.

"Unfortunately, over seven million Long Islanders' actions threaten the prevailing quality of life for future generations," Singh, 16, wrote in the three-page essay. "The only way to dig ourselves out of this hole is through sustainability in all sectors of society. This requires an overhaul and reconfiguration of land guidelines, water quality and transportation."

She added: "Sustainability is essential to preserving Long Island because with each accomplishment down this road, a piece in the plan to protecting mankind is discovered."

Singh received a $3,000 college scholarship that will be matched by Hofstra if she attends the university.

She is a member of her school's newspaper, Science Olympiad and chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America.