Miller Place homecoming queen soaks teacher to celebrate

Miller Place High School senior Faye Metcalf had an afternoon to remember.

Metcalf, 17, was named homecoming queen during the school's pep rally. Then she got to dump cold water on history teacher Scott Weber.

Weber took the soaking experience in stride. “I am wet but it’s for a good cause,” he said.

Thirteen Miller Place teachers participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on the high school football field for two very important people — Christopher Pendergast and Frank Verdone.

Verdone, the father of Miller Place junior Tristan Verdone, and Miller Place resident Pendergast both have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disease that affects voluntary muscle movement. ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

The school raised $2,000 to benefit ALS Ride For Life.

Sophomore Emily Contrelli remembers Pendergast attending the school to educate students about ALS.

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: High school homecomings across LI

“He was in a wheelchair. I learned to not take my life for granted,” Contrelli said.

During the fun-filled pep rally, the crowd cheered and clapped as students ran in the relay race, hopped in the sack race and competed in the tug of war.

“The pep rally is exciting because it builds confidence for one another,” said senior Robert Revera, 17. “We are cheering for each other and having fun together.”