Suffolk: Breast cancer awareness fundraisers

Long Island students know how to think pink.

Dozens of local schools last month hosted everything from bake sales to sports fundraisers to dress-down days in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In Lindenhurst, the high school girls varsity field hockey team raised nearly $300 selling pink cupcakes, brownies and lollipops. The girls varsity soccer team collected $700 through a "Kicks for Cancer" event at a game against East Islip High School, one of several fundraisers held at various Suffolk locations in honor of Hauppauge student Courtney Tomkins, who died of brain cancer in 2008.

"We had the best attendance of the season. The 'Lindy pride' was truly something special," Lindenhurst soccer coach Charles Brostowski said, referring to fan support.

In Amityville, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School hosted a "Fall Hat Day"; students in grades 4-6 wore hats to school in exchange for making a $1 donation to Heavenly Hats, a nonprofit that provides hats to those who have lost their hair to cancer or treatment.

Smithtown High School West's girls field hockey team played a game in memory of Sara Long Harte, who taught at the district's St. James Elementary School. She died of breast cancer in 2010.

In Mastic Beach, William Floyd High's National Honor Society raised $2,500 for the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk, held in Oakdale.

"We are so proud of the students and their commitment to such a worthy -- and for many, a very personal -- cause," said Lisa Taiani, co-adviser of William Floyd's National Honor Society.

OAKDALE

Bike safety clinic

Idle Hour Elementary School recently hosted a bike safety clinic, with members of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department instructing students on the importance of wearing helmets, where to ride on the road, and how to safely cross an intersection.

Children used their own bikes on an obstacle course outside the school.

PORT JEFFERSON

Anti-violence visitor

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students recently learned the consequences of bad decisions and how to persevere and follow a path of success during a visit from a retired warden from the New York City Department of Correction. Howard Robertson covered topics from drugs to violence. "Tough times don't last forever," he said. "Tough people do."

COUNTYWIDE

Young Scholars of Math

Eighty Long Island students have been named Young Scholars of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at the College at Old Westbury. They rank among the very top of math students in their grade on Long Island, college officials said.

Suffolk County scholars were: Vishal Rawat of Accompsett Middle School in Smithtown; Danielle Fulep, Gilbert Spencer and David Tang of Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills; Dan O'Connor of East Northport Middle School; Ashley Mullan of Elwood Middle School; David Morales of Half Hollow Hills H.S. East in Dix Hills; Tatum Ogata of Half Hollow Hills H.S. West in Dix Hills; Noah Morris of Finley Middle School in Huntington; Jeff Li and Kameron Sedigh of Kings Park High; Madison Li, Suchir Misra and Anand Subudhi of Long Island School for the Gifted in Huntington Station; Josh Melchione of Northport High; Jacob DeRosa of Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School; Weslyn Cai of R.J.O. Intermediate School in Kings Park; Hannah Zheng of R.C. Murphy Junior High in Stony Brook; Hunter Dischley of Sagamore Middle School in Holtsville; Tom Faughnan and Harry Wessels of Sayville Middle School; Christian Berberich and Joe Berberich of Sequoya Middle School in Holtsville; Kelvin Ma of Shoreham-Wading River High; Jacky Xie of Thomas J. Lahey Elementary in Greenlawn; and Andrew Knowles of Woodhull Intermediate School in Huntington.

ISLANDWIDE

Hunger essay contest

Long Island students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in the 26th annual World Food Day essay contest.

This year, students are asked to answer the question "How can we inspire people to stop world hunger?"

Essays are divided into four categories: grades 1-3 (50 words), grades 4-6 (100 words), grades 7-8 (150 words), and grades 9-12 (200 words). First-place winners will receive a $100 savings bond.

The competition -- in recognition of World Food Day, which was Oct. 16 -- is coordinated by the Amityville-based nonprofit Stop World Hunger and the Mobilized Interfaith Coalition Against Hunger.

Entries should be postmarked by Nov. 8 and mailed to Stop World Hunger, 53 Elm Place, Amityville, NY 11701.