Three outstanding students from Levittown and Island Trees middle schools were recently recognized by the Levittown Community Council (LCC) for their outstanding volunteer work.
Clare Del Gross, an 8th grader from Jonas E. Salk Middle School, was selected as the first place winner in the council’s annual contest.
DelGrosso , of Wantagh, is involved in the creation of games and activities at the annual Halloween Party for children with special needs, has made and sold wreaths during the holidays to raise money for a neighbor in need in the community; has created and placed Christmas wreaths for a pet cemetery in Wantagh; has collected donations to benefit an orphanage in Africa and has aided in food collection and service for soup kitchens in Roosevelt and Hempstead. She is also a peer tutor, a member of the Young Vincentians of St. Frances de Chantel and a Girl Scout.
Also recognized were Christina Ragusa of Island Trees Memorial Middle School and Jennifer Daly of Wisdom Lane Middle School.
Ragusa is actively involved with ITMMS Student Leader Corps where she has taken a leadership role in a multitude of events, projects and fundraisers that the organization has spearheaded as well as projects she has initiated. She was exceptionally involved in collecting, organizing, labeling and delivering donated supplies for and to Hurricane Sandy victims.
Daly has devoted much of her free time to educating her peers and adults about autism, its effects on individuals, how to live positively with autism and serving as an ambassador and role model to others. She is a peer tutor and does home tutoring at no charge. She
developed a school-wide program of activities to educate the Wisdom Lane constituency about autism; planned activities and sold puzzle pieces and bracelets to raise money for Autism Speaks, where she has been asked to serve on the youth council.
Winners receive certificates from the council and cash awards from Astoria Federal Savings, Levittown VFW Post #9592 and the Elks Club. This year, Legislator Dennis Dunne Sr. presented the students with a certificate from the county legislature. School administrators, faculty, friends and family joined the students to celebrate at the council’s May meeting.
Nominations are sought from the district’s three middle schools based on contributions they make to the community which are above and beyond the usual. Criteria stipulate that they did not personally profit financially from their participation and that the specific work for which he or she is being recognized was not assigned as class work.
School district staff selects one finalist. Winners are chosen by the board of directors of the Levittown Community Council. This year’s chairperson for the Junior Volunteer of the Year Award was 2nd Vice-President Tom Kohlman.
