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Nassau BOCES honors Central District student

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Matthew Giandalia was honored recently with the George Farber Outstanding Student Award. He earned the accolade for his talent, commitment, honesty, diligence, compassion and high moral standards, officials said. Giandalia received the award during a ceremony at the Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts in Syosset.

Giandalia, a Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District student at the Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services’ Willet Avenue Middle School, has worked hard to express his feelings, cope more effectively with anxiety, and think through how best to manage situations and resolve problems, officials said. He has become more expressive and assertive, and seeks help when he needs it. As a result, he is currently at the highest level in the school-wide behavior management program, earning “Golden Eagle” status.

Giandalia is the author of the e-book, “A Kid’s Guide to Expanding Thoughts and Experiences,” which has earned a five-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer stated, “The author really stands out as being more mature and insightful than the average teenager.” Giandalia also has numerous responsibilities in his job in the school café, where he fills food orders, makes deliveries, manages money, takes inventory and assists with daily cleanup.

“Matthew is hard-working and always tries his best,” wrote award nominators, school counselor Pam Power and teacher Kim Randazzo. “He demonstrates maturity in the way he works through difficulties. Matthew has a strong sense of right and wrong, and is reflective about how his behavior affects others. He is sensitive to others needs, encouraging and thoughtful, and is a wonderful role model for his peers.”

The award, created in 2007, is a memorial to former Nassau BOCES Board President George Farber, whose passion for improving the lives of students at Nassau BOCES was only surpassed by his love and care for them, according to officials.