Community News

Patriot awards honor service to Seaford

Seaford students honored for their community service

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Student Honorees, from left, Colleen Digney, Dana Duggan, Nicholas Liuzzi, Sarah Sass and Kelly Wolfson with Seaford Historical Society Vice President Frank Allaire, the Rev. Ronald Klose and Seaford Fire Chief Rob Podesta, were presented with Patriot Awards on June 27 at the Woodbury Country Club.
Student Honorees, from left, Colleen Digney, Dana Duggan, Nicholas Liuzzi, Sarah Sass and Kelly Wolfson with Seaford Historical Society Vice President Frank Allaire, the Rev. Ronald Klose and Seaford Fire Chief Rob Podesta, were presented with Patriot Awards on June 27 at the Woodbury Country Club.
Briana Bonfiglio/ Herald

It was a proud and humbling night for five graduating Seaford High School seniors who received scholarship awards in honor of the five alumni who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The recipients, Colleen Digney, Dana Duggan, Nicholas Liuzzi, Sarah Sass and Kelly Wolfson, were announced at the high school graduation on June 26. They were honored on June 27 at the 14th annual Patriot Award dinner at the Woodbury Country Club.

Not one of them expected to be granted the award. There were nearly 80 applicants who strived for it, and the honorees all agreed it was the best achievement of their high school careers. Each of them interviewed with 10 members of the four families who lost their loved ones on 9/11. They were chosen for the award because they exhibited leadership and service qualities similar to the town’s fallen heroes, Tommy Haskell, Timmy Haskell, John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein. 

“It’s such a big honor that the families saw traits in me that remind them of their lost loved ones,” Digney said. 

The award recipients agreed that interviewing with the four families was a nerve-racking experience. “I was overwhelmed at first,” Sass said. “But it became comforting to speak about myself and open up to such sweet and caring people.” 

The award focused on character rather than at the applicants’ grades. Sass added that earning the award gave her great Seaford pride. “I’ve never seen a town so devoted to something like this,” she said.

Liuzzi agreed that the award was something special. “I applied for many awards,” he said. “This was the one I wanted most.”

Wolfson said she had been eyeing the Patriot Award since she attended the dinner in 2012, when her second-grade teacher, Susan Ward, was honored. As an eighth-grader, she listened to the high-schoolers make their speeches and looked up to them. 

Three honorary awards were also given to Seaford Historical Society Vice President Frank Allaire, the Rev. Ronald Klose of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and Seaford Fire Chief Robert Podesta. 

“It’s a great honor to be recognized for what we do in the community in memory of the five gentleman we lost and to support the Patriot Award,” Podesta said.

All three honorees have been involved with making the memorial ceremony on Sept. 11 possible each year. “They have spent their entire adult lives giving back to Seaford, so they are appropriate recipients,” said Schools Superintendent Brian Conboy.

Conboy added that the five student winners were active, important members of the student body who have strong leadership and service characteristics. He said the award dinner speaks to the pride of the Seaford community.

According to the 9/11 committee president, Tom Condon, the dinner is the organization’s primary fundraiser. The committee has awarded students more than $175,000 in scholarships over the past 15 years. A 122-page journal, featuring ads from local businesses and individuals, and congratulating the winners, was given to all who attended. The event, Condon said, brings the community together to raise money for the memorial in front of the high school, which will dedicate a new area this fall.

“It brings attention to our mission, which is honoring the five alumni that we lost on 9/11,” he said.

There were 253 people in attendance. Past honorees presented trophies to the five graduating seniors. Winners made speeches thanking their families, the 9/11 committee and the Seaford community. They said they would honor the five deceased alumni by continuing to lead and give back. They also noted their admiration that the families of those who were lost were able to take a tragedy and turn it into something so positive.

“This community stands as one in strength, in memory of these individuals,” Liuzzi said. “I believe it will certainly transcend the boundaries of time.”

The honorees are a diverse bunch. As seniors, they led the high school in various clubs. In the fall, they’ll be taking their talents to college.

Digney was the senior class president and will attend Hunter College to study news media. Liuzzi was president of robotics club and Mathletes. He will attend Stevens Institute of Technology to study engineering and music production. 

Wolfson was president of the drama club, secretary of freshman mentors and secretary of the National Art Honor Society. She will major in fashion business management at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Sass was vice president of Best Buddies and will attend Penn State for neurological biology.

Duggan was captain of the varsity lacrosse team and the kicker for the football team. She will attend The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina for business management. Afterward, she plans to join the Marine Corps. 

“I love my country, and I want to serve in the military” she said. “I’m a patriot.”