Five earn Seaford Patriot Award

Five Seaford High School graduates were recognized for their contributions to the Seaford community when they were presented with the prestigious Patriot Award on June 29.

Elena Alberti, James Irwin, Jessica Lodispoto, Cassidy Meyer and Ellen Schleyer were the 2015 recipients, and were honored at the 13th annual Seaford 9/11 Patriot Award Dinner. The annual award was first given out in 2002 in memory of five Seaford alumni — Tommy and Timmy Haskell, Robert Sliwak, John Perry and Michael Wittenstein — who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Each year five Seaford graduates who display the same character traits as the men lost in the attacks are selected as Patriot Award recipients.

“I cried,” Meyer said when she found out that she had been selected. “It is really a big honor. It means so much to the community and is truly great to be a part of.”

According to Seaford Athletic Director Tom Condon, who organized the dinner, a committee of Seaford community members, past award winners, and other figures selected the finalists for the award. After the committee went through anonymous essays written by the Seaford seniors, a select few were interviewed by the Haskell, Sliwak, Perry and Wittenstein families. From there, the five recipients were chosen.

“I was definitely nervous,” Irwin said, describing the interview with the families. He said he believed that being an all-around person, involved in numerous clubs, helped him stand out to the committee. In high school, he belonged to the track team, played saxophone in the band and participated in Student Council.

“I was happy. I didn’t think I would get it,” Schleyer said. “I have a learning disability and struggle with math, but I was able to overcome it with the support and knowing I can do it.” She received a standing ovation after her speech.

Like her fellow award recipients, Alberti said she was honored and humbled by the award. “I hoped to win. I saw myself being a contestant,” said the class of 2015 salutatorian. “I really just didn’t expect to win. So far everything has been surreal.” Alberti was heavily involved in high school. She was a founding member of the Robotics Club and served as vice president and treasurer.

“It is such an honor, and such a surprise,” Lodispoto said. She added that in high school, she tried to make the best of her opportunities. She said she believes that helped her stand out to the selection committee. She was involved with the volleyball team and the Key Club in high school.

While the recipients were humbled by the award and some claimed they did not deserve it, Brian Conboy, superintendent of schools, told them, “I can assure you all have the requisite resources to uphold the prestige of the award.”

U.S. Representative and Seaford resident Peter King attended the dinner. King congratulated the award winners and recalled how the community has responded to the terrorist attacks. “No community responded the way Seaford did,” he said, praising the community for its courage and dedication.

Now, as Seaford alumni, each of the graduates said they were looking forward to their upcoming experiences. Meyer will be attending Fordham University in the fall and plans to study business. She will also be cheerleading for the university, joining her sister, Mackenzie, a 2014 Patriot Award recipient.

Irwin will attend the University of New Haven, in Connecticut, where he will study international justice, in the hope of one day following in his dad’s footsteps by joining the FBI.

Alberti said she plans to attend MIT in the fall to double major in biomedical engineering and computer science. Schleyer explained that she would be pursing her dream of becoming a day-care worker, assisting young children, with BOCES. Lodispoto said she is looking forward to attending Towson University in the fall.

Along with the five award winners, four Honorary Patriot Awards were given out. Sal and Joan Bulone, Thomas Cleary and Cindy Schaaf received the honor. The Honorary Patriot Award goes to individuals who are heavily involved in the Seaford community, the schools or the 9/11 Memorial.

The Bulones are both active members in the community, and have been involved in recreational sports, local charities and the 9/11 Committee.

Cleary, a resident since 1985m is a graduate of Seaford High School. Today he is an active member in the community through recreational athletics, his church, Boy Scouts and various other organizations.

Schaaf is a member of the PTA, a leader of Girl Scouts and recently retired from the Seaford Public Library after a long career at the children’s librarian.