Glen Cove High School senior Benjamin Napolitano has been named the recipient of the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Dr. Glenn Howard Jr. Scholarship, earning the award for an essay exploring how local businesses can better support neurodiverse people through workforce development and inclusion.
The scholarship was presented at a chamber ceremony on June 18 recognizing Napolitano’s academic achievements, leadership and community service as he prepares to attend Hofstra University this fall, where he plans to study kinesiology on a pre-med track.
The chamber renamed its scholarship six years ago in honor of the late Dr. Glenn Howard Jr., a principal scientist at Pall Corporation, who served on its board for decades and chaired the scholarship committee.
“Most people don’t realize that the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce not only assists our businesses to thrive, but we also support many local nonprofits,” the group’s president, Dr. Maxine Mayreis, said, citing organizations including Nosh Delivers and Cove Animal Rescue. “For many years, the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce has helped college-bound or trade school-bound graduating seniors with scholarships.”
Mayreis said that Howard was influential in both the chamber and the broader Glen Cove community. She described him as “a walking encyclopedia” and “an authority on so many different subjects,” noting his knowledge of bylaws, city government, ordinances, Robert’s Rules of Order and molecular biology.
This year’s scholarship challenged students to address the role businesses should play in tackling community issues such as sustainability, work force development, housing, transportation and inclusivity while proposing solutions for Glen Cove.
In his essay, Napolitano wrote that local businesses could play a greater role in employing neurodiverse people, particularly those with autism, ADHD and other disabilities. He proposed partnerships between businesses and local government to develop workforce training initiatives for neurodiverse residents while also educating employers on how to create more inclusive workplaces.
“Everyone wants to feel that they are good at something and feel productive,” Napolitano, 18, wrote. “That is the same for neurodiverse people, but they don’t have the opportunities that neurotypical people have to achieve these goals.”
He also noted existing partnerships between businesses and nonprofits serving people with disabilities as models Glen Cove could emulate.
Mayreis said that Napolitano’s submission distinguished itself from the other entries. “Benji’s essay was insightful and objective, but also came across with heart and soul,” she said. “Reading his essay was beautiful. He has his grasp on the issue of neurodiversity.”
Napolitano said his decision to pursue kinesiology grew out of opportunities he had at Glen Cove High, and he credited the school’s faculty and administrators.
“I wouldn’t have gotten nearly as far without the support of all the administrators and all my teachers and all the love and patience — and certainly patience — they’ve had with me,” he said.
Mayreis highlighted Napolitano’s extensive accomplishments, including ranking seventh in his graduating class, serving as president of the Kiwanis Key Club and vice president of DECA, competing in varsity tennis and wrestling, taking part in multiple honor societies and completing 855 hours of community service. She recalled meeting him when he volunteered at a chamber family festival at Garvies Point.
“I was impressed with his energy and his initiative in helping to run an event,” Mayreis recounted. “He would see, and he would do, automatically jumping in to help with confidence and heart and humor.”
Glen Cove High Principal Allen Hudson said that Napolitano has consistently demonstrated leadership and character. “I have nothing but positive things to say about him,” Hudson said. “His work ethic, he’s super intelligent … He epitomizes what a G.C. Knight is.”
District Superintendent Alexa Doeschner said that Napolitano’s commitment to community service distinguished him even among other high-achieving students. “As a high-performing and high-achieving student, you don’t have to do that,” Doeschner said. “You can just settle for doing a minimum of community hours or community service hours, but he goes above and beyond.”
Although selecting a scholarship recipient was difficult, Mayreis said, Napolitano’s essay ultimately made the decision clear. “You know, it’s not so easy to choose a winner,” she told him at the ceremony. “But when we receive a beautiful assortment, [and] when an essay jumps off the screen and into your heart, then the winner is evident. … I’ll tell you, Dr. Howard will be very proud of you.”
