Seaford senior advances in scholarship contest

Seaford High School senior Sarah Keane is a candidate for a scholarship from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Sarah is one of only two student-athletes from Section VIII, which includes all Nassau County high schools, to advance in competition.

Keane, who learned about the scholarship opportunity from her guidance counselor, is a member of the cross-country, winter track and spring track teams. She primarily competes in 5K races for cross-country and 1,500- and 3,000-meter races for track.

To be considered for the scholarship, Sarah had to complete an application with all of her academic and athletic accomplishments, as well as her school leadership and community service participation. She also had to submit a letter of recommendation and had to write an essay on the topic, “How high school athletics has impacted my life.”

In her essay, Keane drew on her experiences competing at the high school level since seventh grade and how her many years on the cross-country and track teams shaped her as a leader. She also cited the volunteer work she does with Shooting Stars, a program that provides athletic opportunities to children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Keane, who is still in the process of selecting a college, plans to study neuroscience or physical therapy. She has moved on to the state level in the 2021 NIAAA scholarship essay contest, and winners at the section and national level receive monetary awards.

“I’m grateful that our school is able to connect us to these opportunities,” she said. 

—Brian Stieglitz