Marc Khan, the Bethpage High School senior whose life was tragically cut short in a fatal car accident earlier this year, was beloved by many. His memory lives on in Bethpage, and throughout the high school athletics scene and nothing could be more indicative of that than the turnout for the Marc Khan Memorial Volleyball Tournament held at Bethpage High School on Saturday, Aug. 9. More than 250 people, including teens from schools throughout Nassau County, and parts of Suffolk, showed up to pay tribute to Marc, and play or watch volleyball for a good cause. Marc was the captain of the Bethpage High School volleyball team.

"Marc was a phenomenal person, who supported all of the Bethpage teams," said Anne Diprima, coach of the girls volleyball squad who reminisced on how Marc would attend all of the girls games, cheering them on and holding up handmade signs of support for them. "He was such a positive and fun person, you just wanted to be around him."

Donations and registration fees (for playing) were donated to the Marc Khan Memorial Scholarship fund at Bethpage High School. The fund is used to provide scholarship monies to Bethpage graduates and is also distributed to various charities and community groups in the area. Much of the proceeds of the Aug. 9 tournament were donated to the Hicksville Youth Council's Boys and Girls Club. Five scholarships were awarded at the Bethpage Class of 2003 graduation commencement this past June as well.

Jacqueline Jill-Rito, Marc's Italian teacher and advisor to the Bethpage High School Student Civic Association, said it was only fitting that a tournament in Marc's name be established to help community organizations, as that was a big part of Marc's life as a member of Student Civic.

"Marc represented the average American kid who strives to excel in all he does with spirit in anything but an average way. He was personable, respectful, friendly, reliable and most importantly, always present for others. He lived the multicultural experience personally and was open to others with acceptance which made him very special in my eyes," said Ms. Rito, who has already helped to organize a successful charity bowlathon and two fundraisers at Burger King for the Marc Khan Memorial Scholarship.

"Marc's love for volleyball, basketball and the competitive team nature of those sports are reflected in the admiration and love his teammates and adversaries still have for him," added Ms. Rito. "The success of the first MK Memorial Volleyball Tournament and the participation of so many players across Long Island serve as testimony of what a remarkable person Marc Khan truly was. Living the commonplace in an uncommon way is what Marc was all about!"