Alissa Stollwerk, this year's valedictorian of Herricks High School, is graduating with a grade point average of 4.5 out of 4.5 and will be attending Yale University in the fall. Besides taking many academically challenging courses, she is also an active member of both the Herricks High School community and the community at large. She is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of both the Highlander and Opus, Herricks' school newspaper and literary magazine, respectively. She is also involved in the Herricks music department, in which she plays the oboe, English horn and clarinet. She has played in the school's wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, theater orchestras, pep band and woodwind quintet, which was recently chosen to perform at Alice Tully Hall and she has been the co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society at Herricks for the last two years. Stollwerk was also selected for theTri-M International Honors Orchestra, the All-State Symphonic Band and the All-County Orchestra. She has devoted her time to political endeavors as well by serving as an intern in Nassau County Democratic Headquarters and on Senator Clinton's campaign during the 2000 election and on Tom DiNapoli's campaign for County Executive last year. This summer she plans to continue her political involvement as an intern for Senator Clinton in her district office. She has recently earned many honors including being named the Nassau County winner of the Alicia Patterson High Honors Scholarship, offered by Newsday and as the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship for Academic Excellence. FULL STORY

At the outset of the last New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board meeting President James Kane gave a tribute to Suzanne Wenz for her nine years of service. Superintendent Joseph Rudaitis followed suit and even though Ms. Wenz was unable to attend the meeting she received a huge ovation from the audience in appreciation for her years of dedicated service. FULL STORY

A beautiful day for the Top Soccer program. The annual Plainview tournament complete with BBQ was a success with 12 of our players participating. FULL STORY