The Island Trees UFSD Board of Education honored outgoing board members Ken Fazio and Charles Bambino at its June 28 meeting. Fazio and Bambino were praised for their years of service and dedication to the Island Trees School District and community. Fazio served on the board for three years and Bambino served for 12 years. A plaque was presented to Fazio at the meeting and Bambino will receive his at a later date as he was not able to attend. Bob Condela, board president, thanked both Fazio and Bambino for their dedicated service.

Fazio thanked the members of the board and community. He also received the Humanitarian Award from the Island Trees Heroes Scholarship Committee, presented by Donna Donohue.

Also at the meeting three employees who retired at the end of the 2005/06 school year were honored. Mrs. Virginia DeFelice had 31 years of service, working in the business office and then as the district's substitute teacher coordinator. Mr. Timothy Lyons served 33 years as an English teacher at the middle school and Mrs. Carolyn Sullo served 18 years as an elementary teacher at the Michael F. Stokes Elementary School.

Four students from Island Trees Middle School were national finalists in the annual Christopher Columbus Awards Competition held in Orlando, FL. Christopher Pizzo, Joseph Gombar, Robert Pulido and Gregory Karbuczky took first place in the competition.

The boys' project, the Fire Escape, is a pressure sensitive switch added to a fire extinguisher that causes an alarm to sound when it is lifted. This device could help alert family members in the event of a house fire.

The students were named national champions earning a $25,000 grant that will assist them in obtaining a US patent and getting their invention manufactured.

Jon Segerdahl, principal of the Island Trees Middle School praised the good work of the students and that of their advisor, Eileen Anderson, middle school science teacher. Bob Condela, president of the board, offered his congratulations on behalf of the board.