Mineola High School Alumni Foundation co-president Paul Cusato said that when the foundation formed in 1999, there were three main objectives - to organize graduates of Mineola High School, award scholarships each year to graduating seniors and to establish funds to enrich and support social and educational activities. Now, eight years later, the Mineola High School Alumni Foundation has met all of its goals.

The foundation has established a 324-page directory of Mineola High School graduates through the years with contact information so that you can keep in touch with your high school classmates. The directory includes some of the graduates who have made significant contributions to the community, graduates such as Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, County Clerk Maureen O'Connell and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The directory even organizes the graduates by state so you can keep in touch with those who have left Mineola but still have high school memories.

Each year, the alumni foundation gives graduating seniors and at Thursday's board of education meeting, alumni foundation members Cusato (Class of '66), co-president Larry Swensen (Class of '67), first vice president Janet Langer (Class of '59) and second vice president Peggy May presented the board and superintendent of schools Dr. Larry Licopoli with a check for $25,000 to be used for seats for the newly renovated Mineola High School auditorium.

The auditorium seats will be a pleasant addition to the high school since not only can they be used by students, but also the community members who come out to support the Mineola High School Thespians in their productions each year.

The donation to the school district for the purchase of the seats was made possible by contributions by Mineola alumni.

The target date for the completion of the auditorium is in May. The renovation of it was part of a $10 million bond referendum that was approved by voters last year.