Two Oyster Bay High School seniors, Christine Piovesan and Erin Egan were the recipients of the Debbie Whittemore Leadership Award.

Accompanied by physical education teacher, Kathy Hendrickson, to SUNY Stony Brook, they were among 150 outstanding high school senior female athletes recognized for their leadership qualities and dedication to academics and athletics.

Sponsored by the university, the awards were presented at the 7th Annual University at Stony Brook Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration on Sunday, March 1. The event is an annual celebration honoring girls and women who have made significant contributions to athletics. (Ms. Hendrickson was a past recipient of the Crown Trophy Award, presented to 10 Long Island women who have made outstanding contributions to women's sports.) The day serves to bring attention to the achievements of all female athletes and to the issues facing females in sports. The award is given in memory Debbie Whittemore, an outstanding USB alumnus who embodied the qualities of leadership, service and academic excellence.

Christine Piovesan and Erin Egan have made many major contributions to their sports teams and believe that women can be competitive and committed athletes.

Christine was a captain of the field hockey team, received all conference and was selected as an exceptional senior. She was statistician and manager of the girls' basketball team and was an all division softball player.

Erin was a member of the volleyball team, captain of the basketball team and selected for the All Long Island Newsday team. As a member of he basketball team, she was Nassau County's leading scorer last year and a participant on the basketball Empire State team for the last two years.

Ms. Hendrickson said of the accomplishments of these students "These girls have had a profound influence on their peers. They are well-rounded, outstanding female athletes. We would like to congratulate Christine, Erin and their families."