Babylon Seniors Honored at Scholarship Dinner

Tuesday night saw Babylon High School teachers, students, and families decked out for a night of celebration and scholarship awards at Chateau La Mer in Lindenhurst.

The Babylon Community Scholarship Committee presented awards to graduating seniors, and the audience was treated to the fashion show segment of the night. Students and teachers modeled items donated by Babylon Village stores and other local merchants.

The event, spearheaded by committee chairpersons Lisa Newman and Lisa Lang, was attended by a who's who of the Babylon school district: principals, board of education members, and district superintendent Dr. Ellen Best-Laimit. Proud parents and family members snapped photos and recorded video clips of the seniors, who each mentioned the college they are planning to attend next fall.

The event began with remarks from the Community Scholarship Committee Fund President Linda Pflaum, who thanked the teachers and guidance counselors who direct the application process for the scholarships.

The criteria for the awards is a combined weighting of academic achievement, financial need, extracurricular participation, work experience and an essay. Special consideration is given to students with the most documented hours of community service, according to Pflaum.

Special recognition was given to the BHS Class of 2011 valedictorian Shannon Weber, who won the Kate Chesler Valedictorian Award of $1,500, and class salutatorian Lloyd Ippolito. The Elizabeth Van Bourgondien Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Kelsey Laing for exceptional community service. Kate Chesler and Elizabeth Van Bourgondien were among the original founders of the Fund decades ago.

"[Chesler] knew a young man who wanted to go to college, but he did not have enough money to do that, and she and a few community members gave him a loan of $100 so he could go to college," recounts Louise Kennedy, who presented the valedictorian award.

Marjorie Murphy organized the fashion show, featuring clothing from village retailers Bubble, The Studio by Tre-Femmes, Chapman Skateboards, Pandemonium, Lacrosse Unlimited, Omnibus Fashions, Village Bridal, and The Home Grown Boutique, a virtual clothing store which uses local seamstresses to handcraft items to order. Accessories and styling were provided by Captree Opticians, Love My Shoes, Make-Up Studio and Girasole Salon.

Models ranged in age from twirling toddlers, to high school teachers, and included junior high school student Kendall McMillan who modeled a dress she designed herself. Some students provided comedic relief, as they hammed it up in sports gear and casual clothing from Murphy's Sport Shack, Rubber Sole and Bunger Surf Shop.

In addition to Shannon Weber, Lloyd Ippolito, and Kelsey Laing, the scholarship recipients were: Charles Gambino, Jennifer Granda, Brittany Rohl, Alex Sacripante, Molly McGaley, Jillian Jacinth, Linda Milano, Stephen Loudon, Sarah Rende, John Sutherland, Ellen Murphy, Molly Gravina, and Julie Piccione.