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Vol. 73 No. 3
JANUARY 16 - 22, 2025
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They’re top of their class at Seaford High
Both Perlegis and Caruso credit hard work and late study nights for their achievements. Anastasia Perlegis and Ava Throughout their time at SeaCaruso have become role mod- ford, Perlegis enrolled in 14 els at Seaford High School, Advanced Placement classes achieving top academic honors while Caruso took 13 collegewhile inspiring their peers to level courses. excel. “You have to make sacrifices Their dedication sometimes,” Caruso paid off this year, said. “I don’t hang ear ning Perle gis out with friends the title of Seaford’s during school days, class of 2025 valebecause you can’t dictorian, with a manage it with weighted g rade sports and homepoint average of work.” 107.46, while Caruso Among Caruso’s was named salutaf avo r i t e c o u r s e s torian with a 107.29 was AP Research, GPA. which she tackled Nicole Schnabel, in her junior year. the high school’s Going in, she knew principal, described NiColE SCHNABEl she wanted to purthe pair as model Principal, Seaford sue a career in envistudents who want High School ronmental science to continue to show research. Seeing the the community research process, what that means. The two stu- along with being independent dents have truly earned their in her studies, was an impactful accomplishment, Schnabel moment that helped her envisaid, and now they are paving sion her career. the way for other people to earn “It was just my favorite it as well. thing,” Caruso said. “I would “They’ re just incredible come home and I’d want to young women, and they are work on my research paper. I going to shape a lot of the wouldn’t want to do anything future for us,” Schnabel said.
By CHARlES SHAW
cshaw@liherald.com
T
Courtesy Michele Vulpi
Emma Vulpi among $10,000 worth of toys she collected for children with cancer and in shelters to ensure that they had gifts on Christmas morning.
Another season of giving in Wantagh
Theissen Foundation partners with teen to collect toys By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The John Theissen Children’s Foundation, based in Wantagh, partnered with 13-year-old Emma Vulpi for her sixth annual toy drive on Dec. 21, which collected more than $10,000 worth of toys for children in hospitals and shelters. “I’m doing this for all the children with cancer and people in shelters, because they also deserve a Christmas,” Emma said. “It was a really fun experience. It’s nice to see everybody be happy.” Local businesses rallied to support the toy drive, including the A&S Pork Store and Deli in Massapequa, the Cornell Cooperative Farm, and the Grand Stage Diner in East Meadow.
Emma, a seventh-grade honor roll student at W.T. Clarke Middle School, began her annual toy drive on her 7th birthday when she received several gift cards to buy herself toys. To her parents’ surprise, she said she would rather buy toys for children in the hospital. The Vulpi family’s toy drive runs all year, collecting toys in preparation for the holiday season. Last year, Emma was one of the recipients of the 17th State Assembly District’s Women of Distinction award for her extraordinary efforts to support children going through difficult times. Emma was made aware of the children thanks to programs at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Today, she has gotten to ContinuEd on pagE 9
hey’re just incredible young women, and they are going to shape a lot of the future for us.
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