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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
economics of the World Cup
Spring concert return to H.S.
Storytelling for Juneteenth
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Vol. 76 no. 24
JUne 11 - 17, 2026
Students turn into authors
High school’s blood drive concludes
sdriks@liherald.com
sdriks@liherald.com
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ceeds will go directly to Northern Parkway’s PTA to support additional student programs. The book includes photoFive students from Northern Parkway Elementary School in graphs of the five students, a Uniondale have become full- page dedicated to their writing fledged published authors, and personalized blurbs written thanks to Stephanie Bailey, the by Bailey highlighting their school’s PTA president and a pub- accomplishments and personalilished author herself who creat- ties. The book features the stued a writing initiative that helped dents’ reflections on the students achieve fears, such as that goal. drowning, heights Nassau County and insects, as well Legislator Olena as personal chalNicks recently sinlenges, friendships gled out Bailey with and lessons they a certificate of rechave learned about ognition for that spethemselves. cial accomplishDuring an afterment by the coschool session last authors, students month, Bailey proMellodi Rutty, Kayvided several lee Brown, Malia themes, and stuBelot, Khari Alam dents selected the and Aarianna Fras- AARIAnnA FRAzeR topics that resonater. Northern Parkway ed most with them. “Allowing them Elementary School “I told them they to control the narra- student could do what they tive and to ensure wanted to do. They that we focus on the child as a whole,” Nicks, who rep- drew all their photos,” Bailey resents Uniondale, said on June 1 said. “I just created the borders to before presenting Bailey with a make everything even. They cocertificate of honor. “We made created autonomy, everything sure to choose a base that allowed was all on them.” Mellodi did not focus on a spethem to self-reflect and put cific fear, but she wrote about their feelings on paper.” The students co-authored helping and caring for her “Look What NPS Can Do!: Vol- friends. Kaylee, 8, wrote about her fear ume I,” a 54-page collection of stories and illustrations that is of cockroaches. In the book, she COnTinUED On pAgE 11 available on Amazon for $25. Pro-
By STACY DRIKS
By STACY DRIKS Uniondale High School students rolled up their sleeves for the school’s final blood drive of the year on May 27, helping address the region’s ongoing blood shortage while continuing a program that has been a source of lifesaving donations for local hospitals for more than two decades. More than 50 students had already taken part by midday, with additional donors expected before the drive concluded. Victoria Seidman, a science teacher at the high school and the Students Against Destructive Decisions club adviser, said the drives typically attract nearly 100 participants, though this year’s spring drive faced scheduling challenges because of Advanced Placement testing. Uniondale partners with the New York Blood Center to host three blood drives each school year, in the fall, winter and spring. Seidman has organized then since 2003. Over the years, she said, the program has become more than a community service project. Her commitment to the cause deepened when her mother, who was
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Deliah Roberts/Herald
The Uniondale High School Alumni Association awarded four scholarships this year, to Aariano Osario, left, Darren Brown, center, and Aaliyah Rose and Christaline Fede, who are not pictured. Each received $1,075 in recognition of their commitment to giving back to Uniondale. At right was scholarship coordinator Duane Shippey.
It was scholarship night By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
A surge of donations from members of the Uniondale High School Alumni Association in the days leading up to the district’s annual scholarship ceremony helped the organization double the number of scholarships it awarded this year from two to four. The scholarships were presented at the high school’s ceremony on May 28, when more than 50 grduating senior received financial assistance from community organizations, alumni groups,
memorial funds and local supporters as they prepared for college. More than 40 other scholarships were handed out as well. The alumni association raised $4,300 for its 2026 scholarship fund, drawing support from roughly 40 donors, including members of the classes of 1988 through 2002, friends, family members and professional contacts of the scholarship coordinator and chair, Duane Shippey. “In the last 36 hours, we raised another $2,000,” Shippey said at the ceremony. “Even when I was leaving the house, I got another $200 — I had to rip up the checks COnTinUED On pAgE 15
learned how to publish my own book, and if I want to publish my own book when I grow up, I can.