The Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee recently honored five graduating seniors from Seaford High School with the Patriot Award for their service, character and commitment — values that reflect the legacy of alumni lost on Sept. 11.
This year’s recipients — valedictorian Anastasia Perlegis, salutatorian Ava Caruso, Emily Richardson, Jayne Singleton and Skyler Secondino — were announced at the graduation ceremony on June 13. They were each presented with the award and a $2,000 stipend at the June 23 dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
The nonprofit memorial committee was established in 2002 to honor the memory of the high school’s five alumni who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center: brothers Thomas and Timothy Haskell, John Perry, Robert Sliwak and Michael Wittenstein. Perry was a New York City police officer; the Haskells were firefighters; and Sliwak and Wittenstein both worked for Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center.
Memorial committee chairman Tom Condon, who started his teaching career at the high school in 1969, knew all five when they were students. He was a social studies teacher for Sliwak and Thomas Haskell, a guidance counselor for Perry, and knew Wittenstein through student activities.
After the events of 9/11, Condon met with their families to figure out how best to honor their memory.
“All five guys loved their experience at Seaford High School,” Condon said, “and they loved the Seaford community, and (the families) wanted to do something positive to always remember their lost sons and brothers.”
During the committee’s inaugural year, ground was broken on a memorial outside the high school, with five plaques dedicated to the alumni who had died — and the annual Patriot Award was created.
The committee, working with the PTA, selects five students for the award, with each of them receiving a $2,000 stipend. Students apply anonymously and are chosen based on questions they answer on an application. The questions include how involved they are in activities in the school and the community, and how service, character and commitment factor into their lives, according to Condon.
Since 2002, Condon said, the committee has handed out more than 100 awards and around $250,000 in scholarship money.
Perlegis, who will attend Molloy University in Rockville Centre to pursue a career as a pediatric physical therapist, said she was surprised to receive the Patriot Award.
“Everything I did, I wanted to give back, and so it brought me here, and I’m so grateful for it,” Perlegis said. “I know that it’ll take me wherever I need to go.”
Caruso, who plans to study ocean engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology, called it an honor to receive the award.
Perlegis and Caruso stood out at Seaford High School for their academic excellence, leadership and dedication. They each enrolled in more than a dozen AP and college-level courses and graduated with AP Capstone diplomas.
Perlegis, president of the National Art Honor Society and the 2024 Homecoming queen, is active in her church and several school clubs. Caruso, vice president of the senior class, was a three-sport captain and member of Mathletes and Science Club. Both attributed their success to hard work, their teachers, and a willingness to make sacrifices.
“I’m very grateful for everyone because we’re so tight-knit,” Caruso said. “I feel like everyone in the community has had such a big impact on me, especially our teachers and guidance counselors.”
Singleton, who moved to Seaford in sixth grade, said she had aspired to earn the Patriot Award after attending the district’s annual 9/11 remembrance events. Last August, she joined Caruso and Richardson on the Soaring Valor trip — a four-day visit to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, where students listened to stories from veterans. Still undecided what her major will be, she will attend Binghamton University, where she hopes to find her career path.
“I was super scared when I moved here in sixth grade, so I was super nervous,” Singleton said. “Seaford is just like one big family. I made friends within seconds because everybody is so nice, so Seaford really set me up for great success.”
Secondino, a varsity athlete in volleyball, basketball and softball, also plans to attend Molloy University, where she will play softball and major in communications. She said Seaford’s close-knit community has always been a source of strength and support for her.
“It’s such an honor,” she said. “I’ve known about this award since I was a freshman. Just going to the memorial and participating in all the 9/11 events in Seaford is such an important part of our community.”
Richardson, who was active in Student Council and Book Club, earned the Patriot Award for her strong academics and leadership. She also received the prestigious Rensselaer Medal for excellence in math and science. Planning to study mechanical engineering at Purdue University, Richardson credited the district for her success.
“It’s a really helpful and encouraging environment to be in,” she said.
Patriot Award recipients also received citations from Town of Hempstead Councilman Christopher Schneider and State Sen. Steve Rhoads.
This year, the Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee presented the Honorary Patriot Award to three community role models — Lisa Garcia, Shari Raduazzo and Peter Ruffner — who have collectively contributed 77 years of service to the community, according to Condon. Garcia is active in the PTA, Lions Club, and Seaford Wellness Council. Ruffner is involved with those groups, as well as the Seaford Historical Society. Raduazzo, retiring after 26 years as a Seaford High School English teacher, has supported Student Council, charity drives and mentorship programs.
Seaford High School Principal Nicole Schnabel said this year was especially meaningful to her, having known each of the Patriot Award recipients and honorary patriots. She had joined Caruso, Singleton and Richardson on the Soaring Valor trip and accompanied all five honorees on a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan last year.
“We’ve just had so many incredible memories together,” Schnabel said. “They’re all very special to me in a lot of different ways.”
