By Scott Brinton
The honorees included Barbi Frank, an Advanced Placement biology teacher and science-research mentor at Kennedy High School; Ginny Bennette, a fifth-grade teacher at Levy-Lakeside Elementary School in Merrick; and Joyce Duffy, a third-grade teacher at Camp Avenue Elementary School in North Merrick. The Kiwanis Club also gave special recognition to Patricia Scavuzzo, the Calhoun High School Key Club adviser. Kiwanis sponsors Key Club.
The awards were presented during a ceremony at Pastrami King in Merrick last Thursday.
Samantha Goldman, a Kennedy senior, nominated Frank for the Kiwanis award. In an essay, Goldman wrote that Frank has brought "unparalleled success" to the Kennedy High School science program. This year alone, the school boasted four Intel science-research competition semifinalists.
Goldman has had Frank as a teacher for four years -- one year for AP biology and three years for research. Goldman, one of this year's Intel semifinalists, said, "I devoted three years of research because of Ms. Frank."
Frank, she added, "pushed me to be "better than I could have ever imagined."
Celeste Yamali, a Levy-Lakeside fifth-grader, nominated Bennette for the Kiwanis award. Yamali said she was "nervous and unsure" of herself when she started Bennette's class. But she said Bennette is the type of teacher who makes kids feel good about themselves. When Yamali's beloved grandfather died, the student said, Bennette made her "feel so comfortable."
Kristi Tice, who appeared on the Herald's front page last year with Duffy's name written down her arm for Camp Avenue Day, nominated her favorite teacher for the Kiwanis honor. Tice said Duffy made her "feel safe and happy," and she described the educator as a "kind and loving person."
Calhoun students Samantha Beers, Stephanie Chin, Jessica Dixel and Ashlee Dixel nominated Scavusso for her special honor. Ilene Dixel, Kiwanis' vice president, who serves as a community adviser for Calhoun's Key Club, said, "The kids have a great respect for Ms. Scavuzzo. She does wonderful things. Key Club is a shining star for Merrick Kiwanis."
Dixel, an account executive at the Herald, noted that the Key Club's annual talent show this year raised $2,000 for Regina Residence, a home for unwed teenage mothers at Cur of Ars Roman Catholic Church in Merri
