Scholarship set up in South alum’s memory

Posted

Billy Gillespie had been active in the South High School community from the time he started attending the school in 1974 to his death in 2017. He raised his children there, and served as the president of South’s Parents’ Club.

So, when Billy’s co-workers from the Nassau County District Attorney’s office and the New York City Police Department asked Gillespie’s family what they could raise funds for in his name, the family decided to set up a scholarship for South High School seniors.

“With the amount of support and love my family received following the loss of my father, from the community and from South, we felt that this was a great way to give back,” said Gillespie’s son, Kieran.

The $150 Billy Gillespie scholarship, which the Board of Education approved at its Jan. 8 meeting, will be awarded to graduating seniors who are altruistic, have an exceptional work ethic and are active in the school and Valley Stream communities — qualities that Gillespie possessed.

“He was a wonderful man, a great role model and a great friend to South,” Principal Maureen Henry said of Billy, and said that she would like all of her students to be like him.