Saturday, November 8, 2025
The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce held a special ceremony to recognize students whose volunteer work has strengthened the connection between schools, businesses and the community.
The Student Recognition event celebrated young people who devoted their time to Chamber-sponsored initiatives, supporting everything from food truck festivals to community fairs.
Held on Oct. 1 at the Valley Stream Community Center in Hendrickson Park, the ceremony honored 43 students from the Valley Stream Central High School District who volunteered in three or more community events during the previous school year. The afternoon began with remarks from Chamber members and school officials, followed by food and the distribution of certificates and T-shirts to the honorees.
District officials in attendance represented various departments within the district. Kelly Ureña, President of the Board of Education, attended alongside Kelly Whitney-Rivera, District Director of Guidance and Chief Information Officer; Steven Gilhuley, District Director of Instructional Services; Nakeshia Smith-Farnum, District Director of Restorative Practices and Community Engagement; Joseph Tagliaferro, District Chairperson of Career and Technical Education; Lori Rappa-Rodriguez, Work-Based Learning Coordinator; and Laura Mesa, School Counselor at Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School and Advisor of the Youth Leadership Club.
“Our mission is to empower students through leadership and advocacy so they may become leaders today and, in the future,” Mesa said. “Club members engage in activities that foster educational excellence, cultural pride, college and career success, and, most importantly, giving back to the community. Through these experiences, students build leadership, teamwork and empathy while making a positive impact.”
According to Chamber Board Member Lauri LoQuercio, the partnership between the Chamber and the district began after the Chamber observed the dedication of the Youth Leadership Club students at local events. Their strong work ethic and enthusiasm led to the creation of more volunteer opportunities involving students across district programs.
Since then, volunteers played key roles in Chamber events such as the Taste of Valley Stream and the Chamber’s food truck festivals, helping set up, assist vendors, maintain event spaces and ensure smooth operations throughout the day.
“They make sure that everything’s clean, they ask them if people need help; during the Taste of Valley Stream, they were amazing, they helped every restaurant that came,” LoQuercio said. “They helped them come in, and then they went back throughout the night. ‘Do you need anything?’ I mean, whatever the situation is, they rise to the occasion.”
Students who participate in the district’s Career and Technical Education programs have also contributed by applying their classroom learning to real-world experiences. Culinary students have baked and sold goods at community gatherings, while cosmetology students have offered face painting during family-friendly events.
The Chamber’s collaboration extends beyond the Youth Leadership Club to include programs such as Work-Based Learning and My Brother’s Keeper, both of which promote mentorship, career readiness and service. Plans are also in place to introduce volunteer opportunities for younger students with mentorship from older students, further cultivating a spirit of activism and civic responsibility early on.
“The kids are really great, they give me hope for the future,” LoQuercio said.
By honoring the 43 student volunteers, the Chamber and the district highlighted the importance of cooperation between local organizations and schools in preparing students to become future leaders. The event reinforced the message that engagement, leadership and service continue to be at the heart of what makes the community thrive.
