Lauren LaMena, a senior at John H. Glenn High School in Elwood, and Matthew McIntee, a senior at East Islip High School were honored with the Butch Dellecave Award at a ceremony held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.
Named in memory of the legendary educator, official, and coach Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, the award is the product of a highly successful 24-year partnership between local school districts in Suffolk County and the award organizers: the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc., the Butch Dellecave Foundation, and Newsday.
Athletic Directors from all sixty-six Suffolk County school districts were asked to nominate one male and one female from their high school senior class. Nominees must be students who not only were at the top of their game, but also scored high in classroom performance and in their commitment to local community service.
Matthew McIntee had an extraordinary senior year at East Islip, excelling in sports, academics, and community service. As a scholar-athlete, he captained the varsity football, track, and lacrosse teams, earning All-County, All-State, and MVP honors. Academically, he maintained a weighted average of 97.47 and consistently made the High Honor Roll. Matthew also received the “High Minds in Motion” honor for excellence in all three sports. His dedication to community service was evident through his work with East Islip Amvets and running lacrosse clinics for young children. Matthew’s achievements in both athletics and academics, combined with his volunteer efforts, highlight his exceptional commitment and leadership. He will be attending Syracuse University in the fall.
Lauren LaMena, the salutatorian of John Glenn High School, will be attending the University of Notre Dame. As Senior Class President and Vice President of the National Honor Society, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, organizing activities and creating community service opportunities. Lauren’s academic achievements include being a National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and receiving the RIT Humanities and Social Sciences Award. She finished with an unweighted average of 99.6. Athletically, she earned 10 varsity letters and received accolades such as Academic All-County in basketball and All-League in soccer. Additionally, Lauren founded and captained the Intramural Flag Football Team, securing its future at her school.
About Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk
The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. (EOC of Suffolk) is a not-for-profit minority community-based organization providing a range of services promoting self-sufficiency among low-income families and individuals in Suffolk County. Program areas include community development, housing, health care, youth and adolescent services, childcare and early childhood education, violence prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment and support, disability services, and veterans services. Founded in 1967, EOC of Suffolk receives most of its funding through Federal Community Service Block Grants as the county’s federally designated community action agency. It also receives support from state and local sources. For more information, go to www.eoc-suffolk.com.
