Three students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School – Devonie Rhoden, Adriana Jiminez and Paris DeFreitas – were recently recognized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island during their virtual Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony on May 5. The students received Building Bridges awards from the organization for their work in bettering their community by volunteering, building ties across different communities or working on intergenerational projects. The students were nominated for the honor by their social studies teachers.

Devonie is a member of the Key Club, One Mind Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Ecology Club, Bringing Unity Through Youth Club and Independent Science Research Club. She has organized numerous community service programs, such as annual blood drives for the Long Island Blood Center, food drives for Our Lady of Assumption food pantry, fundraisers for organizations such as UNICEF and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and clothing collections for the Madonna Heights Family Service Clinic and the Kiwanis Club of Copiague.

Adriana has been instrumental in leading the school’s Gay Straight Alliance Club, Student Council and the Class of 2022. Through these positions, she has proven that she is a reliable, consistent and conscientious individual as she has helped plan many events to create a better school community. As a cabinet officer in the Student Council, she has volunteered to help the advisers with multiple events and the organization of meetings. She is an active participant in many clubs including the National Honor Society and the Key Club.

Paris has been class president every year since the ninth grade and is the current president of the National Honor Society. An incredibly well-rounded, empathetic and kind student, she has not only led clubs, but also been an integral part of the school community. As a member of the Key Club since ninth grade, she has participated in a number of charity and community service events.

Date Added: 6/8/2022