For her leadership and dedicated service to the community, Skylah McBean-Adams, a senior at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, received the Venettes Cultural Workshop Youth Leadership Award and the Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights Youth Leadership Award.

For the past several years, McBean-Adams has attended the Venettes Cultural Workshop for dance instruction. Since eighth-grade, she has served as a student teacher to help teach young dance students. Through her commitment in this role, she was appointed the chairperson of the student teachers. For her service at the dance center and community service in and outside her school, the Venettes Cultural Workshop presented her with the Youth Leadership Award during a Black History Month reception in February. For earning this award, she received a Proclamation signed by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory and a Certificate of Recognition authorized by Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer.

On March 13, the Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights (MCWH) President Tonya Black presented McBean-Adams with the MCWH Youth Leadership Award for being a positive role model and leader in the community during a special luncheon celebration. In recognition of this award, she received a Certificate of Merit signed by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre (11th District), and a Certificate of Appreciation endorsed by Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer.

“I feel very honored to receive these recognitions,” said McBean-Adams. “I don’t do what I do in the community for accolades, I do it because it is something I truly feel passionate about. It is very rewarding to know that I am appreciated for what I do in the community.”

Among her community service activities, she serves as a defense and prosecuting attorney for the Town of Babylon Youth Court, president of student council, a group leader for the One Mind Club and member of the National Honor Society. Dedicated to her studies, she is enrolled in several Advanced Placement courses and will graduate in the top 10 percent of the Copiague Class of 2016. In the fall, she will attend St. John’s University on a merit scholarship with plans to major in actuarial science.