Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School students Marvin Lobo and Nicole Hernandez were honored at the NYSAHPERD Suffolk Zone Awards dinner. The pair were selected by their physical education teachers as representatives of this award. They were among 110 other high school seniors throughout Suffolk County to receive this award. Criteria for the award included physical education and health achievement, scholastically sound, outstanding character, physical education and health leader, schoolwide leader and a student role model.

Setting their students up for success in their future careers and beyond, the Copiague School District held a College and Career Day for all of their schools.

Students at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School had the opportunity to learn about college life firsthand when members of the Class of 2019 visited the school. The recent graduates spoke about their college experiences so far, including courses, dorm life and being away from home. The college students answered questions and provided an inside look into the first year of college for the soon-to-be graduates.

Throughout the elementary schools, students engaged in different activities related to their potential college and career choices. Younger students dressed up in their aspiring profession, with classrooms filled with doctor, nurses, teachers, firefighters, artists and even astronauts. 

The younger grades learned all about different colleges, vocational schools and occupations, while fourth and fifth graders researched different colleges and conducted virtual tours of the campuses on their laptops. Deauville Gardens East students used their math skills and knowledge of area and perimeter to design their own dorm rooms, while first graders at Deauville Gardens West Elementary School participated in career stations and explored what it was like to be a fashion designer, architect, chef and writer.  

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Industry Advisory Board recently held their annual Principal’s Roundtable. This year's event was a resume and interview skills workshop. Students prepared resumes and practiced their interviews skills with local business leaders, politicians and school administrators. The topic for the upcoming Business Olympics 2020 was also revealed ¬– “Create a Subscription Business.”

To recognize many accomplishments of its student-athletes both on and off the field, the Copiague School District held its 20th annual Fall Sports Awards Night on Nov. 12 at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. Sponsored by the Booster Club, student-athletes in gymnastics, girls soccer, boys soccer, field hockey, girls tennis, volleyball, cross-country and football were recognized for their dedication to their sports by coaches, Copiague School District administrators and members of the board of education.

Throughout the night, coaches praised the student-athletes for their success and distributed individual awards, including the Coaches’ Award, Most Improved and the MVP award, to worthy receipients. Seven special memorial awards were handed out to outstanding athletes for demonstrating leadership on and off the field. Jaheim Garcia (cross-country) was presented with the Christopher Urban Award, Jaime Kister (gymnastics) was the recipient of the Dolores Sandefur Award and Patric Gudel (boys soccer) was presented with the Richard Lombardo Award. The Barbara Day Award was given to Imani Ruddock (field hockey), Kaylah Roberts (volleyball) received the Debra Tekosky Award, Merari Saravia Canales (girls soccer) was presented with the Michael S. Cohen Award and Gabriela Rivas (girls soccer) was the recipient of the Brittany Walsh Memorial Award. 

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School has announced the top 10 students for the graduating Class of 2020. With a weighted GPA of 103.35, Melanie Garcia has been named the valedictorian. Marvin Lobo has been named salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 103.30.

Valedictorian Melanie Garcia is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction and has been a valuable member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Math Team, Global Ambassadors Club and SOUL Medical Outreach Club. She participated in varsity tennis and bowling all four years of high school and is a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award due to her strong high school GPA. She is also a leader of the Voice to Voice Women’s Empowerment Committee, treasurer of the Class of 2020, treasurer of the Spanish Club and secretary of the Knitting and Crochet Club. She has applied to Cornell University, Columbia University, Stony Brook University, Binghamton University and Adelphi University. She is eager to study biology and pursue a career in medicine.   

During the past four years, Marvin has continuously placed on the honor roll, has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction, and has most recently been selected for the Suffolk Zone Chapter Award. As a leader throughout the school, Lobo is active in the National Honor Society, where he has served as vice president and president consecutively.  In addition, he is an active member of the Global Ambassadors, the One-Mind Cub, and the Key Club, where he has worked with teachers and students toward bettering the school community. He has been an integral part of the varsity wrestling team for the last four years and served as the team’s captain. Although undecided on his college and major, he has applied to Duke University, Princeton University, Harvard University, Cornell University and Stanford University.

The district congratulates the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School graduating Class of 2020 top 10 students: Melanie Garcia (valedictorian); Marvin Lobo (salutatorian); Naryman Lounici (third); Christopher Canenguez (fourth); Allison Reyes (fifth); Jarrett David (sixth); Nicole Hernandez (seventh); Alfred Barredo (eighth); Erhumwunse Eghafona (ninth); and Argeny Tavarez (10th).  

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, the members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Student Council, under the leadership of Cheryl Feldman and Neil Schweitzer, hosted “Pinktober.” The students sold pins, ribbons, pens and stickers. All of the money fundraised will be donated to a charity to help bring awareness and to assist in finding a cure for breast cancer.