The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced its 2020-21 Scholar-Athlete School of Distinction Award winners, and Rocky Point High School is on the list. This is the fourth year that the high school was named to the list for its 23 varsity teams. It is one of only 13 Section XI schools in Suffolk County and one of only 64 in New York State to earn the honor.

Rocky Point was recognized for having all of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons. To qualify, every varsity team must have 75% or more of its student-athletes earn an average of 90 or higher.

A certificate and commemorative award will be presented to the school by the executive director of NYSPHSAA at the organization’s annual athletic eligibility workshop in October.

The Rocky Point School District commenced the 2021-22 school year during its annual reorganizational meeting on July 8.

During the meeting, Mr. Michael Lisa was sworn in as a newly elected member of the Board.

After being reelected earlier this year, Mr. Ed Casswell was also sworn in as BOE trustee. Mr. Lisa and Mr. Casswell will serve alongside BOE President Susan Sullivan, BOE Vice President Sean Callahan and BOE trustee Jessica Ward.

The district thanks all members for their dedicated service to our schools, students and community.

Rocky Point High School was well represented at the annual Teeny Awards and brought home two first-place honors from the July 11 event. The ceremony was held at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center and sponsored by the East End Arts Council.

Brenna Kiernan won in the category of Outstanding Performer in a Play, Musical/Mini-Musical or Musical Revue in the high school’s Musical Revue: A Broadway Revue. Tessa Cunningham, Brenna Kiernan and Samantha Leversen received first-place honors for Best Duet/Trio Performance in a Musical Revue for “Webber Love Trio” in the same stage performance.

In addition to Tessa, Brenna and Samantha, the Rocky Point School District congratulates nominees Grace Benedetto, Chris Carley, Jillian Carley, Adam Olszewski, Renee Ortiz and Jacey Ruisi. The students who worked along with Mary Donovan and Jaimie Mancini, were lauded at the ceremony for the obstacles they overcame to still creatively perform during the pandemic.

“The Teeny Awards were such an exciting event,” Ms. Mancini said. “It was a wonderful way to honor our students for all of their tremendous talent and efforts throughout this year.”

Several Rocky Point High School students have been nominated for a Teeny Award, sponsored by the East End Arts Council, an organization that recognizes and celebrates excellence in high school theater. The nominees are Adam Olszewski for Supporting Male in a Play for his role of Zack in “Selfie.” Jillian Carley was nominated for Supporting Female in a Play for her role of Nicole in “Selfie” and in the role of Girl in “Check Please.” Brenna Kiernan was nominated in the role of Laura in “Selfie” and Renee Ortiz was nominated in the role of Jessie in “Selfie.” Both Jillian Carley and Brenna Kiernan were also nominated in the categories of Outstanding Performer in a Play, Musical or Musical Revue and Best Solo Performance in a Musical Revue for their roles in “A Broadway Revue.” In the Best Duet/Trio Performance in a Musical Revue category, Chris Carley and Tessa Cunningham were nominated for “Sun and Moon,” Jillian Carley and Jacey Ruisi were nominated for “I Still Believe,” Tessa Cunningham, Brenna Kiernan and Samantha Leversen were nominated for “Webber Love Trio” and Tessa Cunningham and Samantha Leversen were nominated for “Defying Gravity,” all from “A Broadway Revue.”

The song “Who Tells Your Story” from “A Broadway Revue” was also nominated in the Best Group Performance in a Musical Revue. Three students were nominated in the Best Master of Ceremonies/Host/Narrator in a Musical Revue category. They are Jillian Carley, Brenna Kiernan and Renee Ortiz, all as a Master of Ceremonies in “A Broadway Revue.” Nominated in the category of Best Musical Performance in a Video were Grace Benedetto for “Alyssa Greene” and Brenna Kiernan for “Not for the Life of Me.” Grace Benedetto was also nominated in the category of Best Monologue Performance in a Video for “And Turning Stay.”

The students worked under the direction of Mary Donovan and Jaimie Mancini. They were both commended by the high school’s music chairperson Amy Schecher for their time, dedication and creativity in embracing the challenges presented this year while giving the students an opportunity to perform by creating three outstanding shows.

The students were nominated along with students from 18 Suffolk County schools. The 19th Annual Teeny Awards Ceremony will be held on July 11 at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center and via Facebook Live.