On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Long Island High School for the Arts came out to celebrate the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation Awards Gala held at Crest Hollow Country Club. During the cocktail hour, guests were entertained by LIHSA Performing Arts Music students. The incredible quartet consisted of Samantha Harold, Willow Landeverde, Jake Santos, and Arvindh Senthilvelan. The ceremony opened with an incredible acapella version of “The Star Spangled Banner” sung by a LIHSA trio of students: Julie Ricotta, Adrienne Porti, and Ashlee Fucarino. Special thanks to Alex Vietheer for preparing the students for this event and to Jerry Nobile for producing this live performance. Thanks also to Kimberly Larkin for working closely with our trio for an unforgettable start to the night.
The night was also a moment to celebrate an incredible leader in our LIHSA community: Ashlee Fucarino. This student was honored with the distinguished Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award after being nominated by her home district, Wantagh UFSD.
Nassau BOCES Board of Education Trustee, Eric B. Schultz, introduced Ashlee and his words echoed the sentiments of the LIHSA faculty and staff. He shared:
Through her phenomenal talents and stunning academic performance, Ashlee Fucarino has made a powerful impact on education. The scholar-artist is an inspiration to her peers in every way, from her unyielding commitment to her powerful drive. Every day, Ashlee demonstrates the incredible opportunities that open up when one is willing to push themselves toward greatness. As both a senior at Wantagh High School and a theater student at Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts, Ashlee has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication. Her theatrical resume is extensive, featuring major roles in renowned musicals, such as The Who’s Tommy, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Into the Woods and Jekyll & Hyde. As her award nominator attests, “Ashlee embodies all of the qualities of a true role model. She is kind, thoughtful and mature, and her contributions to her school and community are invaluable.” We commend you, Ashlee Fucarino, for your outstanding efforts in both academics and the arts. Ashlee, please join us on stage to receive the Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award on behalf of the Foundation.
