The South Country School District Art Department is pleased to share that four Bellport High School seniors and one junior have been recognized by the Parrish Art Museum as part of its 65th annual Student Exhibition, which ran through April 24.

The 2022 showcase, which features more than 600 young artists, honored seniors David Ayala (digital media), Alexia Benjamin (digital media), Betsy Castro (photography) and Vivienne Love (photography) with Senior Awards for Excellence. Additionally, junior Madeline Day was selected for the “Ones to Watch” category.

The South Country School District congratulates these students on this artistic accomplishment.

Date Added: 4/26/2022

For its exemplary record of leadership, service and activities that serve to improve the school and community, the Bellport High School Student Council has been recognized as a gold-level winner of the 2022 National Council of Excellence Award by the National Student Council (NatStuCo). The NatStuCo program is supported by its parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

A student council must meet a variety of criteria to be eligible for this award. In addition to basic requirements such as a written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election process, the council must demonstrate successful sponsorship and participation in activities such as leadership development and service to the school and community.

This school year, the Bellport High School Student Council hosted a variety of unifying, schoolwide pride events and held several fundraisers, including a food drive for local food pantries and a collection for Ukraine.

Date Added: 4/26/2022

Bellport High School has announced Rianna Raghunandan and Calvin Pedatella as its Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, and Eric Ciavatta as the class essayist. The three seniors earned the top spots in their class through their outstanding commitment to academics.

Raghunandan, Pedatella and Ciavatta have all achieved a number of academic accomplishments during their tenure at Bellport High School.

Raghunandan is an AP Scholar with Honor and holds a National Hispanic Recognition Award. She is treasurer of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and a member of the National, Math and Science honor societies, as well as the Art Club, Spanish Club, Book Club and Key Club. She plays the violin in both the concert and pit orchestras. In addition, she was accepted into the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and selected as a finalist in the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match Program. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club.

She plans to attend Yale University in the fall to study biological sciences on a pre-med track.

Pedatella is an AP Scholar and a member of the National, Math and Science honor societies. He is a decorated athlete as a member of his school’s wrestling and football teams. For the former, he is a two-time All-League wrestler and a Scholar-Athlete. For the latter, he earned All-County, All-Long Island and All-State honors and was named a Suffolk County News 12 Scholar Athlete. Most recently, he was named the winner of the Top Scholar Athlete Award from the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation. In school, he volunteers with Athletes Helping Athletes, and outside of school, he helps at Eileen’s Home soup kitchen.

He will be attending Williams College in the fall, where he will continue playing football.

Ciavatta is vice president of his school’s National Honor Society, a member of the Math and Science honor societies, and has served as class secretary for the past four years. He is also a member of his school’s Culinary Club and student council. Outside of school, he works at RHUM in Patchogue.

He will be attending SUNY Cortland in the fall to study math education.

Date Added: 4/15/2022

Bellport High School students had an opportunity to explore future college and career options at the guidance department's Spring College and Career Fair, held April 6. During the event, students learned more from representatives of 100 colleges and 30 local business professionals and military personnel.

Date Added: 4/14/2022

Bellport High School senior Calvin Pedatella has been named the winner of the Top Scholar Athlete Award by the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Pedatella, an outside linebacker and wide receiver, earned the top award from a pool of the top 11 athletes in Suffolk County who were eligible for it.

This is not the only honor bestowed upon Pedatella, who has served as captain of his school’s football team for the past two years. He was featured on a News 12 segment as a News 12 Scholar Athlete Award recipient and received a $1,000 scholarship from Bethpage Federal Credit Union. He also holds All-County, All-Long Island and All-State titles for football.

Pedatella, who recently signed with Williams College, is also an accomplished wrestler, earning two varsity Scholar Athlete Awards and two All-League titles.

In addition to his athletic involvement and academic studies, Pedatella has been named the Class of 2022 salutatorian and is a member of his school’s Athletes Helping Athletes club and National, Math and Science honor societies. He also volunteers at the nonprofit Eileen’s Home for the Holidays.

The South Country Central School District congratulates him on this exceptional achievement.

Date Added: 4/13/2022