Over the weekend, Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) hosted a “Young Leaders In The 21st” event. This event honored young people who make a positive difference in their community. The following people from Lynbrook and East Rockaway were honored:

• Everette Gamache- Everett Gamache has been an active member of his community through school and Scouting. As a member of the National Honor Society, he performs numerous hours of community service and has participated in a number of extracurricular activities, including playing in the pit and hosting the creation of a backdrop for Rock Rivalry. Academically, he participates in the science research program and is an AP Scholar with Honors. Through Scouting, Everett has been a part of multiple September 11th remembrances in the village, placed flags and wreaths at Pinelawn Cemetery and assisted many fellow Scouts in Eagle projects benefiting our community. One of his proudest accomplishments was installing an osprey nest platform along Mill River behind his junior-senior high school, helping him become Eagle Scout #168 from Troop 332. Last year he was recognized with a Building Bridges award by the JCRC of Long Island. Everett is an avid outdoorsman and a lifeguard for the Town of Hempstead. He is a graduating senior from East Rockaway High School and will be studying conservation biology at SUNY ESF in the fall.

• Claire Harvey- Claire Harvey is an 8th-grade student at the East Rockaway Jr/Sr High School who has proven herself to be a leader amongst her peers. She currently serves as a student ambassador on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee where she advocates for school improvement. Claire demonstrates her leadership role in and out of the classroom and actively participates in extracurricular activities. She is a member of Student Council, Sources of Strength, and writes for the East Rockaway school newspaper, The Gull. Claire also recently performed in the district’s production of Matilda the Musical as the character Alice. In addition, Claire plays three sports; cheer, volleyball and lacrosse and served as captain of both the cheer and lacrosse teams. Her strengths continue to shine in the classroom where her strong work ethic is demonstrated. She is a member of National Jr. Honor Society where she regularly volunteers in community service activities for the Village of East Rockaway, PTA and St. Raymond’s community. Claire is a mature, compassionate and determined leader who enjoys skiing and hopes to become a teacher one day.

• Nora Kane- Nora Kane has ascribed to the motto, “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected” her entire life. An academic standout, Kane is a National Merit Finalist and the Salutatorian of Lynbrook’s graduating class. She is also the winner of the 2024 New York State Science and Engineering Fair for Physics and Astronomy and will compete at ISEF, the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles this May, presenting her project entitled, “Analysis of Fourier Transforms Using a Combined Encoder-Decoder and Deep Neural Network Model: A Novel Method for Determining Chromaticity.” Outside of the classroom, Nora is captain of the Lynbrook High School girls’ varsity swim team, president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Vice President of the Science Honor Society, Captain of the Mathletes team, Co-Founder and Co-President of the Science Bowl Club and a violinist within multiple school orchestras. As an active member of the National Honor Society, Kane has devoted hundreds of hours to peer tutoring in STEM subjects throughout her high school career; she has also volunteered within the Village of Lynbrook at a host of events. Nora is most likely to attend the California Institute of Technology, where she will pursue a degree in physics.

• Caiden Lung- Lung is the Valedictorian of the 2024 graduating class. Lung is vice president of the National Honor Society, where he promotes leadership, service, character and scholarship. Lung co-founded a club for the Science Bowl, in which the team competes every year, and the hard work paid off as they boasted a better performance this year for Lynbrook. Lung is also co-captain of the Mathletes team. He enjoys competing with his peers in math and science competitions all over Long Island, which connects him with the STEM community. Lung volunteered countless hours tutoring in math and science to fellow and younger peers, helping students reach their highest potential so they will be ready to take on the world. Lung has been an active and passionate lacrosse player since the age of four, he is the lacrosse goalie for the lacrosse team and is also the captain of the volleyball team. His academic and lacrosse career will continue at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Lung thanks the Lynbrook teachers, coaches, guidance counselors and faculty for this amazing award.

“Young people are powerful. All throughout history, youth movements have had a tremendous impact on the way society thinks, acts and runs. Even today, it is young people who continue to lead the charge in the fight for equality and justice for all. I want to encourage young people to be bold. Change the world. Don’t be afraid to be a part of something bigger. Young people are a powerful group, and with great power comes great responsibility. Use your powers to make our small planet a better place. Everette Claire, Nora and Caiden are great examples of young leaders,” Curran said.