At the June 4th Board of Education meeting, students from each school building in our district were honored in memory of Diana Cinquemani-Fritze. Diana was both a graduate and a teacher of South Huntington who passed away from ovarian cancer in June 2023. 

The Diana Cinquemani-Fritze Impact Award recognizes South Huntington students in each school building who are creating an exceptionally positive impact on our school community, making it a better place because of their presence. 

“Leave a little sparkle everywhere you go” was the motto of Diana, the beloved South Huntington graduate and educator. Her colleagues, friends, and family say Diana truly left every place and everyone in her life better than she found it. Her kindness, generosity, selflessness, ability to put a smile on everyone’s face and desire to consistently go above and beyond to make everything around her better are what made Diana the incredibly special person that she was, and the memory of her presence an everlasting gift. 

The students honored with this award possess these same characteristics and have made a tangible, lasting, positive impact on our school community. This non-monetary award was proposed by Board of Education Trustee, Ms. Erin Meijer, who was a good friend of Diana. We thank Ms. Meijer and the School Board for approving this special recognition, and we are fortunate to honor Diana’s memory alongside her family and friends for years to come.

Congratulations to the recipients of this first time award: Beckett Loomis (Walt Whitman), Meghan Gulickson (Stimson), Jonah Becker (Silas Wood), Kristhel Hidalgo Martinez (Maplewood), Madison Inzirillo (Birchwood), Owen Lomot (Oakwood), and Josie Snyder (Countrywood)!

Nomination and Award Process:

Students may be nominated by any staff member: classroom teachers, special area teachers, support staff, mental health or guidance professionals, administrators, paraprofessionals, nutrition services staff, custodial staff, office staff, bus drivers, coaches, security guards or nurses.  Nominating staff should provide a brief description with specific examples of how this student has created an exceptionally positive impact on their school community throughout the year.  Each building may choose their own committee to review nominations and select one student to receive the award for each building by early May.  Those students with multiple nominations should be strongly considered.  Students will be recognized at a June Board of Education meeting with a personal plaque/certificate as well as a plaque to be displayed in their home school building.

Board Trustee, Ms. Erin Meijer, alongside Julianne Meijer, Benjamin Meijer, and Matthew Russotto, introduced the inaugural award in honor of Diana Cinquemani-Fritze.

Principals and teachers were welcomed to the podium to speak about the students that they nominated for this special award.

One student from each of our district’s schools was nominated and graciously accepted the award at the June 4th BOE meeting.

Friends and family members of Diana took the time to recognize these bright shining students alongside the South Huntington Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools.