Press Releases

Contact: Public Relations Department
Suffolk County Water Authority
PO Box 37
Oakdale NY 11769
(631) 563-0296

June 17, 1998
SCWA Announces Slogan Contest Winners

One local teacher turned down an invitation to the opening night concert at Jones Beach to make sure she had plenty of time to savor the Awards Ceremony honoring one of her students, and other winners of the Suffolk County Water Authority's Seventh Annual Water Week Slogan Contest, held last week at the Authority's Oakdale headquarters.

Along with other educators, grandparents, parents and siblings of the honorees, Mrs. Dimino of the John F. Kennedy Middle School in Port Jefferson Station watched proudly as SCWA Chairman and CEO Michael LoGrande presented James Astea with his award. James was selected as the seventh grade winner for his slogan, "It Cleanses the Body; It Quenches the Thirst; It's All Natural -- Think of Water First."

Rebecca Primm was honored as the overall winner in the 1998 contest, held in conjunction with National Drinking Water Week, for her slogan, "Save the Water Down Below, and Help Us Live and Laugh and Grow," which will be published in SCWA bill inserts until next year. In addition to her Certificate of Award, Rebecca, an eighth grade student at St. Mary School in East Islip, received a $100 Savings Bond. Her teacher is Mrs. Lambert.

Each of the other winners received a Certificate of Award and a $50 savings bond. In addition, LoGrande and SCWA Public Relations Director June Bolton presented SCWA pens and water bottles to all the winners, which included two from the fourth grade, both students of Mrs. M. Goldstein of John Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack. The slogans involved in the tie were "Don't Water Pollute; Make That Absolute!" by Matthew Simon, and Carl Belgiorno's submission, "Water is Life! The Rest is Just Details."

"I'm always impressed with the wonderful work many of our educators are doing to help our young people understand the fine quality of our water supply on Long Island and work with us to protect this essential resource," LoGrande said. "This year, we received hundreds of slogans from schools all over Suffolk County, and choosing the winners wasn't easy. We commend all the participants and their teachers for a job well done." The other winning slogans are as follows:

Third Grade: "Suffolk County Water is the Best, Carefully Monitored to Pass the Test!"
submitted by Erin Mannino from St. Martin of Tours School in Amityville. Erin's teacher is Miss Laurencot.

Fifth Grade: "Water...it Does a Body Good!"
submitted by Emily Gardner from Jericho Elementary School in Commack. Her teacher is Ms. Joan Tangel.

Sixth Grade: "Let us be the Solution -- Stop Water Pollution!"
submitted by Magdalena Maldonado from Brentwood West Middle School in Bay Shore. Her teacher is Mrs. Bisulca.

Eighth Grade: "We Need to Save the Water Supply, for Each Generation Going By!"
submitted by Marissa DiPasquale, whose teacher is Mrs. Auer. Marissa attends Our Lady Queen of Apostles Regional Catholic School in Center Moriches.

The Authority also sent letters of commendation to 27 finalists in recognition of their efforts. In addition, photos from the June 9 ceremony and the winning slogans will be featured in an upcoming bill insert, Mansi noted.

The Suffolk County Water Authority is a public benefit corporation operating by virtue of the Public Authorities law of the State of New York. The Authority is operated solely for the benefit of the customers it serves.

From left are Carl Belgiorno, Matthew Simon, Magdalena Maldonado, Rebecca Primm, Mr LoGrande, James Astea, Emily Gardner and Erin Mannino.