Long Beach High School junior Shane Schack recently received a New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition Award. This award is given to outstanding students who excel not only academically, but through leadership in extracurricular and volunteer activities.

Schack has been volunteering since elementary and middle school to assist peers who have special needs. When he started high school, he got involved with the school’s Best Pal’s Club and currently serves as the club’s president. Best Pal’s Club is extracurricular group that facilitates initiatives that connect general education students with those in the Life Skills program, which serves a large population of teens with autism. Best Pal’s objective is to provide socialization events and activities for the students in the Life Skills program.

Some of the events Shane has been responsible for coordinating through Best Pal’s have included Halloween dances, pizza and ice cream parties and games such as “Keep It Up” with a balloon. The junior also regularly teaches exercise and life skill classes to adults and children at the Jewish Community Center in Oceanside.

Best Pal’s Club Advisor Cathy Palmer shared, “Shane truly has a talent and easily makes a connection with all students.” Palmer described how the students’ faces light up when Shane interacts with them. “He consistently goes out of his way to greet them and make them feel comfortable when he sees them during the school day. Shane is truly someone who stands out as an outstanding individual who truly makes a difference in the lives of special needs students,” said Palmer.

The district extends congratulations to Shane and wishes him continued future success.

Date Added: 5/4/2023