On a beautiful sunny morning, Amityville Memorial High School welcomed State Assemblyman Kwani B. O’Pharrow for a special recognition ceremony on June 8 honoring his generous $75,000 contribution toward critical upgrades and repairs to the school’s track and softball field facilities. 

District and school administrators, coaches, staff members and student-athletes gathered to express their gratitude to Assemblyman O’Pharrow for his support of the Amityville community and its schools. Members of the PTA and Board of Education trustees were also in attendance to celebrate the occasion and recognize the positive impact the funding will have on current and future generations of students. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert emphasized the impact the improvements will have on students’ sense of belonging and school pride. 

“We are so grateful that the assemblyman chose these students first, that they do not have to leave their senior year feeling that their school community did not rally and advocate for them to have this amazing field,” Dr. Talbert said. “You have created memories that these young people will take away from this school district, that there's a leader who cared, who stood for me, who said yes for me because I'm enough, I matter and I'm worth it.” 

Evan Farkas, the district’s Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health, highlighted the broader value of athletic spaces in student development. 

“As many of you know, our athletic facilities are more than just fields and tracks,” Mr. Farkas said. “They are places where our students learn teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and pride.” 

Abigail Brown, senior varsity softball player, reflected on the long-awaited improvements to the softball field and their impact on student-athletes. 

“We would like to thank him for helping secure the funding that made the renovation of our softball field possible,” Brown said. “These improvements will not only help our current team, but also future generations of the Amityville softball players.” 

Eghosa Ojo, senior track and field member, shared how the upgrades have already enhanced the student experience. 

“These repairs allowed our team to host home meets this season, which is something we truly appreciated,” Ojo said. “Being able to compete in front of our classmates, teachers and families made this season even more special.” 

School and district leaders noted that investments in school facilities play an important role in fostering student achievement, school pride and community engagement. They expressed appreciation for Assemblyman O’Pharrow’s advocacy and commitment to ensuring that Amityville students have access to safe, modern athletic facilities that support their growth and well-being. 

Mr. O’Pharrow spoke about the importance of athletics in student development and expressed appreciation for the collaboration that made the project possible. 

“Sports is something that's really important because it gives you that opportunity to be well-rounded in life, he said. “It gives you that discipline, it gives you that camaraderie as a team and something that you will need when you go on further in life. I would like to thank Dr. Talbert, the Amityville school board, all the athletic teams, the directors and everyone that worked on this project to make this possible.” 

Following the recognition ceremony, attendees gathered on the athletic grounds for ribbon-cutting ceremonies commemorating the partnership and the improvements made possible through Assemblyman O’Pharrow’s contribution. 

The district extends its sincere appreciation to Assemblyman O’Pharrow for his continued commitment to supporting students, families and educational opportunities throughout the community.