Named in honor of Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, the award is the product of a 23-year partnership between the local Suffolk County school district and the award organizers.
(L to R): Mark Dellecave, Chair, Butch Dellecave Foundation; Brady Clark; Lacey Downey; Adrian Fassett, CEO, Suffolk Economic Opportunity Council; Butch Dellecave Foundation Executive Director Guy Dellecave.Image Credit: Artist Lake Media
Bayport-Blue Point High School senior Brady Clark and West Babylon High School senior Lacey Downey received the Butch Dellecave Award recently at a ceremony at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.
Named for legendary educator, official and coach Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, the award is the product of a 23-year highly successful partnership between the local Suffolk County school district and the organizers of the award: the Suffolk Economic Opportunity Council, Corporation, Butch Dellecave Foundation, and Newsday.
Athletic directors from all 66 school districts in Suffolk County were asked to nominate a man and a woman from their high school senior year. Nominees must be students who are not only at the top of their competition, but also score highly in classroom performance and commitment to local community service.
Clark excelled in his final year, showing talent both athletically and academically. As an athlete, he led the football team to an undefeated season and the Long Island Division Four championship, while also winning the prestigious Henson Award as Suffolk County’s top player. Clark also helped the baseball team win 23 of its first 24 games, earning it a berth in Suffolk’s Class A Championship Series. He demonstrated academic excellence with a weighted GPA of 97.4, an impressive SAT score of 1310, and an inspiring commitment to community service as a volunteer coach for youth athletic programs.
Downey gained unrivaled recognition throughout her high school athletic career, becoming the most awarded student-athlete in Long Island history with eight Newsday All-Long Island tryouts in girls’ lacrosse, girls’ basketball and field hockey. In addition to her athletic prowess, Downey has demonstrated her dedication to academics by achieving an outstanding 107-weighted class average, as well as her commitment to the community through various service contributions, including by assisting the annual Ray Downey People affected by the terrorist attack raised funds to honor the 5K race, a race named after her late grandfather.
About the Suffolk Economic Opportunity Council
The Suffolk Economic Opportunity Council – a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organization – has served Suffolk County since 1967. It is the county’s federally designated community action agency to help low-income people – income families and individuals. The agency’s mission is to achieve self-sufficiency by coordinating public and private resources to broaden children’s horizons, revitalize communities, and assist families and children in need.
