AUGUST 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 87
SPOTLIGHT ON 2019 WINNERS
YOU VOTED, THEY WON HEAD OF THE CLASS
BEST TEACHER
Kathleen Harrigan
For teachers like Kathleen
Harrigan, educating young
minds isn’t a job, it’s a calling.
Harrigan has been teaching
at Our Lady of Mercy (OLM)
for 24 years. She began at
OLM teaching third grade for
two years, then moved up to
the fifth grade, which she has
taught for 21 years, and loves
every minute. She began the
After School Program that
has been up and running for
11 years. Ms. Harrigan is an
institution at Our Lady of Mercy,
and helps bring out the best
in every student who walks
through her classroom door.
Our Lady of Mercy, 520 South
Oyster Bay Rd., Hicksville, 516-
433-7040, olmshicks.org
BEST PRINCIPAL
Dr. Daniel Vitow
Dr. Daniel J. Vitow has been the
Headmaster at North Shore Hebrew
Academy High School since its planning
stage in 2000. The development
of the school is a direct result of his
vision for Jewish education based
upon more than 40 years of stewardship
leading various yeshivas.
North Shore Hebrew Academy HS,
400 North Service Road, Great Neck,
516-487-2424, nshahs.org
BEST COLLEGE PRESIDENT
Christine M. Riordan
One of Long Island’s most prestigious
institutions of higher learning is led
by one of the best minds on the island
and a true trailblazer. Christine M.
Riordan, Ph.D., is the first woman
to serve as president of Adelphi
University. She is an internationally
recognized expert in leadership development,
team building, and diversity
and inclusion, and is recognized
for her ground-breaking initiatives
to personalize and transform the
higher education experience. Since
beginning her appointment as Adelphi’s
10th president in 2015, she has
launched a remarkable turnaround
strategy that has led to a boost in
enrollment, increased fundraising,
greater recognition and new strategies
to promote student success and
diversity and inclusion. In the fall of
2016, 2017, and 2018, Adelphi enrolled
the largest first-year classes in its
history. Adelphi University 1 South
Avenue, Garden City, 516-877-3000,
adelphi.edu
BEST COLLEGE SPORTS
COACH
Pat McCabe
Pat McCabe has what it takes to mold
young minds and guide them to success.
He was announced as the fourth
head coach of the women’s lacrosse
program at Adelphi University on
Sept. 4, 2014, and enters his
fifth season at the helm in 2019.
In his four years at the helm,
McCabe has guided the Panthers
in their championship
tradition, adding two NCAA
Division II national crowns to
the team’s resume while reaching
the national championship
game in his first three years.
The squad has also won three
Northeast-10 Championships,
running the team’s total to seven
in nine seasons. Hooray Pat,
and hooray Adelphi! Adelphi
University, 1 South Avenue,
Garden City, adelphi.edu
BEST HIGH SCHOOL
SPORTS COACH
John Calabria
John Calabria began his
lacrosse playing career at
Sachem High School where he
achieved All-County Honors playing
attack. From there he received a full
athletic scholarship for lacrosse to
attend Adelphi University where he
was awarded All-American Honors,
helping Adelphi win the Division II
College National Championship in
1993 and also awarded Team MVP.
Coach Calabria is a Social Studies
teacher at Syosset High School,
which gives him a good perspective
of the young student-athlete’s ability
to understand and internalize all
phases of the game. He has coached
and played lacrosse at both the high
school and college levels. Coach Calabria
stated he has always looked
for the following things from his
coaches: love of the game, high
lacrosse IQ, strong work ethic, and
professional mannerisms with an
understanding that as a coach, you
must value the whole experience
that players are experiencing, in
the classroom and on the field.
Syosset High School, 70 S. Woods
Road, Syosset, 516-364-5675,
syossetschools.org
LAST MONTH OT NOMINATE!
Nominate your favorite businesses and people in the 2020
Bethpage Best of Long Island program through Aug. 31.
Step 1: Visit bestoflongisland.com
Step 2: Click "Nominate Now"
Step 3: Select a category and enter the information about the person
or business you with to nominate
Step 4: Click "Submit"
Step 5: Repeat for all of your favorite people and businesses
To find all of the other 2019 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit
bestoflongisland.com
Brought to you by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
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