Scarsdale 10583: Fenigstein and 16 Others Receive NYS Youth Leadership Awards

Joanne Wallenstein

June 13, 2023

SamFenigstein SHS Junior, Samantha (Sammy) Fenigstein was one of 17 Westchester students awarded the NYS Senate Youth leadership award for a combination of academic achievement and community service. Sammy’s community service project was her development and continued leadership of a program called Skip the Straw Scarsdale. The program has helped the environment by decreasing plastic straw use and by beneficially changing habits and practices around the use of single-use disposable plastics.

The Skip the Straw program has two parts.

First there is the Skip the Straw “Business Pledge” where restaurants and food establishments take a pledge to serve beverages without plastic straws and only provide reusable or non-plastic straws upon request. Sammy has been going door to door, speaking with restaurants, and convincing them to help the environment and take the pledge. Several Scarsdale restaurants have signed on and switched from plastic to compostable straws.

Second, the Skip the Straw “Individual Pledge” is where individuals take a pledge to choose not to use single-use disposable straws and to frequent local establishments that are part of the Skip the Straw program. People who have taken the pledge attest to realizing that in most instances they don’t need a straw, and are now using less disposable plastics. If you would like to help the environment and Sammy go to her website and take the Skip the Straw Scarsdale pledge!

Here is an announcement from State Senator Shelley Mayer about the program.

State Senator Shelley Mayer awarded 17 students throughout Senate District 37 with the 2023 New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award on Monday, June 12. The NYS Senate Youth Leadership Award recognizes outstanding high school students for excellence in the classroom, athletics, and extracurricular or community activities.

In addition to presenting each student with a certificate for their achievement, Senator Mayer led an open discussion to learn more about each student’s work and to allow student leaders to learn from and inspire one another.

Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am pleased to present Youth Leadership Awards to these tremendous students from high schools throughout District 37. We are fortunate to have many hard-working students dedicated to inspiring and leading others. Whether they achieved high marks in academics, gave hundreds of hours of community service, or led their peers to success, as a community we benefit from their leadership, empathy, and determination every day. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I especially appreciated hearing their stories and learning more about what they have done in their schools and their future plans. I thank Superintendent Dr. Eric Lutinski and the Rye Neck High School for hosting this ceremony.”

“We are proud to host the 2023 Youth Leadership Recognition Awards this year. Our five nominees exemplify the quality and character of our Rye Neck student body and we are gratified that they have been recognized by Senator Mayer for their efforts,” said Dr. Eric Lutinski, Ed.D., Superintendent of Rye Neck Schools.

Students from Bronxville, Harrison, Rye, Rye Neck, Scarsdale, Tuckahoe, and White Plains were recognized. Each student was nominated by a teacher or school administrator for their outstanding leadership.

awards 17 Students received the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award