Two high school students win 2021 Dellecave Award

Half Hollow Hills East senior Soledad Jean and Newfield High School senior Lorenzo Selini were recently honored with the Butch Dellecave Award.

Named in memory of the legendary educator, official and coach Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, the award is the product of a 21-year partnership between local school districts in Suffolk County, the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, the Butch Dellecave Foundation and Newsday.

Jean, a track and field standout and team captain, was also the senior class secretary and has been involved with anti-bullying and anti-harassment efforts as a peer ambassador. She’ll be going to the University of Louisville in Kentucky where she’ll be studying biology with a focus on a career in psychiatry or physical therapy. She graduates with a 3.7 grade point average. 

Selini, who will be attending Hofstra University, aspires to be a professional soccer player. The Newfield soccer team captain and four-year starter is recognized as a role model for fellow student athletes. Selini is a two-time Newsday Boys Soccer Player of the Year and was president of the Varsity Leaders Club where he did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity. His GPA heading into the final quarter of the school year was 95.2.

Athletic directors from all 66 Suffolk school districts are asked to nominate one male and one female from their high school senior class for the Dellecave award. Nominees must be students who are not only at the top of their game, but also score high in classroom performance and in their commitment to local community service.