PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 23, 2017
O.B. DAVIS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH J.D. POWER PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Photo from Shoreham-Wading River school district
Robert Sturges, Cindy Cavorti & Ralph Ferrara.
The Dignity Memorial Network of Funeral Providers represented locally by the O.B. Davis Funeral Homes, the nation’s largest provider of funeral and cemetery services has been recognized for its commitment to excellence in customer satisfaction recently when it received the prestigious President's Award from JD Power. The President's Award recognizes individuals or companies demonstrating dedication, commitment and continued client satisfaction in serving families. During the 40-year history of JD Power, only 12 companies have previously received the award.
O.B. Davis Funeral Homes 4839 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 | 631-473-0360 1001 Route 25a, Miller Place , NY 11764 | 631-744-1001 2326 Middle Country Road, Centereach, NY 11720 | 631-585-8888 www. obda v i s. com
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ENDS MARCH 31!
SWR sophomores start up school’s first debate club By Kevin Redding kevin@tbrnewspapers.com
with interests in political science or law, her next step was to make one. After speaking to Gilroy about moving forward with the idea, her A love of law and political science, com- teacher recommended she speak with Beran. bined with the impact of recent presidential Upon meeting Kirkpatrick, Beran said “we debates, sparked the idea for two Shore- knew this was the time to act.” ham-Wading River sophomores to push for The two students, who were deeply ina debate team. vested in the atmosphere of politics last year, Thanks to the efforts of Declan Beran pointed to the coverage of the 2016 presidenand Emma Kirkpatrick, the board of educa- tial debates as a catalyst in creating the club, tion saw no argument against the idea, and wanting to use it as their template. unanimously approved the newfound club, “Mrs. Gilroy, Declan and I met after which will begin the 2017-18 school year. school weekly, collaborating on our ideas In their PowerPoint presentation during for the club and putting together a prea board meeting a month prior to approval, sentation for the board,” Kirkpatrick said. Beran and Kirkpatrick, who will serve as co- “Through this process of creating the club, captains of the club, said the first year will many students have approached me asking serve as their “pilot year” in which they’ll me about it and when they can join.” assemble the team, hold Similar to the foundaweekly meetings with an tions of a debate, the sophoadvisor, compete in practice mores told board members debates and sharpen their that students in high school are usually timed and limskills to prepare for comited by topic when writing petition with other schools, argumentative essays, addwhich they hope to do by ing that the club could help their senior year. students taking Regents and In convincing the board, AP exams. the two students are already Skills acquired will help well on their way to being students not only in high successful debaters, said school, but in college and 10th and 11th grade English the workplace as well, when teacher Brenna Gilroy, who — Brenna Gilroy doing things like formulatwill serve as the club adviser. “I just gave them some guidance — they ing an argument, presenting it in a clear and approached me about starting the club and cohesive manner, building self-confidence legitimately did most of the work,” Gilroy with public speaking and deepening research said. “I think [the board agrees] it’s impor- and analysis skills. “We’ve found that as the students benefit tant for students to be able to communicate well and effectively, but in a respectful, re- from the debate team, the school will prosper,” Beran said, adding that he thinks the team will searched and knowledgeable way.” Beran, a lacrosse player and vice presi- be made up of about 20 students overall. High school principal Dan Holtzman said dent of his class, said he “prides himself in being an eloquent speaker.” He has wanted the required teamwork and collaboration to form a debate club since his freshman within the club will be a tremendous asset year, in the hopes the skills acquired could to the students. As for the work of Beran and help him, and others with similar interests, Kirkpatrick, he couldn’t be prouder. “I’m a staunch supporter of students adin future career endeavors. Beran plans to be a political science major in college, to work vocating for themselves,” Holtzman said. “The fact that Emma and Declan invested a on becoming a corporate lawyer. When Kirkpatrick, an honor roll student great deal of time and effort into the presenwith similar career aspirations, also realized tation, it speaks volumes about their passion the school had no clubs catered to students and commitment.”
‘I think [the board agrees] it’s important for students to be able to communicate well and effectively, but in a respectful, researched and knowledgeable way.’
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Sophomores declan Beran and emma Kirkpatrick successfully convinced the district’s board of education to let them head Shoreham-Wading River’s first debate club.
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