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B.E.S.T. Award YASD on Facebook Excellence in Programming Award
It is time to nominate a teen for the Nassau/Suffolk B.E.S.T. Award! For those unfamiliar with this award, library staff members can nominate a teen to receive recognition for their contributions to library services. There will be one winner per county. For more information, please check the attached flyer.
Applications (Paper or Online) must be received no later than Friday, October 17, 2025. The paper application for Nassau County submissions can be mailed to Amy D’Arco at the Oceanside Public Library via system mail, email, or USPS.
We will be announcing the winners at SCLA’s Annual Dinner and NCLA’s YASD December Brunch!
We are also looking for people to participate in the B.E.S.T. Award committee! If you would like to participate and read all about these amazing teens, or have any questions about the award, please reply off-list to Amy at adarco@oceansidelibrary.com
Previous B.E.S.T. Award Winners
| Year | Name | Library |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Yarel and Itiel Sulman | Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library |
| 2023 | Fiona Wong | North Merrick |
| 2022 | Daniel Liu | The Bryant Library |
| 2021 | Sophia Stefanakis | Manhasset Public Library |
| 2020 | No award | |
| 2019 | Athena Allen | Uniondale Public Library |
| 2018 | John (Jack) Miller | Farmingdale Public Library |
| 2017 | Olivia Lundelius | Great Neck Library |
| 2016 | Frederick Grimshaw | New Hyde Park Memorial High School |
| 2015 | Anthony Chen | Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library |
| 2014 | Samantha Raggio | Franklin Square Public Library |
| 2013 | Aisha Cooper | Uniondale Public Library |
| 2012 | Evan Sandgren | Garden City High School Library |
| 2011 | Gina Darnaud | Levittown Public Library |
| 2010 | David Kane | Rockville Centre |
| 2009 | Kaitlin Quinn | East Williston |
| 2008 | Natahalie Souffrant | Uniondale |
| 2007 | Andrea Crivello | Island Trees |
| 2006 | Sharifa Shorter | Uniondale |
| 2005 | Melissa Bobe | Rockville Centre |
| 2004 | Kriti Kathuria | Shelter Rock |
| 2003 | Liora Barzideh | Shelter Rock |
| 2002 | Sydney Bertley | Uniondale |
| 2001 | Stephanie Elpenrod | Uniondale |
| 2000 | Courtney Connolly | Rockville Centre |
| 1999 | Chinwe Erike | Uniondale |
| 1998 | Harry Oettinger | Oyster Bay |
| 1997 | Melissa Ianetta | Levittown |
| 1996 | Thomas Schmitt | Mineola |
| 1995 | Christina Marie Carbone | Bayville |
| 1994 | John Driscoll | Mineola |
| 1993 | Marvin and Matthew Mitchell | Long Beach |
| 1992 | Valerie Sena | |
| 1991 | Larry Mergentheimer | East Meadow |
| 1990 | Claudine Johnson | Uniondale |
| 1989 | Rocco Cassano | East Meadow |
| 1988 | Heather Scheiber | Port Washington |
| 1987 | Steve Guerra | Freeport |
Last updated 10/9/24
