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The Suffolk County High School Principals Association recently sponsored a dynamic student leadership conference on October 22nd at Harborfields High School. Over 500 student leaders from 40 Suffolk County High Schools took part in the first Compassion Without Borders conference. The purpose of this event was to bring Suffolk County high school students together and focus on one charitable cause. The SCHSPA has embraced Dylan Thompson, a sophomore from Harborfields High School who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. DMD is a fatal progressive disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence. Our goal this year is to donate $50,000 to Dylan’s Footprint, the organization that is raising funds to make Dylan’s home “handicap accessible.” Each Suffolk County high school has pledged $1,000 which will be raised through a variety of student-sponsored fundraising initiatives.

Suffolk high school students attend leadership council

Originally published: October 22, 2009 10:06 PM
By DEBORAH S. MORRIS  deborah.morris@newsday.com

It's a student leadership council with a twist: Take down the barriers that come with school colors and mascots so students from across Suffolk County can come together as one.

Thursday the first meeting of such a group, Compassion Without Borders, convened at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn. A caravan of buses brought about 500 student leaders from over 40 districts to the school, where they filled a gymnasium.

"Our prime directive is to provide leadership opportunities for kids," said Edward Casswell, president of the Suffolk County High School Principals' Association, which sponsors the group. "Oftentimes it's a competitive relationship between schools; the idea is to go beyond competition and pool the collective resources of all the great kids in the county."

The group's first goal is raising money for the Dylan's Footprint foundation to help Dylan Thompson, 16, a Harborfields sophomore who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Casswell said 60 high schools in the county have each pledged $1,000 to the foundation to help renovate Dylan's house so it is handicapped accessible.

"I'm really excited that all of these kids have come to help raise money for me," said Dylan, who is manager of the school's girls softball and boys basketball teams and who greeted the visiting students outside as they arrived.

Fundraising got off to a good start with Smithtown East and West high schools donating a total of $1,250. Casswell said the other schools will have the rest of the school year to raise the money.

"This is a really awesome cause," said Samantha Colanussi, 17, a Harborfields senior who attended the meeting. "Dylan is a really nice kid. Our whole school is happy to help him and it's nice that other schools will be joining us."

She said some fundraising ideas include sales of baked goods, ribbons and cards.

Each year Compassion Without Borders will convene at a different school and identify new initiatives.

Harborfields student government president Brian Lindo, 17, said the get-together helps reiterate the importance of helping others.

"My principal is always stressing to us that we are the future, the next generation," said Lindo, a senior. "I think if you start young, you will do it when you are older."

Watch Video from the first Summit held at Harborfields High School