The Village of Mineola board congratulated the Mineola High School Robotics Team on qualifying for the World Championship and an Optimum representative presented the team with a $2,000 award Wednesday night.
After the ceremony, village officials encouraged residents to attend various upcoming activities in Mineola.
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Legislator Scott Strauss attended the Village Hall robotics team ceremony.
The mayor called up each student on the team, including his own son, and officials distributed certificates.
“Congratulations to the Mineola High School Robotics Team,” Mayor Paul Pereira said. “It was a very nice ceremony recognizing their accomplishments, as many of them go off into college as they are a senior-heavy team.”
After local officials shared some kind words, a representative from Optimum who manages government and community affairs announced that the Mineola High School team won the Optimum Innovative Award.
A panel of judges looked at high schools throughout the tri-state area who were eligible for the award, the Optimum employee said.
She said Mineola was chosen because of the project’s direct impact: teaching STEM lessons with LEGO blocks to 250 students at The Henry Viscardi School, a special education school that caters to disabled youth.
The representative presented the team with a large check for $2,000.
The mayor also gifted the team with a large street sign that read: “Home of the Mineola Wild Reds.”
The robotics team, which includes about 20 students, will be traveling to Houston for the world robotics competition.
After the ceremony, the board held its regular meeting.
Village officials encouraged community members to attend a slew of upcoming events in Mineola, including the Portugal Day Flag Raising Friday in front of the Mineola Fire Department headquarters, the Portuguese Carnival Friday through Sunday at the Wilson Park parking lot and the Portugal Day Parade Sunday.
The Mineola Athletic Association is hosting a Family Fun Day Saturday at the Willis Avenue fields featuring games, DJs, bounce houses, a barbecue, ice cream and more, Trustee Janine Sartori said.
The Live Like a Champion Soccer Match will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at the high school field. The game memorializes a Mineola High School student from prior years, Sartori said.
In addition to the community celebrations, the mayor encouraged residents to attend the upcoming June 17 meeting of the New York Forward Local Planning Committee, which will discuss how to spend a $4.5 million state grant that the village was awarded in January.
