MacArthur Student Earns Award From Nassau DA's Office

LEVITTOWN, NY — Erica Neri, a junior from General Douglas MacArthur High School, was recently recognized with the Nassau County SHIELD Award from District Attorney Madeline Singas. The SHIELD Award — which stands for Service, Honesty, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership and Duty — honors high school juniors who demonstrate outstanding character, commitment to self-growth and the spirit and initiative to bring about a positive change in their community.

Neri was nominated by her school for the special recognition. She is heavily involved at MacArthur High School, where she is participates in extracurricular activities such as winter and spring track, the ABC Club, the Big Sister Little Sister Club and MacArthur Lighting and Sound. In addition, she is a Girl Scout who has received her Silver Award, is a member of the Maria Regina Youth Group and the Teen Advisory Board at the Levittown Public Library.

Neri has made a difference in the community by working with the St. Frances de Chantal R.C. Church. There, she organized a food drive to collect birthday-related items for “Birthday Blessing Bags” which were donated to the church’s social outreach/food pantry. She has also served as a catechist, lector and teacher assistant at the church and was responsible for creating and distributing flyers for the 2018 Vacation Bible School to educate parents and campers on how to eat healthy when attending parties.

She will officially be honored by District Attorney Signas, along with the other 2021 SHIELD award recipients, during a virtual awards presentation on June 24.