Westchester Spirit of Achievement
Awards Dinner
Join Junior Achievement of the Hudson Valley, Inc. at the annual Spirit of Achievement Awards Dinner, celebrating the successes of both the business and the education community at work to provide the children of the Hudson Valley with the education they deserve. In partnership with the Westchester County Business Journal, Junior Achievement recognizes businesses and individuals who make a difference in the Westchester community. The recipient of this award must meet strict criteria, which include business excellence, inspiring leadership, community involvement, and a positive influence on future generations.
See photos below from
March 27, 2008
Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown, NY
Junior Achievement is proud to be honoring
BEST BUY CO. ENTERGY

Westchester County Business Journal's
Overachiever of the Year

THOMPSON & BENDER
2008 Event Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
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Bronze Sponsors
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Photos from 2008 Spirit of Achievement Awards Dinner
March 27,2008
Grimes ES Dance Crew in opening performance JAHV President Angela D. Giustino welcomes guests Co-hosts Jim Fosina (Fosina Marketing Group) and Taniqua Mighty (Mt. Vernon High School), introduce the evening's ceremonies Mt. Vernon HS Jr ROTC present colors Clark Academy at St. Christopher's students Iliana Fiqueroa-Vincent and Jennay McClean sing national anthem Talibah Stephenson and Mehki Clayton-Smith of Grimes Elementary School give the Invocation and JA Elementary Experience Barbara Hanlon presents the Westcheter County Business Journal's Overachiever of the Year award Elizabeth A. Bracken-Thompson accepts award on behalf of Thompson & Bender accepts JA Impact Award on behalf of her father Michael A. Schiavone Sakile Stephenson and Mattie Jallow of Grimes Elementary School give their message of Dreams in English and Mandarin Chinese Susan Crucy-Burkhardt of Hitachi America, Ltd. gives her JA Alumna experience Brittany Cannady-Gorton High School and Toshia Parks-Clark Academy at St. Christopher's give the JA High School Experience Michael Balducci accepts award on behalf of Entergy Marie Gallagher, PepsiCo. gives her JA Alumna experience Raul and Guillermo Renderos of Commerce Middle School give their JA Middle School Experience Michael D. Doyle accepts Honorees of Best Buy, Entergy, and Thompson and Bender with JAHV President Angela Giustino Angela Giustino with Kathy Conits (Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.) and student presenters




















Spirit of Achievment Award on behalf of Best Buy, Co.
Photos from 2007 Event
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Co-hosts Jim Fosina and Vincent Laino start the night off with a bang |
Grace Yawman, 2nd grade student at |
Lydia Dembert, 3rd grade student at |
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Dee DelBello, Publisher of the Westchester County Business Journal presents the |
Stephen Harrison accepts Overachiever of the Year award on behalf of MHK |
Students Marwa Shelaby (Clark Academy-St. Christopher's) and |
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Mariangela Battista accepts award on behalf of Starwood |
Commerce Middle School student Jeremy Sanchez gives his JA Middle School experience and co-presents the Spirit of Achievement Award to Robert Weisz |
Samantha Rosario, 9th grade student at Mt. Vernon High school shares her JA experiences with the audience as she co-presents the award |
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Robert P. Weisz accepts Spirit of Achievement Award |
Commerce Middle School Select Choir performs at the end of the night under the direction of Ken Knox |
The Lincoln High School Jazz Ensemble entertains guests during dinner. Ray Cruz leads the musicians. |
Past Honorees
| Year | Honorees | ||
| 1993 |
Susan V. Crucy |
Francina Bryant Jubilee |
Ralph D. Lewis Chase Community Development Corporation |
| 1994 | Dr. Donald M. Batista Director of Education - Leak & Watts |
Lois S. Amend Community Relations Director Ciba Corporation |
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. |
| 1995 | Linda M. Johnson Vice President Hudson Valley Bank |
Mark A. Suwyn |
NYNEX |
| 1996 | Richard D. Schaab Vice President The Westchester County Association |
Marshall Loeb Editor-at-Large FORTUNE Magazine |
NORTEL Networks |
| 1997 | Walton E. Burdick Senior Vice President-Human Resources IBM Corporation |
Tambrands Inc. |
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| 1998 |
Lillian Vernon Harold E. Vogt |
MasterCard International Maureen Walker |
Judy Matson Tsuneo Tanaka |
| 1999 |
Kraft Foods, Inc. Jeffrey C. Roberts |
Earl G. Graves Earl G. Graves, Jr. |
James C. Joedecke
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| 2000 | Leigh J. Abrams President Drew Industries |
Millie H. Becker President & CEO Westchester Air, Inc. |
Westchester County Business Journal's Dennis Mehiel |
| 2001 | Richard P. Biondi Director of Community Affairs Verizon |
Snapple Beverage Group |
Colin Urgo General Manager Westchester Residence Inn |
| 2002 | JPMorgan Chase |
Ronald O. Ross Superintendent of Schools Mt. Vernon City School District |
Lenore Minerva President - Empress Ambulance Service/American Transit |
| 2003 | Ellen Lunch SVP and Managing Director Albert B. Ashforth, Inc./EastRidge Properties |
Carl E. Petrillo President & CEO Yonkers Contracting Company |
Jo Ann Mazella Murphy Vice Chair Country Bank |
| 2004 | Pace University | Wachovia Bank | Ed Sirlin Senior Vice President Sterling National Bank |
| 2005 | Brenda L. Smith Superintendent of Schools Mount Vernon City School District |
Keane & Beane, PC | John M. Tolomer Senior Vice President Commerce Bank |
| 2006 | MasterCard International | Martin Ginsburg President Ginsburg Development Companies, LLC |
Peter Herrero President New York Hospitality Group |
| 2007 | Robert P. Weisz President RPW Group |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. | Marden, Harrison & Kreuter, CPAs, P.C. |