Babylon Village, West Babylon, North Babylon, Deer Park, Lindenhurst, West Islip and Long Island, New York
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Dr. Bruce Zappia, chairman of the scholarship committee, right, wih honoree Michael Bender, in front of photo of Mayor E. Donald Conroy, for whom the scholarship is named Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Michael Bender, a 2025 graduate of Babylon High School, was awarded the Mayor E. Donald Conroy Scholarship at the July 8 meeting of the Village of Babylon Board of Trustees.
Bender, who completed more than 1,000 hours of community service during his high school years, called the $10,000 scholarship a “great honor.”
He added, “It’s a recognition of my whole family and what they’ve done for me.”
His mother, Karen Bender, expressed pride in her son’s accomplishments. “He put in a lot of hard work,” she said.
The annual scholarship is awarded to a Babylon High School senior—or a village resident attending a private or parochial high school—who has demonstrated a significant commitment to community service “in the unselfish spirit exemplified by E. Donald Conroy.”
“Michael’s application showed a lot of volunteer work for his community all throughout his high school years,” said Dr. Bruce Zappia, chairman of the Mayor E. Donald Conroy Scholarship Committee. “We have been giving out scholarships for community service for over 20 years.”
Bender, an Eagle Scout, will attend SUNY Cortland in the fall, where he plans to study adolescent education and social studies, while double majoring in political science.
“The Conroy Scholarship over the years has been an incredible program to acknowledge our village students and their community service,” said Mayor Mary Adams. “Michael’s service to his school and our community is one to be commended, and I know he will continue to make his community and family proud as he pursues his future endeavors.”
Adams added that she is confident the late Mayor Donald E. Conroy, whose life was dedicated to public service and the Village of Babylon, would have applauded this year’s selection.
In other business, the board:
•Gave permission to the Babylon
Public Library to hold summer/fall programs in various locations throughout the village.
•Approved Christ Episcopal Church displaying flyers at various merchants in the village, the bulletin board at Village Hall and Babylon Firehouse until August 31 to seek volunteers for their “Nourish Babylon” program at the church.
•Granted permission to the residents of Cadman Ave. to hold a block party on July 26 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The street will be blocked between Park Ave. and Locust Ave., subject to parking restrictions for emergency purposes.
•Authorized the West Babylon School District’s use of Sumpwams Creek Golf Course daily from 3 to 5 p.m. for practices and games in the fall of 2025 for JV Boys, and the spring of 2026 for Varsity Girls.
The next Village of Babylon Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. on August 12 at Village Hall, 153 W. Main St., Babylon.
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