High School Seniors Honored at OCIAA Senior Scholar Athlete Breakfast

High school seniors who have distinguished themselves in the classroom and the athletic arena were honored on Thursday, June 1, at the annual Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Scholar Athlete Awards Breakfast held at the Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall. About 275 people, including honorees, their families, school district personnel, members of the OCIAA Executive Committee and sponsors attended the event. 

The keynote speaker for the morning was Luke Fedlam, a partner at the law firm of Porter Wright in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Fedlam leads the Sports Law practice for the firm and regularly advises professional athletes and sports-related businesses.

Mr. Fedlam was a standout distance runner on the Jeff-Youngsville High School cross country and track and field teams. He finished second in the 800-meter run at the 1997 state meet.

Mr. Fedlam spoke about how what he learned as a high school athlete helped him navigate his career and life.  He explained how the skills of CRAFT (creativity, resilience, autonomy, flexibility and teamwork) that athletes develop can be used throughout their lives.  

Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) also spoke at the breakfast, along with Orange-Ulster BOCES Chief Operating Officer Deborah McBride Heppes and OCIAA Interscholastic Athletic Coordinator Christopher P. Mayo.

The master of ceremonies was Warwick Valley Athletic Director Greg Sirico. Jeffrey Morgan (Eldred HS) was the recipient of the Tyler Muise Award. Middletown was the OCIAA Community Service Challenge Award winner. Valley Central scholar athlete Alix O’Connor sang the National Anthem.

The OCIAA Scholar Athlete Awards Breakfast is coordinated by the Orange-Ulster BOCES Athletic Coordinator’s Office, which is part of a BOCES cooperative service offered to school districts. The office serves the needs of the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA), the Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) and Section IX Athletic Council. In addition to coordinating the breakfast, some of the office’s many functions include scheduling interscholastic athletics, scheduling and paying officials, providing in-service courses for coaches, conducting championship contests, maintaining a website for athletic scheduling, and mentoring athletic directors.

For more information, contact Chris Mayo, Athletic Coordinator, at 845-294-5799.