4 Walt Whitman Alumni Inducted Into South Huntington Hall Of Fame

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Four Walt Whitman alumni were inducted into the South Huntington Hall of Fame on Saturday during homecoming weekend, the school district announced.

Eliot Lonardo, class of 1996; Dara Reid Croft, class of 1997; Ed Wu, class of 2006; and Brittany Schiavone, class of 2007 were honored at a special breakfast at the high school.

Celebrated by their family, friends, South Huntington Board of Education members, faculty, administrators, and Town of Huntington elected officials, each honoree was presented with the "key" to the school district and a crystal award commemorating the honor engraved with a Wildcat paw print. They also each received several proclamations from Town of Huntington, State Assembly and State Senate representatives.

In addition, a plaque featuring each inductee’s photo, name and graduating class is now hanging on the Hall of Fame wall at Walt Whitman High School.

"Our district resume is filled with graduates who have amassed noteworthy achievements and emerged as leaders of their respective academic, military, business, research, leadership, and service fields," Superintendent Dr. Vito D’Elia said in a news release. "These four individuals serve as bright, beautiful examples of our ever-evolving Wildcat dream."

The South Huntington Hall of Fame honors alumni who have made significant impacts in their chosen field, their community, and/or on society as a whole.

The first members were inducted in 2008. Prospective candidates can be nominated by anyone, and had to have graduated from Whitman for at least 10 years. New members to the Hall of Fame will be inducted every two years, and the winners are voted on by former graduates of Walt Whitman High School who recently joined the newly-formed alumni group.

2023 Inductees, presented by the school district:

• Eliot Lonardo (class of 1996) serves many roles within the community, generously giving his time and sponsorship to many events for various organizations throughout the South Huntington School District. He has served the community as a realtor for almost 20 years. Among his numerous leadership roles on both the state and local level, Lonardo serves on the Town of Huntington’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. On a community level, Eliot actively works with the Tri CYA, Townwide Fund and the Walt Whitman PTA among other school-based and local organizations.
• Dara Reid Croft (class of 1997) is a United States Immigration Judge who works to change lives for the better. She is hardworking and is often asked for advice from fellow judges as an influential voice in government and law. Reid Croft said she takes the values she learned through her time in the South Huntington School District and implements them into her professional and personal life every single day.
• Ed Wu (class of 2006) is a cinematographer who has found great success in the film industry. Ed was the former chief editor of video yearbook at Walt Whitman High School and is currently a cinematographer working on a project with Brooke Shields. Wu has had the opportunity to work in a variety of formats for companies in feature films, television, music videos, and commercials.
• Brittany Schiavone (class of 2007) was born with Down Syndrome and created her own non-profit organization called Brittany's Baskets of Hope. She receives donations from all across the country and puts together "baskets of hope" to send to new parents of children born with Down Syndrome. Schiavone has gained national recognition, including being named the L'Oreal Paris Woman of Worth National Honoree in 2019.

Established in December of 1924, the South Huntington Union Free School District is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary.