Celebrating LI Seniors: Sayville HS Teen Makes Virtual Yearbook

SAYVILLE, NY — Many senior students on Long Island were expecting to celebrate their final year with prom, graduation, and other milestone events. However, the coronavirus crisis has meant that dreams and long-awaited celebrations have been put on hold.

Patch would like to shine a light on these amazing young people and their accomplishments; a new series "Celebrate Your Senior," inviting proud parents and others to spotlight the young people whose accomplishments can't be derailed by the pandemic.

John and Kim Birong nominated their daughter, Krista Birong, a senior at Sayville High School.

Photo courtesy of the Birong family

Here's what the proud parents had to say about Krista:

As the youngest of three girls, Krista has anxiously awaited to experience the “senior year celebrations” enjoyed by her sisters.

Krista is an AP Scholar, who is graduating in the top ten percent of her class. She looks forward to studying communications at Quinnipiac University in the fall. She is smart, creative, tenacious and very kind-hearted. Throughout her high school years, Krista was actively involved at school and in the community. At school, she participated in History Club, Radio Club, World Language Honor Society, Tri M Music Honor Society and served as an AP Seminar Mentor. This year, she is secretary of the National Honor Society. Krista has been a member of the Releve Dance Centre competition team for ten years and has performed for the community many times with her team. For the past seven years, Krista has been a student teacher at the studio and loves sharing her passion for dance with the younger students. She also spends time scooping delicious treats for customers at Kilwins in Patchogue.

Since school abruptly closed in March, Krista has shed tears almost daily about the thought of not being able to participate in those “special senior moments.” She yearns to have a senior picnic, dance at her last recital, play her flute at the spring concert, wear her princess dress to the prom, and toss her cap at graduation. Due to Covid-19, these senior activities may have to be put on hold or even be canceled.

Rather than continuing to wallow in sadness, Krista decided to channel her negative energy into creating a video yearbook for the Class of 2020 at Sayville High School, entitled “Sayville Seniors Strong.” Krista reached out to her classmates for photos of memories from elementary, middle school and high school. Teachers have submitted videos offering words of advice and gratitude to these seniors. Krista hopes to have the virtual yearbook completed by the end of May.

Congratulations to all members of the Class of 2020!!! Best wishes for a happy future from the Birong family!!

Congratulations to Krista Birong!

To be included in "Celebrate Your Senior!" send photos and a description of why you're nominating your senior to be featured in a Patch post to priscila.korb@patch.com. Tell them why you're proud of them and all they've accomplished.