MANHASSET, N.Y. — In keeping with a tradition that began last year, the Manhasset Athletic Booster Club held their second annual Banner Night, a celebration of the school’s graduating student athletes held on the Stadium Field. In addition to displaying individual banners featuring photos of each athlete, every student’s name was also announced over the field’s PA system, as those in the stands cheered them on. Banner Night started last year as a way to pay tribute to MHS’s 2021 student athletes, who had their sports seasons greatly impacted by the pandemic. “After the success of the inaugural Banner Day in 2021, the Booster Club board unanimously supported making this an annual tradition,” shares Booster Club Co-President Mickey Giacobbe. “We felt that this was a special way to honor ALL Senior athletes across every athletic discipline. Special thanks goes out to Booster Club Vice President Anne Voelker for spearheading the project.”

In a poignant moment at this year’s ceremony, graduating senior Hunter Panzik–who was unable to attend his class’s official graduation due to the fact that he had to report for duty to the U.S. Air Force Academy–was surprised with a cap and gown and given a standing ovation by the attendees. “We feel so blessed and grateful to Robin Camera and Anne Voelker for caring so much about Hunter to ask Mickey and Missy [Leder, Booster Club Co-President] and the Booster Club to create this special ‘graduation.’ We couldn’t imagine a better way to have done that for him.”

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