Lex Colato is one of the most well-liked Huntington High School student-athletes. The junior gives his teammates and coaches everything he has and he plays to win. The teenager is this year’s recipient of the Blue Devil football team’s Al White Service Award.
Mr. Colato is an affable, loyal and hardworking young man. He goes about his business around the high school building with a smile on his face. When he puts on a Blue Devil uniform, he is focused and determined and he doesn’t let anything stand in his way of accomplishing his goals.
The Blue Devil football staff got together and decided Mr. Colato was a perfect fit for the Al White Service Award, which is presented to a player who exemplifies the qualities of “commitment, loyalty and service to the team.”
Mr. Colato is a hard-hitting offensive and defensive back for the Blue Devils. He also plays guard for the Huntington varsity basketball team.
A proverbial “jack of all trades,” Mr. Colato played at least a half-dozen positions on both side of the ball for the Blue Devil gridiron team last fall. Academically, he’s enrolled in Advanced Placement Seminar, AP Spanish, US History, Physics, Algebra 2 and Sports Marketing classes.
Huntington football coach and high school security guard Andrew White presented the award on behalf of his father to Mr. Colato, who was accompanied to the dinner by his parents, brother and sister.
“Lex is a young man of great character and wonderful temperament,” said Andrew White to the crowd of 250 jamming into the Huntington High School cafeteria for the football dinner. “He has a splendid reputation for integrity, honesty and loyalty.”
Alvin White
Alvin White has resided in the district for more than four decades. He attended Huntington High School and later returned to work in the district, eventually retiring as director of facilities in December 2015. He previously served as the district’s operations supervisor.
Prior to coming to the district, Mr. White was employed by the Internal Revenue Service in Holtsville. He began his career in Huntington USFD on a part-time basis at Robert L. Simpson Junior High School in 1974. He moved into a full-time position in 1979 and gradually climbed up the ranks.
Mr. White is the father of seven Huntington High School graduates and the grandfather of three current elementary school students. He is deeply involved in community and civic organizations, including the Porter-Trejo Action Network, Take Back the Block Advisory Board, Huntington Enrichment Center/Kids Café Board of Directors of the NAACP – Huntington chapter, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 318 in Greenlawn, as well as numerous other local groups. He has served on the Huntington Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and Lowndes Avenue Task Force.
A familiar figure around the district, Mr. White is also an active fan of the Blue Devil athletic program. He regularly attends games and meets and even team dinners. He has mentored and encouraged many community members of all ages through the years.
Mr. White has been recognized as the NAACP’s Man of the Year. He has also been honored by Tri-CYA, the Suffolk County Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and the Family Service League.
