Santos and Scully Win Ray Deren Scholarships
Ray Deren was widely regarded as one the country’s trendsetters when it came to innovations in high school athletics. He lifted the Huntington sports program into the elite circle of New York’s best. His creativity led to the development of a comprehensive program of teams for boys and girls and junior high students, too.
At last Thursday night’s 40th Blue Devil Senior Athletic Awards Banquet, which Mr. Deren created in 1969 to recognize and honor senior students who have participated in athletics, Iona-bound Casey Scully and Pace-bound Eddie Santos were each presented with $500 scholarships given in honor of the longtime district director of physical education and athletics.
“Ray Deren was truly dedicated to the improvement of our program and athletic facilities,” said Mr. Deren’s daughter, Georgia McCarthy who now fills the same position as her father once did. She was joined for the scholarship award presentations by her mother, Carol, sister Kelly Bates and brother Glen Deren.
The Deren Scholarship recognizes athletes who have consistently showed dedication to their academic and athletic programs and are determined to complete a college education while participating in athletes.
“My dad believed that students who participated in athletics would have the most success in their careers and relationships,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “They are obligated to work well with others on a daily basis in some of the most unique situations. Athletes have a strong work ethic, can problem solve, be unselfish and manage their time. These are just a few of the skills that are second nature and will help them live happy and successful lives. This banquet is all about you who have put so much time and energy into this strong program,” she told the 102 senior athletes in the crowd of about 240.
Mr. Santos was honored first. He participated in football, winter track and spring track. He earned four varsity letters on the gridiron, serving as team captain as a senior, was twice all-county, three times all-division and a Suffolk PAL All-Star. In winter track, he won all-league honors three times. In spring track, he has is a two-time all-league and all-division performer.
“I am sure that we will be adding to this list of honors in a few weeks after the spring season is completed,” Mrs. McCarthy said about Mr. Santos, one of the top track athletes in the county. He intends to play football at Pace University in the fall.
Ms. Scully was honored after the crowd had dined on food prepared on site by Outback Steakhouse. She is equally accomplished, and then some. A three-year varsity soccer player, she captained the team as a senior and grabbed all-conference honors. She is a four-time varsity basketball letter winner, serving as a team captain as both a junior and senior and has been an all-league and second team all-county selection.
“Without a doubt, she is one of the hardest working athletes in the history of Huntington athletics,” Mrs. McCarthy said about the popular athlete. Ms. Scully will be attending Iona College and playing lacrosse there for the Gaels.
During Mr. Deren’s tenure the number of athletic teams sponsored by the district skyrocketed from 28 to 70 and the program was seen as a model by districts across the state. With a great deal of vision, he spotted the need for a full-time athletic trainer, a first for a Long Island high school, writing the job description for the position. He was universally seen as being uniquely focused on the improvement of the district’s athletic program and sports facilities.
“Many people don’t realize that prior to Ray Deren, competitive girl’s athletics bore little resemblance to the program we have today,” Huntington Superintendent John J. Finello said. “Ray is also responsible for creating the interscholastic athletic program our seventh and eighth graders now enjoy.”
Mr. Deren passed away on February 28, 1999, and the Huntington athletic family has grieved ever since. His memory lives on through the annual presentation of a scholarship created in his honor by his family.
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