Kender Edouazin Wins Nassau Police Scholarship

Kender Edouazin is a soft-spoken young man who likes to fly under the radar, but when the Huntington High School Class of 2023 member lines up for a race, he’s a fierce competitor.

The teenager has won county and state championships and captured All-American honors with the Blue Devil track and field team. A sprinting specialist, Mr. Edouazin plans to attend Suffolk County Community College in the fall and continue his track and field career.

The Nassau Police Running Club presented a $500 scholarship to Mr. Edouazin in honor of fallen Nassau Police Officer Luis A. Palermo, Jr. who passed away in September 2017 from a 9/11 related illness. He was 49 years old.

A 23-year Nassau Police veteran, Mr. Palermo raced to Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 to assist with search and rescue efforts. Like so many others involved in similar work, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and passed away from acute lung disease in September 2017. Prior to his death, the Nassau Police Department promoted him to its elite Bureau of Special Operations.

“Kender’s attitude is always positive and his dedication to the program is second to none,” Huntington head coach Ronald E. Wilson said. “His first love was basketball and probably still is, but we were excited to see him last winter season out in the cold on the track. He came out late, and now has a new profound love for this sport. I am so proud to have coached Kender these past two years. He is one who thoroughly prepares himself to meet and exceed the challenges that life offers. He has always been gentle, humble, compassionate and genuinely interested in his studies in the classroom on the track and in his community.”

Mr. Palermo and his wife, Deborah, sent all three of their children through the Huntington School District. Celine graduated with Huntington’s Class of 2017. Caitlyn graduated in 2020. Caleb will be entering his sophomore year in the fall.

The Nassau Police Running Club hosts the Police Officer Memorial Run every year to honor its fallen officers. The proceeds from the run go to scholarships at a high school from where the respective fallen member graduated or a high school that the family selects. The Palermo family has selected to have the scholarship in Police Officer Palermo’s name presented to a student from Huntington High School.

A committee of Huntington High School faculty members selected Mr. Edouazin for this year’s award. It was formally presented by Coordinator of Physical Education & Athletics Michael Marinello during the senior academic awards night ceremony.

Officer Palermo placed a premium on hard work and there is little doubt that he would have had nothing but respect for Mr. Edouazin considering his impressive work ethic and spectacular accomplishments.