Continuing a 20-year tradition, educators, administrators and students gathered at Russo’s on the Bay on April 12 for the annual District 24 Scholarship Dinner Dance.

More than 300 attendees turned out to honor two students with the Betty Silverman Scholarship — named after a former president of the District 24 school board — and a diverse group of seven others, including a principal, a guidance counselor, a PTA president, a paraprofessional, a school secretary, UFT Vice President for Middle Schools Richard Mantell and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

Raffle tickets to win baskets donated by chapter leaders from 15 schools helped fund the $1,000 scholarships, which the student honorees — Brenda Urena, a 5th-grader at PS 91 in Glendale, and Kusum Sherpa, an 8th-grader at IS 125 in Woodside — will put toward their educations.

Among the UFT members honored at the event was IS 93 guidance counselor Debby Hartz, who spearheads her school’s effort to involve students in community affairs. “She’s brought a ton of amazing programs into the school,” said District 24 Representative John Harrington, who has worked at IS 93 with Hartz for more than 15 years.

Also honored was Elias Makris, the paraprofessional representative at PS 89 in Elmhurst, and Sandra Grbic, the secretary at PS 19 in Corona, whom colleagues describe as “a treasure.” After the awards program, attendees kicked up their heels for an evening of music and dancing. “Everyone had a ball,” said Harrington. 

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