Marisa Su and Marie Nuzzi Congratulations are in order for Garden City High School student Marisa Su (left), a sophomore in Ms. Marie Nuzzi’s (right) Spanish 3 Honors class, for being named as the 2009 winner of the Celebration of Suburban Diversity Student Essay Contest.

This contest, which was developed in collaboration with the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University and Eastern Suffolk BOCES, focused on how Long Island’s multi-cultural diversity is the key to our social and economic survival and how the ability of people from different races, cultures, religions and regions living together peacefully and productively is crucial, not only to our prosperity, but to our survival.

Marisa brought a unique view on this particular topic to her essay. Her family moved to the U.S. from Taiwan when Marisa was eight years old, subsequently moving to Garden City where she completed her elementary education at the Stewart School. “After three years at Garden City Middle School, I graduated to Garden City High School, where I hope to achieve the academic goals I have set for myself,” commented the young writer.

While there were many outstanding entries from a wide variety of districts throughout Long Island, Marisa’s essay stood out among the rest, distinguishing her as the First Place Winner. As a result, she was honored with a scholarship award certificate of $3,000. This scholarship will be available to Marisa upon completion of her high school studies and acceptance to any accredited institution of higher learning. If, when the time comes, Marisa attends Hofstra University, Hofstra will match her scholarship award.

Marisa’s winning essay concludes, “Over fifty years have passed since the time when black and white entertainment still truthfully reflected real life. The days of identical Chevys parked on the driveway of every Cape Cod type house on the block are gone, presently replaced with an assortment of modern architecture that is home to families who live in loving harmony despite the differences that separate them apart. Although Long Island is only a small part of the globe, the diversity that lives within its towns and neighborhoods should not be deemed insignificant in the eyes of the world. The social acceptance of diversity, even in this small region, plays an important role in purging humanity, as a whole, of racism and replacing it with tolerance. Diversity is also a fundamental part of the economy. The deciding factor of our economic survival lies not in luck or the amount of gold boullion in our banks, but rather in the diverse mix of both students sitting in the classroom and workers diligently bending over their toils. Swimming in their minds are millions of ideas, one of which can be the cure to the current economic crisis or an advancement that will bring us into a new era of prosperity. All that surrounds us is evidence that Darwin’s century old knowledge still rings true: diversity, in all species, renders success.”

Marisa was honored at a special banquet on October 22, 2009, at Hofstra University attended by Ms. Nuzzi, Marisa and her parents. “There were 400 people at the banquet which featured a cocktail hour with appetizers from around the world, as well as a full course sit-down-dinner,” commented Ms. Nuzzi. “There were cultural dances, music, and performances. I felt like I was at a dignitary’s wedding. In fact, the keynote speaker was Charles Wang. It was quite impressive! Marisa and her parents were glowing (as was I), and so many people came over to congratulate them. Journals were distributed to all the guests, and I managed to get a few extras. Marisa’s picture, along with her essay, are printed in the journal.”

In addition to Marisa’s First Place Scholarship Award, Garden City Public Schools received a token cash award to conduct diversity related activities in the district.

Congratulations to Marisa, her family, and Ms. Nuzzi on such an outstanding accomplishment!