The Spirit Award is coming back to campus on Homecoming this year on October 16. The annual award is presented to a member of the faculty or staff who embodies the values and spirit that Poly seeks to represent as an institution and encourage in its students. This year, the Spirit Award goes to Middle School math teacher and Poly parent Sabina Laricchia P’21.

Anyone who knows Sabina and has witnessed her enthusiastically cheering on Poly teams, working with math students or club members, or spurring her homeroom on to bring in the largest number of canned food donations is not surprised at the choice of Sabina for this honor.

Sabina joined Poly Prep in 1991 after obtaining her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and her master’s from Adelphi University. Over the years, she has taught mathematics in Grades 6, 7, and 8, served as an advisor for countless students, advised the Middle School Math Olympiads and the Math Video Challenge, served as an assistant coach for Poly’s volleyball, swimming, and track teams, and has mentored numerous new faculty members to help acclimate them to either Poly, the Math Department, or both.

Sabina is an avid supporter of the Middle School Senate’s annual food drive, she attends as many musicals, plays, and art shows as possible, and she is a loyal Blue Devils fan, cheering on teams in person or in spirit on Facebook. Not only does Sabina exhibit all the qualities of a master teacher who cares deeply for all of her students, but she also exudes positivity, builds community among colleagues, is always willing to lend an ear when someone needs to talk, and can always find a way to make anyone laugh.

Please join us in congratulating our colleague and friend, Sabina!

The Spirit Award presentation will be during Homecoming at 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 16 in the Joseph Dana Allen Library.