Homecoming looked a little different this year thanks to the nor’easter, but nothing could dampen Cougar pride!  

Students celebrated with a spirited Pep Rally and HoCo Dance on Sept. 25, where Dylan Babek and Ava Castelluzzi were crowned homecoming king and queen. 

Although the Homecoming game was postponed to Sept. 28, the Cougars still took the field for a non-conference Homecoming matchup against Plainview-Old Bethpage, with the cheerleading and kickline squads bringing plenty of energy to the crowd.  

And the Cougars finished the week strong, earning an incredible 38-7 victory over Baldwin at their senior game. 

The Cougar community also came together on Sept. 26 for the 6th Annual Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame, honoring eight outstanding members of the Kennedy community: Ivan Mihajovic ’79, Dean Schlosberg ’73, Sarah Ritchie ’05, Beth Ritchie ’01, Madison McGlone ’09, Alex Zafrin ’09, Steve Walsh ’74, and Coach Richard Daoust, who coached at Kennedy from 1968–2001. 

The celebration, led by teacher and coach Brian DeGaetano, Advanced Science Research teacher Barbi Frank, and the Kennedy Alumni Association, led by President Gary Morganstern, also recognized members of the Alumni Hall of Fame: Dr. William David Seader ’68, Evan Kaplan ’86, Eric Kussin ’94, Josh Brown ’95, Chad Summers ’02, Christian Stella ’10, and Dr. Matthew Gallitto ’11. Ann Donaldson, who served in the Social Studies Department from 1992–2026, was honored as a Wall of Fame honoree, while Bruce H. Gary, FDNY firefighter and community leader, and Dr. Matthew Kuschner, former Board of Education Trustee and Alumni Trustee, received Special Recognition posthumously.