September /October Alumni Spotlight
Donna Lupardo
NYS Assemblywoman
Pride of the Class of '72
I recently sent Donna a few questions and as busy as she is, she found the time to get back to me quickly. I apologize for not getting my work done here in a reasonalbe time. So let me finally tell you what Donna has been up too.
Our Interview with Donna Lupard
Donna is married to Scott J. Peters, Assistant Professor, at Cornell University and they have lived in the Binghamton area since 1976. Although both of them are very busy these days, Donna still finds time to stay in touch with many former classmates and friends from Staten Island. Trina Darcey, Monica Sicile, James Sicile and Tom Lupardo, her cousin, are still in touch. Donna's Mom is still on Staten Island and Donna visits Mom and family here as often as she can.
In looking back at her days at Curtis and Staten Island, Donna mentioned some old classmates she had fond memories of ...... Art Cella, Joe Conti, Richard Forlenza, Gary Gattullo, Michele Lippa, Diane Menichella, Roberta Musicus, Jim Sicile, Monica Sicile, Gene Speroni and others.
I asked Donna what she remembered most about those years and she covered it all ... people, events, teachers, the school plays, running for school government and losing an election with the Aquarius Party, the underground student newspaper and beach parties...... When I asked what she missed most her respond was THE BEACH!!!!!!!! Not sure if she meant the "beach parties" or just the "beach" now that she is in politics :-)
I also asked Donna what more she would like to accomplish as a NYS Assemblywoman: "I am very involved with helping my upstate community recover economically. I am also working on legislation that will help protect the environment and promote energy efficiency and energy independence.
I also asked if she was friendly with any Staten Island representatives....
"Yes, I'm friendly with all of the Staten Island representatives in the State Legislature, especially Matt Titone. I am an "honorary member"of the Staten Island delegation".
Donna's Accomplishments after graduating Curtis in 1971,
Donna excelled academically at Wagner College then moved to Binghanton in 1976 to attend graduate school at the State University of New York at Binghamton where she received a Masters degree in Philosophy.
After receiving her Masters Donna she stayed on as a lecturer in the School of Education & Human Development for ten years before dedicating herself to community education and public service.
Donna A. Lupardo was elected in 2004 to represent the 126th Assembly District which includes the City of Binghamton and the Towns of Vestal and Union.
Prior to being elected, Donna served as the Director of Education for the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier. Through her leadership, numerous programs and initiatives were developed to addr
ess community mental health needs such as teen suicide prevention and elderly depression. She has been an outspoken advocate for those experiencing mental illness and has received state and national recognition for her innovative use of the arts in mental health recovery. She is committed to primary prevention and early intervention for all health and mental health concerns.
Donna has established herself as an outspoken advocate for the Southern Tier, focusing on economic recovery and tax relief, support for schools and colleges, along with issues facing area seniors and veterans. In addition, Assemblywoman Lupardo helped pass the Work Zone Safety Act and Yield-Right-Away legislation designed to keep our roadways safer. She also serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Women Veterans.
In 2006, during her first term, Assemblywoman Lupardo received the “Quality Services Award” from the Public Employees Federation and the Citizen Action of New York Phoenix Award. She was also named “Rookie of the Year” by the Sierra Club and “Legislator of the Year” by both ABATE of New York and The New York State Ophthalmological Society.
In 2007, Donna was named “Legislator of the Year” by the New York AIDS Coalition and The American Motorcyclist Association, District Three. She also received the Legislative Award from the District Five, New York State Nurses Association, Inc. and the Friend of Education Award by the BOCES Teachers Association.
In 2008, Assemblywoman Lupardo was named “Legislator of the Year” by the American Institute of Architects of New York State. In 2009, she was elected First Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus and is a member of the Executive Committee for the New York Conference of Italian-America State Legislators.
Other awards Donna has received include the American Cancer Society Leadership Award, YWCA Alice Mills Award, Mental Health Association of New York State's Esther Mallach Staff Leadership Award and the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier’s Humanitarian Award.
This Curtis High School Alumni stays committed to “civic engagement” in her approach to public service and has always believed elected officials should clarify thier position, strive for a deeper understanding of people and their concerns, and continue to stay visible and involved in community life.
Thank you Donna !
We look forward to following your career and wish you luck !
Written Monthly By John A. Marino jarm42@aol.com who is always looking for an alumni story