Robert Frost Middle School seventh grader Jacob Kissoon was recently selected as the overall first place All-Long-Island winner of the Kenneth F. Gambone Writing Contest. The Long Island Language Arts Council honored Kissoon and the finalists with a luncheon and reading at Capt. Bill’s restaurant in Bay Shore. Contestants were nominated at the school-level and then juried on two of their best pieces of writing. Kissoon’s teacher, Brittany Skrypek, nominated him and helped him with his portfolio.

Meanwhile, Robert Frost Middle School eighth grader Sukaina Hassan was awarded “First Class” by judges in the National Council for the Teachers of English’s Promising Young Writers Contest. Hassan’s ELA teacher, Teri Vieira nominated her for her outstanding writing all year.

Seven other students from Deer Park – Frost eighth graders Paige Gomez, Ava Grandner and Zaniah Jackson for the Promising Young Writers Contest, and Deer Park High School juniors Ummul Afifa, Alisson Guevara, Anabella Lindsay and Brooke Washington for the Achievement Awards in Writing Contest – were also honored by judges in the NCTE competitions, which highlight the most outstanding eighth and 11th grade writers from around the country.

“We are exceedingly proud of the creativity and thoughtfulness of these young writers and the moving work they produced.” Director of ELA, Reading and Library Justin Uliano said. “It was outstanding.”

Click here to view the Deer Park Writers Capture First Place 2026 slideshow.

Date Added: 6/10/2026