Matthew Naboka of Centereach, N.Y. was named the winner of Livio D'Arpino Scholarship. He will receive a check and a plaque at the Eastern New York holiday party in December.

The scholarship is named after the late ENY vice president.

Naboka attends and plays soccer at Centereach High School -- he is the captain of the team -- and performs for the Middle Country Rough Riders Division I travel team in the Long Island Junior Soccer League. He also has been a member of the ENY ODP South team.

He has been raised by his mother in a single-parent household.

"I consider myself to be a mentally strong and hard-working individual who can get through anything and so I have," he wrote in his essay.

"In my eyes, a successful and effective lead must be a person with integrity and motivation. They should also possess a sense of humor, be conscientious and have a great vision to see past limitations. I believe I am that person."

Rough Riders coach Richard Santopierto noticed those leadership qualities.

"Matthew is a natural-born leader who allows his soccer knowledge and commitment to do his talking on the field in both training and game," he wrote. "His will strengthens the character of the team by modeling pride and self respect that any teammate, older or younger, will be wise to copy."

Besides soccer, Naboka plays on the Centereach basketball and golf teams. He has captained the golf and travel soccer teams.

"I take this position seriously because I realize these athletes and coaches truly believe I possess the above traits," he wrote.

He maintained a grade between an average of between 85-90.

Naboka is a member of Assumption Youth Ministries and the Boy Scouts of America as he worked toward being an Eagle Scout.

He decided to be a physical education teacher and a coach after coaching first-grade boys in soccer and baseball.

"I remember when little Joey finally made contact with the ball for a double play," Naboka wrote. "The smile on his face was all I could think about after the game."