By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
August 20, 2013-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that East Northport’s Philip Giordano is receiving the 2013 Livio D’Arpino Scholarship. D’Arpino was an ENYYSA Vice President who was involved in seemingly every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002.
Our honoree plays for the Northport/Cow Harbor Sound of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), 2011 State Open Cup champions. At Commack High School, Philip was a member of the National Honor Society and Italian Honor Society plus also received the Cougar Letter Achievement Award, Student Recognition Leadership Award and Scholar/Athlete Award. He was a captain all four years that he played soccer at Commack High School as well as being selected captain of the Winter Track and Spring Track teams.
In his essay, he wrote, "Everyone has a passion in life. Some people are musically-inclined, others are computer experts, but in my case, my passion is playing soccer. Ever since the day I first touched a ball when I was seven years old, I simply fell in love with the sport. It was a perfect match for me, and to this day my body still thrives off the adrenaline rush that runs through my veins when I play this beautiful game. Soccer gives me a natural high…I always say my true home is a grass field with two goal posts on each end. Playing soccer has also helped me choose the field of study I will pursue at Ithaca College. Through my interactions with many athletes, I decided to become a physical therapist."
He also volunteered for four years as a TOPSoccer Buddy for the Special Children of the Huntington Boys Club, served as a Grade 9 Referee and participated in the Future Business Leaders of America and Commack Leadership Forum.
"It is an honor to be awarded this scholarship," Philip added. "Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!"
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.