Sixty-seven eleventh and twelfth grade students were required to attend the
conference for a very different kind of mid-term test.  The S.T.A.R.S
Interview Conference is the brain child of the Island Trees School to
Business Partnership headed up by Carol Siegel, Career Coordinator.
Instrumental in the planning were Lois Cornibert, Astoria Federal Savings
Bank; Beth Dalton-Costello, Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes; Evelyn Goldband, ITHS.

The students arrived in business attire with resume in hand ready to
experience an interview among other activities, which included a
motivating Keynote address by Carol Silva, from News 12 Long Island.  After
the keynote the students attended two half-hour workshops called, Communicating For Success and Interviewing, How To Stand Out In A Crowd  given by the respected On Track Skills, Inc. Human Resource Executives,  Kathy and Ken Walden.  The workshops were specifically designed to address the needs and interests of high school students.  The students then were part of a professional business luncheon during which they participated in a Round Table discussion.

While the luncheon was in progress, the students went to their “interview’ appointments. Each student had a mock interview with a business professional.  The professionals participating in this worthwhile event were:  Andrew Mullane, Astoria Federal Savings : Michael Byrne, Vytra Health Plans; Ellen Birch, Realtime reporting; Harriet Brenner, Realtime Reporting; Ellen Birch, Realtime Reporting; Michael Carbone, Astoria Federal Savings ; Lionel Chitty, IMS; Jason Anselmo, Astoria Federal Savings ; Georgette Toulis, New Island Hospital; John DiLiberto, Island Drafting and Technical Institute;  Fred Form, Accountant; Lori Frommer, Evins Pest Control; Ann Torcivia; Friends Travel, Frank McKenna, Island Trees Public Library; Deborah Connelly, Citibank; Maria Maucelli, Astoria Federal Savings ; Felix Nater, Nater Associates Ltd.; Peter Ray, A-G electrical Supply; Helen Bove, Astoria Federal Savings; Peter Fornino, Astoria Federal Savings; and Matthew Washington, Kaplan Testing.

The students had the experience of dressing for an interview, preparing a resume, and actually being interviewed.  It was an invaluable experience for the students of Island Trees High School.  How many people have the opportunity to practice interviewing?  This conference for young people is the only one of its kind on Long Island.