Four students from the William Floyd School District have been awarded the 2025 Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA) Private Study Scholarship. The recipients are Jibreel Barrie and Harmony Goyette from William Floyd Middle School, along with Becky Neikens and Colin Smith from William Floyd High School.
Each student will receive a $500 award to support their private music lessons during the summer. They were acknowledged at the SCMEA concerts held earlier this month.
“It is our hope that this private study scholarship will assist you throughout your musical journey,” stated SCMEA President Angelina Wasson in a congratulatory letter addressed to the students. These four students join a select group, as only 20 student-musicians in grades 5-11 across Suffolk County receive this scholarship annually.
Jibreel Barrie, a sixth-grade percussionist under teacher Dawn Conefry, was named to the SCMEA All-County Band earlier this year and participated in the SCMEA PEAK Festival as a fourth grader.
Harmony Goyette, also a sixth-grader taught by Dawn Conefry, plays the flute and was similarly recognized by being named to the SCMEA All-County Band earlier this school year.
Becky Neikens, a tenth-grade piccolo player taught by Garry Helbock, has earned SCMEA All-County honors for two consecutive years and was part of the NYSBDA All-State Honor Band in both 2022 and 2023.
Colin Smith, an eleventh-grade bass player under teacher Donia Rivera, has received several honors this year alone: NAfME All-Eastern honors, NYSCAME All-County honors, and NYSSMA All-State honors. He has previously been named to the SCMEA All-County numerous times and has also achieved recognition with the NYSBDA All-State Honor Band.