Babylon Trio Among Only 24 LI Students Picked For Prestigious All-Island Art Program

BABYLON, NY — Three Babylon Junior-Senior High School student-artists were among only 24 students across Nassau and Suffolk counties chosen for an exclusive New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) all-island art workshop, district officials said.

Katherine Orifici, Allie Manetta, and Olivia Lynch earned their place in the program after receiving top portfolio scores during NYSATA’s Spring 2025 adjudication. The review process requires students to present completed pieces, discuss their artistic process, and complete a formal self-assessment with an adjudicator.

The inaugural workshop, held Nov. 17, brought together standout student-artists from Hicksville, Babylon, Lindenhurst, Mattituck, and William Floyd high schools. The session was led by local artist and activist Andres Gallardo, who guided students through his creative path and his unique use of vinyl albums as an artistic medium. Gallardo also shared the inspiration behind his GEM (“Giving Everyone Moments”) project, a community-centered initiative that has brought his work and message to audiences around the world.

District officials congratulated Orifici, Manetta, and Lynch on their achievement and praised their commitment to artistic excellence.