Sayville High Welcomes Wyandanch Students For Ambassador Exchange

SAYVILLE, NY — Students from Sayville and Wyandanch High Schools’ leadership clubs recently met for their 2025 Ambassador Exchange.

The event, which began in 2014, gathered students from different backgrounds to spend the school day learning and sharing experiences with one another.

Sayville students greeted the Wyandanch students at Sayville High School’s main entrance before making their way to the gymnasium. There, the students shared meals, including bagels for breakfast and tacos for lunch, participated in rounds of speed-chatting, attended class together, explored the school grounds, and participated in a series of games and activities designed to promote understanding, inclusiveness and a realization that our differences can actually be our greatest assets.

The event, organized by Sayville Leadership Club advisors Angela O’Hoppe and Jennifer Wittman-Cahill, revolved around the slogan "Knock Down Walls, Build Bridges." It encouraged students to recognize their similarities despite their differences. Through these interactions, the students formed connections, learned from each other, and exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch.

"My favorite part of the day is watching all of the students interact together," said O’Hoppe. "Nobody is on their phones, nobody is thinking about their worries. They’re just having fun. In those moments you remember they’re all just kids at the end of the day."

The two schools will meet again this spring when the Sayville students visit Wyandanch High School.

"This event is the culmination of all that we do in our leadership club," added Jennifer Wittman-Cahill, "It’s my favorite event of the year because the kids experience a great deal of joy being with each other. Nothing else matters besides the relationships and connections that they are making."