On May 10, high school students from the East Meadow School District were recognized for their outstanding achievements through the 2026 Jewish War Veterans Bernard & Lillian Hein Memorial Awards program. The awards celebrate students who exemplify excellence in music and demonstrate compassion, leadership and a commitment to community through acts of brotherhood.
At W.T. Clarke High School, senior Cristian Lopez received the 2026 JWV Bernard and Lillian Hein Memorial Award for Outstanding Effort and Ability in the Music Field. In addition, Clarke scholar Riannah Gutierrez earned the 2026 JWV Bernard and Lillian Hein Memorial Brotherhood Award.
At East Meadow High School, scholar Arshia Syeda was honored with the 2026 JWV Bernard and Lillian Hein Memorial Award for Outstanding Effort and Ability in the Music Field, while Everett Gabel received the 2026 JWV Bernard and Lillian Hein Memorial Brotherhood Award.
The awards are presented in memory of Bernard and Lillian Hein, longtime Westbury residents who were deeply committed to education, service and the arts. Married for nearly 60 years, the couple raised three sons — all graduates of W.T. Clarke High School — and shared a lifelong dedication to their community.
Bernard Hein served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a proud member of the Jewish War Veterans organization. He later became an attorney and a full professor of law at Nassau Community College. Lillian Hein, a graduate of Syracuse University and Florida State University, served as the school lunch director for the Westbury School District for 36 years and was also president of Temple Sholom in Westbury.
Together, Bernard and Lillian Hein shared a love for music, theater and travel, and they were passionate advocates for recognizing young people who demonstrate kindness, empathy and service to others. Their legacy continues through these awards, which honor students for exceptional achievements in both musical excellence and acts of brotherhood.
