Mike Onysko, AVP Marketing, Intrepid Museum; Michael Hospedales-Martinez, winner – Service Person; Samantha Rodriquez, winner – Youth Community Service; Ben Shuldiner, winner – Mentor; Kristen Shaugnessy, Anchor – NY1; and Eileen Markenstein, winner – Community Service)
On Sunday, September 18th, Intrepid recognized its 6th Annual Hometown Hero Award Recipients. A ceremony on Intrepid’s flight deck, hosted by NY1’s weekend anchor and breaking news reporter, Kristen Shaughnessy, concluded the two month long contest.
The mission of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is to “honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth.” Every summer, the Museum honors those who go above and beyond to give back to their communities.
Sunday’s Hometown Heroes Day featured the presentation of awards to four individuals, each of who have performed outstanding community service in the following categories:
- Community Service
- Mentorship
- Youth Community Service
- Service Person
The Community Service Award identifies someone who, on a volunteer basis, has performed outstanding service on behalf of the community in which he or she lives and was awarded to Eileen Markenstein for her work in reviving The Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery.
Benjamin Shuldiner was the 2011 Mentor Award winner and is someone who has done an outstanding job mentoring, teaching and coaching youth in the New York City Community. Namely, he was recognized for his work in establishing Crown Heights’ High School for Public Service.
Intrepid’s Youth Community Service Award is reserved for the 17 year old or younger that has made an outstanding contribution to the community through volunteerism, acts of kindness or bravery. This year’s award was presented to Samantha Rodriguez for facing and conquering discrimination in sports.
Michael Hospedales-Martinez is the 2011 recipient of Intrepid’s Service Person Award. This award is for any community service person (i.e.: Police, Firefighter, EMS, etc.) who has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty to help their community. Michael’s work with troubled youth and Veterans, outside of his work as a New York City Policeman, earned him this honor.
The winners each received a piece of Intrepid’s historic flight deck wood to mark this honor as well as VIP access to the Museum and an iPad.