Ducks wrap up TD Bank “Take a Ducks to Class” visits at local elementary school
(West Babylon, N.Y., Feb. 8, 2019) – The Long Island Ducks made their final TD Bank “Take a Duck to Class” visit of the year on Friday morning at Forest Avenue Elementary School. Fifth grade student Dylan Wagner received a special visit from the Ducks Street Team for writing a winning essay in this year’s contest.
Dylan’s essay highlighted his brother, Jesse, who is a member of the New York City Police Department. Because of Jesse’s tireless work in protecting the community and keeping his little brother safe, Dylan selected him as his “hero in the community.”
“[Jesse] protects the people of my community and takes the bad people off the streets,” wrote Dylan. “He is friendly and always talks to children and tells them that he is their friend.”
Dylan continued, “One day, Jesse found a little girl who was autistic and non-verbal roaming the streets, like I am, and knew how to get her back safe to her parents by different cues and signs to use.”
Jesse surprised Dylan at the school on Friday morning and read the winning essay aloud to the entire fifth grade class. Because he was one of four winners in this year’s competition, Dylan received a host of prizes for his work. Eric Fishon, TD Bank Vice President of U.S. Field Marketing Strategy, and Cara Baldo, TD Bank West Babylon Assistant Vice President/Store Manager, awarded him with a $50 gift card for his efforts. Additionally, the Ducks presented Dylan with a voucher good for five tickets to the team’s Opening Weekend Fireworks game on May 4th, so that he can enjoy a baseball game and fireworks with his family.
Also joining in for the fun was Ducks mascot, QuackerJack. After a loud cheer and thunderous applause from the students upon entering the gymnasium, QJ congratulated Dylan on a job well done and thanked Jesse for his service to the community. Dylan and Ms. Kuffo even led QuackerJack back to their classroom, where all of the students received special gift bags, courtesy of TD Bank, and a private autograph session with the lovable mascot.
TD Bank “Take a Duck to Class” contestants were able fill out applications on LIDucks.com during the fall and submit an essay of 250 words or less on the theme “Who is a hero in your community and why”. Four lucky winners were selected from an entry pool that included thousands of essays. Each winner receives an hour-long visit to their school from QuackerJack and the Ducks as well as a gift card from TD Bank.
The following were this year’s winners in the TD Bank “Take a Duck to Class” essay contest:
Anna Bishop – Fourth Grade – Paul J. Bellow Elementary School (West Islip, N.Y.)
Harman Deep Sing – First Grade – Lee Avenue Elementary School (Hicksville, N.Y.)
Michael Zeppieri – Fourth Grade – Willow Road Elementary School (Franklin Square, N.Y.)
Dylan Wagner – Fifth Grade – Forest Avenue Elementary School (West Babylon, N.Y.)
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
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