Centereach, NY – On Saturday, March 21st, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay hosted her second annual Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Award Ceremony at the New Village Recreation Center in Centereach. The event brought together Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and more than 150 community members, friends, families, and local leaders to honor the leadership and community impact of the exemplary women who live in Assembly District 4.

Residents, businesses and other members of the community were invited to nominate women residing in Assembly District 4 to be considered for the 2026 Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Award in the categories of Business, Community Volunteer, Education, Government, Healthcare, Law Enforcement & Emergency Responder, Non-Profit, and Science.

The 2026 Women of Distinction Honorees are:

• Business: Margo Arceri, Stephanie Buffa, Leah Dunaief, Indu Kaur
• Community Volunteer: Faith Cardone, Jennifer Dzvonar, Diane Enright, Melora Lane, Linda Miller, Samantha Morales, Helen Sells, Shirley Singletary Hudson
• Education: Shardae Cunningham
• Government: Amani Khan
• Healthcare: Madeleine Nugdalla
• Law Enforcement & Emergency Responder: Ann Marie Hassett, Gordon Heights Fire Department Chief Moonee Rivers, Suffolk County Police Officer Bridget Topping
• Non-Profit Professional: Linda Metcalf, Debra Punzi, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, Allison Van Cott-McEntee, Tawaun Whitty
• Science: Dr. Wei Yin

Of the event, Assemblywoman Kassay said, “This ceremony created an empowering snapshot of the best of Assembly District Four, shining a light on inspiring women from every corner of our community. Our Women of Distinction Celebration asks incredibly caring, dynamic women to pause, reflect, and be recognized for the ways in which their work strengthens our community. On top of having the opportunity to applaud the accomplishments of our honorees and the impact they’ve had on our neighbors, we were moved to see honorees and community members connecting with each other throughout the morning, sharing contact information and discussing how their collaborations can further support each individual’s efforts. This event not only celebrates honorees’ achievements, but supports their ongoing work and reminds us all that having women in leadership roles is paramount as we all work towards a brighter future.”

During the event, the honorees and nominees were invited to say a few words and were presented with proclamations and certificates to thank them for their contributions to the community.

Healthcare Honoree Madeleine Nugdalla, Operating Room Nurse of NYU Langone Hospital Suffolk, shared, “I am honored to be acknowledged. I want to thank everyone who believed in me, supported me, and inspired me.”

Law Enforcement Honoree Chief Moonee Rivers of the Gordon Heights Fire Department said, “I love doing this work for the love of people… the work of service. And that's what being a leader, most certainly a Chief of this fire department, is about: serving our community, loving our people, and making sure that everything that we do is a representation of our culture, of history, and of love.”

Non-profit Honoree Samantha Morales, Founder of Branches Long Island, shared, “Branches is my legacy, yes, but more than that, it is proof that when women come together with love and intention, we don’t just support communities - we transform them. And if our children grow up in a world that feels more compassionate, more supportive, and more connected because of what we’ve built, then every single sacrifice was worth it because that is the kind of legacy that’s worth everything.”

Science Honoree Dr. Wei Yin, Stony Brook University Professor of Biomedical Engineering, said, “As a scientist and professor, I am committed to advancing our knowledge in cardiovascular disease and educating the next generation of students and researchers. Being here today and hearing all the wonderful stories about incredible women in this room, I'm truly very much humbled and inspired and motivated to continue to work hard to support our community.”

Government Honoree Amani Khan, Legislative Aide to Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, shared, “I genuinely love what I do, and being able to serve others gives me a great sense of purpose. I also want to thank everyone who's here with me, my village, because I would not be where I am without your all support.”

Education Honoree Shardae Cunningham, Assistant Principal of Longwood High School, said “I stand for every parent doing the best that they can, even when life makes it hard to be in every room. As an assistant principal, I stand for our schools and communities as we grow toward truly seeing and supporting every single child, especially those who have too often been overlooked. I stand for anyone who feels unheard.”

Community Volunteer Honoree Linda Miller, President of the Selden Civic Association, shared, “I just want to say thank you so much for this nomination. It really makes my heart feel good. I appreciate it so much, and I like doing what I'm doing. And to volunteers: no organization can do anything on its own. They need volunteers to make them work and to make them be successful, and I enjoy helping all of them.”

Business Honoree Leah Dunaief, Publisher of TBR News Media. shared the journey of her challenging and rewarding career path, and ended the event with a poignant observation, “We came here as individuals, but we leave together as a community.”

This event marks the second Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Award Ceremony, hosted annually by the office of Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. For more information, please call Assemblywoman Kassay’s office at 631-751-3094.