On the evening of April 2 at the Jericho Public Library Theater, four distinguished Jericho High School seniors presented four new members of the Jericho High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
Represented by a plaque, the names of these successful alumni have been passed by students and faculty each school day since the ‘90s.
The first Hall of Fame alums were inducted in 1991. Robert Hoffman founded the Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees were Jordan Cila, a professional soccer player; Keith Horn, a financial executive, advisor and mentor; Randye Ringler, a trailblazing woman sports executive and Andrew Sausmer, a Jericho volunteer firefighter, community advocate and humanitarian.
“I personally called each of the inductees…,” said teacher Matt DeMarinis, who served as the master of ceremonies. “They all stated, in one way or another, that they could always do more, prepare more, practice more. They all have this drive to succeed and they all talked about taking smart risks.”
Jericho High School Co-Principal David Cohen said the induction was one of his favorite yearly celebrations.
“To know that our core beliefs as a district align so strongly with the outstanding accomplishments of tonight’s inductees is both confirming and inspiring,” Cohen said.
Sophia Saed, an academically successful student who serves as vice president of the Medical Minds club at school, a club she helped grow, presented inductee Jordan Cila, a professional soccer player for the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and NY Red Bulls. He graduated in 2000.
“I learned that he’s a natural-born leader,” Saed said. “He’s someone who stands with his team, is the first person at practice, and is the last to leave the field. He’s extremely talented but modest. He’s gifted but still puts in the work.”
Cila was not only successful in soccer. He went on to become vice president of the Interest Rate Sales at Goldman Sachs and then senior vice president of Citadel LLC, his current position.
Cila brought up his youngest daughter to accept the nomination with him.
He explained that Jericho Schools supported him while he was busy with soccer, accommodating him while also holding him accountable when it came to academics.
He was ready to be a successful student when he got to Duke University.
He also appreciated the time he got to play soccer on the varsity team with his younger brother.
Student Vivek Kirpalani, known for his outgoing personality and work ethic, presented inductee Andrew Sausmer, a Jericho volunteer firefighter, community advocate and humanitarian. He graduated in the class of 1979.
“Andrew Sausmer is here tonight because he has dedicated his lie to this community,” Kirpalani said.
In high school, Sausmer played football, wrestled and participated in the varsity club. He also volunteered as a junior firefighter at the Jericho Fire Department and was appointed captain in ninth grade. After graduating, Sausmer found success in the restaurant industry, today serving as general manager of over 25 years at Cafe Baci in Westbury. There, he works with the Young Adult Institute to hire individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And during the height of the pandemic, he spearheaded an initiative to deliver meals from Cafe Baci to local hospitals with the help of the police department.
Sausmer has also continued his work with the Jericho Fire Department, currently serving as vice president of its Benevolent Association. After 9/11, he led an effort to maintain and designate a space to honor and recognize those who were killed.
“Today, Glenn J. Winuk Memorial Park, named after [Sausmer’s] late, dear friend and a member of this Hall of Fame stands proud and provides solace to everyone impacted,” Kirpalani said.
Sausmer, in his remarks, said he’s learned never to think what you have to offer is insignificant.
“There will always be someone out there who needs what you have to give,” Sausmer said.
Alex Boyarski, known as an intelligent and hardworking student who is a talented writer, presented inductee Randye Ringler, a trailblazing woman sports executive for the New York Mets and Arena Football League. Ringler graduated a year early, in 1972.
“Especially as someone who is also interested in pursuing entertainment marketing myself, Ms. Ringler has served as an inspiration to me ever since that initial phone call,” Boyarski said. “She has seen every facet of the industry and has given me so much valuable insight about her experiences.”
Ringler discussed how, growing up in the 1960s, she did a project in the sixth grade to determine whether racism was taught or learned by comparing second- and fifth-graders perceptions of race. She determined that second-graders considered race less than fifth-graders.
“In the 1960s, we were also activists,” Ringler said, adding that she protested the Vietnam War and raised money for migrant farm workers. “The schools were fully supportive of that.”
Ringler began attending the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations at age 16, focusing on women’s studies.
After graduating from Cornell, networking eventually led her to meet John Henry Moss, a baseball executive and politician from North Carolina who got her a job in Charleston. She eventually moved up to Double-A baseball in Memphis and then the New York Mets, where she wore many hats, such as creating policy, training personnel, and serving as security.
Ringler was also responsible for bringing back “Mr. Met.”
Her career continued from then, working for the Arena Football League before going on disability to deal with some serious health issues. During that time, she did volunteer work.
“Since then I’ve focused more on being a professional patient,” Ringler said, explaining that she’s a two-time survivor of pancreatic cancer. “I tell everyone, please be hopeful. The science is incredible. It’s coming fast and furious.”
Finally, Keira He, a member of the Mathletes and debate club who is known as a kind, bright and hardworking student, presented Keith Horn, a financial executive, advisor and mentor to organizations. He is a member of the class of 1976.
“Keith loves to explore all of his opportunities and that’s evident just through his career choices,” He said. “He’ll tell you a story of how he found himself practicing law when he wasn’t planning it. As a member of the Bar, he practiced law for about three-and-a-half years, before he switched gears and went into investment banking.”
Horn started at Merrill Lynch as a chief of staff, working directly for the chairman and the chief executive. After 16 years at Merrill Lynch, Horn joined Elliot Investment Management as chief operating officer. Horn also serves on multiple boards, including Amarin, a biopharmaceutical company treating cardiovascular disease. This past November, he was named the executive chairman of the Forest Road Company, which provides financing for film production.
Throughout Horn’s success, he has continued to bring his community together by organizing high school reunions and tributes to the classmates who have passed away.
In high school, Horn was the captain of the varsity basketball team and the tennis team, president of the student council and recipient of the scholar athlete. Horn attended Binghamton University, where he decided to double major in political science and economics. Upon graduating with his Bachelor’s, he attended Georgetown to obtain his Juris Doctorate. And after law school, he joined a prominent law firm on Wall Street, where he said the hours were long.
“But I actually liked it,” Horn said, adding that he practiced for three years until an opportunity arose to transition to investment banking, which he did for seven years before his promotion to chief of staff, an opportunity that allowed him to travel the world.
Horn also gave back personally and professionally, serving on the board of Binghamton and endowing a scholarship.
Horn has also become affiliated with an organization called Peace Players International, which uses basketball to resolve conflict in hot spots around the world.
“Congratulations to the Alumni Hall of Fame inductees,” DeMarinis said.
