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The Top Drawer 24 team for 2008. Front, from left: Ben Robertson (Trumansburg), Lauren Nelson (Trumansburg), Sherry Benedict (O-M), Sophie Peters (WG), Jaclyn Conklin (WG), Ashley Savard (WG), Abby Stamp (WG), Molly Bilinski (WG), Ellie Fausold (WG), Molly Murphy (WG), Erik Dahl (WG), Alan McIlroy (WG), and Brian J. O'Donnell. Back, from left: Chelsea Dykes (Bradford), Eric Davis (O-M), Todd Kautz (O-M), Jesse Johnson (O-M), Michele Kenney (O-M), Katey Cheplick (O-M), Cassie Fitch (O-M), Jaimie Sedlack (WG), Joe Stansfield (WG), Nick Phoenix (WG), Ben Quigley (WG), and Ernie Brennan (WG).

A night of celebration ...

WATKINS GLEN, May 22 -- The weather held, although it was a bit chilly. But fires in two fireplaces kept things warmed up.

Families were there, along with friends. Dignitaries were out in force. The setting -- the Watkins Glen State Park Pavilion -- provided a unique ambience.

It was the third annual Top Drawer 24 party on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, honoring the 24 students from area high schools selected to The Brian J. O'Donnell Scholar-Athlete-Citizen Team.

It was a night of celebration, and speeches, and camaraderie, as the speakers spoke and the audience -- scores of people from around the area, there to salute honorees representing the Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Bradford and Trumansburg High Schools (see Team) -- listened closely.

When it was all over, some of the crowd departed, and some partook of the cake and ice cream on hand for the occasion, and organizers started thinking about next year's celebration.

Photo in text: Brian J. O'Donnell speaks to the honorees in private.

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Scenes from the Top Drawer party (Photos by Charlie Haeffner, Liz Fraboni and Jon Haeffner)

Left: Lauren Nelson of Trumansburg. Right: Jaimie Sedlack of WGHS with her mother Gayle.

Left: School superintendents Tom Phillips (WGHS, left) and Jim Frame (O-M). Right: Honoree Joe Stansfield.

Left: Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Yessman. Right: Alan McIlroy (WGHS) talks things over with Alice Conklin as the honorees gather for a group photo.

Left: Honoree Abby Stamp (WGHS). Right: Organizers Dave Warren, left, and Craig Cheplick.

Left: Honoree Ernie Brennan (WGHS, white sweater) receives a windshirt pullover, a present to each of the honorees. Right: Honoree Cassie Fitch (O-M).

Left: Honoree Jaclyn Conklin (WGHS). Right: Dr. Jamie Coleman, one of the speakers.

Left: Jessica Stansfield, sister of honoree Joe Stansfield, with Courtney Haff at left. Right: Pastor Beverly Karr-Lyon, who provided the Invocation and Benediction.

Left: Jim Benedict, father of O-M honoree Sherry Benedict. Right: Speaker Katie Taber, a former Top Drawer team member from O-M and now a student at Cortland State.

From left: Watkins Glen honorees Jaclyn Conklin, Molly Murphy, Sophie Peters, Jaimie Sedlack and Ashley Savard.

Left: Honoree Katey Cheplick (O-M). Right: Speaker Brian J. O'Donnell.

From left: Honorees Todd Kautz (O-M), Michele Kenney (O-M) and Ben Quigley (WGHS)

Left: Honoree Nick Phoenix (WGHS). Right: Speaker Tim O'Hearn, the Schuyler County Administrator.

Bradford School Superintendent Wendy Field.

Left: Honoree Sophie Peters (WGHS). Right: Emcee Dave Warren, the WGHS principal.

Left: Tom Taber, father of speaker Katie Taber. Center: Kristine Gardner, an '07 Odessa graduate. Right: County Legislator Mike Yuhasz.

Left: Honoree Sherry Benedict (O-M) takes a glance back as students listen to Brian J. O'Donnell on his annual talk to them, along a walkway some distance from the pavilion. Right: Sherry Benedict (O-M) in a sea of faces listening to speeches.

Left: Honoree Ben Robertson (Trumansburg). Right: Honoree Ashley Savard (WGHS).

Honoree Molly Bilinski (WGHS)

Left: Honoree Cassie Fitch (O-M) arrives with boyfriend Bobby Hornick. Right: Honoree Erik Dahl (WGHS)

Left: Watkins Glen Mayor Judy Phillips, left, and O-M Superintendent Jim Frame listen to a speech. Right: O-M teacher-coach Jack McCauley.

The setting: Just before the crowd arrived, this was the view of the Watkins Glen State Park Pavilion. Soon it was filled with people.

Brian J. O'Donnell, after whom the Top Drawer team is named.