18-year-old high school senior wins spot on West Islip school board

Thursday, May 18, 2023
WEST ISLIP, Long Island (WABC) -- After a historic vote on Long Island, an 18-year-old high school senior is now one of the newest members of the West Islip school board.

Quinn Bedell was a write-in candidate for one of the three open spots.
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He said he was inspired to run by his former sixth-grade teacher, who was also a school board member and died last year.

"At my friend Tom Compitello's funeral, the idea was put up in place and kind of stuck with me, I just think there's no better time but the present," Bedell said.



Bedell is also the student president of the Teacher Student Association Board, an Eagle Scout and a business owner.



"I run my own landscaping company," Bedell said. "I have 65 clients and I employ West Islip teens from our school and I like to beautify our community. It's great."
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Quinn plans to start college at SUNY Farmingdale in the fall, but his path through high school was marked with learning obstacles.

"I'm in a special-ed program, I was diagnosed with dyslexia in the 10th grade, so the special-ed program is something near and dear to my heart," Bedell said.

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