Douglaston Student Wins Academic Award for Third Consecutive Year

A Douglaston student with a famous chef for a grandmother has received his Long Island middle school's highest honor for the past three years as well as another top award for the past two years, a spokeswoman for the school said.

Lorenzo Manuali, 13, a Douglaston resident who will enter the eighth grade at Roslyn's Buckley Country Day School this fall, recently earned the Headmaster's Award for the third year in a row upon completion of his seventh grade year.

He has also been given the school's Scholarship Medal for the past two consecutive years, said Ann Duffy, a Buckley spokeswoman.

Manuali's grandmother is renowned chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich. His family has lived in Douglaston since 1998.

"I am very passionate about my studies and my favorite subjects are science and history," Manuali said. "Buckley is a second home to me and when one has teachers who care and want you to achieve, it's not difficult to succeed."

Jean-Marc Juhel, Buckley's headmaster, said the school was proud of the Douglaston youth's accomplishments.

"Lorenzo is a remarkable young man," he said. "He combines the best of academic commitment with character and integrity."