Astoria Federal Savings Announces 2010 Teen Photo Contest Winners

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings has announced the 12 winners of its annual Teen Photo Contest, open to 13 to 19 year olds. Participating teens were encouraged to use their cameras and creative approaches to capture this year's theme, "From the Neighborhood," in conjunction with Astoria Federal Savings' "Putting people first" community-based brand position. Hundreds of entries—nearly 600—were submitted by students of more than 50 high schools in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100622/NY24089 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100622/NY24089 )

"This contest encourages young people to use their talents to express themselves creatively and is one of the many ways we really get involved in the communities we serve," said Astoria Federal Savings Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards. "We were very impressed with the students' photographic skills and enjoyed seeing their images of everyday life in their neighborhoods. They all approached the theme from unique vantage points."

The winning photos were chosen based on their composition, clarity, and originality in depicting the theme.  The winning photographers each won a $250 cash prize, while their schools benefited as well with a $100 grant for their art teachers' classroom use. "Whether we are helping youngsters develop financial literacy or fostering their creative expression, we actively support education at every age level," said Edwards.

Winners were: Tara Valenza and Alice Chang from The Wheatley School in Westbury, Megan Cusack and Marlena Turturro from Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn, Gitel Khoroshko and Amanda Shaffer from John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, Elizabeth McLean from Babylon High School, Nicole Gardianos from Baldwin High School, Luca Balser from Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, Emmanuel Yusupov from Forest Hills High School, Kristina Meinardus from Patchogue-Medford High School, and Jennie Hirshkowitz from West Babylon Senior High School.

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $20.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $12.7 billion, is the largest thrift depository in New York and embraces its philosophy of "Putting people first" by providing the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 85 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, www.astoriafederal.com.  Astoria Federal commands the fourth largest deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding that of 38 individual states.  Astoria Federal originates mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, an extensive broker network covering sixteen states, primarily along the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering seventeen states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings