Astoria Federal Savings Honors Talented Teens in Annual Photo Contest

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., June 21, 2011 /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, "People and Their Pets." Photos ranged from close-ups to action shots of people interacting with pets of all sizes. Nearly 900 entries were submitted by students of more than 60 high schools in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110621/NY23782 )

"We see this as an opportunity to showcase the positive things that teenagers are doing to express themselves, pursue their passion and share their talents," said Astoria Federal Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards. "This year's contest was so well received. We were impressed by the teens' originality and technical skills, and enjoyed seeing the approaches they took in portraying the theme. Their creativity really came through!"

The annual contest is one of the many ways Astoria Federal is committed to its Education First initiative to promote lifelong learning in the communities it serves. "Whether we are helping youngsters develop financial literacy or fostering teenagers' creative expression, we actively support education at every age level," Edwards said. The winning photographers each won a $250 cash prize, while their schools benefited with a $100 grant for their art teachers' classroom use.

This year's winners are: Miranda Behrens from Shoreham-Wading River High School, Megan Cusack and Jasmine Laraichi from Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn, Aprill Davila from West Babylon High School, James Giella from Clarke Middle School in East Meadow, Alyssa Hill from Northport High School, Tara Joyce from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, Becca Leibowitz from Ardsley High School, Matt Pierre and Emily Savage from Patchogue-Medford High School and Jessica Santillan and Jessica Vargas from Forest Hills High School.

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $17.7 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $11.5 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 fourteen states, primarily along the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering fifteen states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings

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