It’s been almost 30 years since Lawrence Zacarese graduated from Sachem, but he’s kept the lessons he learned in high school close to his heart.
Those anecdotes were delivered in a passionate 16-minute speech during the Sachem North graduation on Friday evening at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium.
Zacarese, who graduated from Sachem in 1993, is the Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Security Officer at Stony Brook University. He is a lawyer, a paramedic and a former NYPD Officer.
In 2019 he was inducted to the Sachem Hall of Honor, the highest recognition bestowed upon alumni of the school district.
Each year the Sachem Alumni Association selects a commencement speaker who is a successful Sachem alumnus that credits the community’s educational development for inspiring them. Sachem East turned down the request in 2022.
Prior speakers include Navy lacrosse coach Joe Amplo, sports media and marketing executive Laura Gentile, martial arts expert and motivational speaker Jerry Figgiani, sports business executive Stephen Costello, music executive Michael Lau, former NASDAQ CEO Bob Griefeld, and CNBC producer Lori Ann LaRocco.