William Floyd High School senior student-athletes Emma DiMaio and Ja’Quan Thomas were recently honored with Suffolk Zone High School Leadership Awards from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance! To be considered for this award, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 by the end of their junior year and earn an overall grade of 90 or higher in their physical education classes. Students are also chosen for this award based on their character, leadership skills and ability to be a positive role model within their physical education classes. Emma and Ja’Quan are fantastic choices for this award, as they have both served as varsity team captains in addition to demonstrating excellence in the classroom and on the playing field!  

Emma has been competing at the varsity level since she was in middle school and has played for numerous teams in her time as a Colonial, including basketball, lacrosse, soccer and track. She is an exemplary athlete who has has earned All-County honors for her efforts in both soccer and lacrosse while also being recognized as a top girls’ lacrosse player by Newsday on several occasions. Additionally, Emma has been playing for the varsity girls’ lacrosse team for all five years of their active playoff streak. Outside of athletics, Emma is also a member of the WFHS Student Government and National Junior Honor Society. She will be attending Stony Brook University this fall, where she will continue to play lacrosse and major in communications.

Emma has attended William Floyd schools K-12 including John. S Hobart Elementary School and William Paca Middle School.

Ja’Quan has also competed for several varsity teams in his time as a Colonial, including football, basketball and lacrosse. He’s best known for his efforts on the gridiron, where he ranked as one of the most dominant running backs in Suffolk County and across Long Island. Throughout his football career, Ja’Quan earned MVP awards for Suffolk County and Division I, was selected as the New York Jets ‘High School Offensive Player of the Year’ in 2024, was named a co-recipient of the Joe Cipp Jr. Award for Suffolk County’s best running back on multiple occasions. He also earned numerous All-Long Island and All-County nods for football, in addition to All-County honors as a starter for the varsity basketball team. Ja’Quan is still making his decision on where he wants to attend college and what he wants to study but knows he would like to continue playing football at the collegiate level.

Ja'Quan also attended William Floyd schools K-12 including John. S Hobart Elementary School and William Paca Middle School.

Congratulations to Emma and Ja’Quan on this achievement!

They were also recently featured in Newsday - click here to view!