The Scarsdale Foundation Announces the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl Award Winner, Andrew Sereysky; the Spotlight Honor Goes to Scarsdale Adult School

Scarsdale Bowl Co-Chairs Marc and Cynthia Samwick greeted Sereysky at his door.Andrew Sereysky is the 2025 recipient of the venerated Scarsdale Bowl, awarded annually since 1943 to those who have “given unselfishly of time, energy, and effort to the civic welfare of the community.”

The Scarsdale Foundation also continued its new tradition of honoring either an individual or an organization who has made a tangible difference in the community’s quality of life in one specific area. The Spotlight Award, established in 2023, goes to Scarsdale Adult School for its 87 year tradition of building community through life-long learning.

The Bowl Committee, a diverse group of 16 community volunteers representing all areas and demographics of Scarsdale, selects the recipient for each award after reviewing and vetting many worthy candidates who are nominated by the community.

Please plan to help celebrate the Foundation’s honorees at the Bowl Dinner on Thursday, April 24th. Invitations are open to all Scarsdale residents and will be available in February.

The Scarsdale Foundation promotes and celebrates volunteerism and also administers grants and scholarships, provides need-based college scholarships for sophomores, juniors and seniors and recognizes extraordinary volunteers who work toward the betterment of the community. You can visit the Scarsdale Foundation web site for more information.

Andrew Sereysky
Greenacres resident Andrew Sereysky has been an active village volunteer since moving here in 1994. His long history of volunteer work has touched numerous organizations representing many facets of village life, notably the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, the Cable Television Commission, and the Advisory Council on Communications. Sereysky is known throughout the village for his numerous contributions, making him a deserving recipient of the 2025 Bowl award.

Sereysky has been an active participant in community affairs. His commitment to the Greenacres Neighborhood Association has been steadfast since 1996, serving as its President during the terms of 2004-2007 and 2013-2023. Simultaneously, he has been a key figure in the Cable Television Commission since 2004, assuming the role of Chairman from 2010 to 2014. With a professional background in advertising, Sereysky has helped to make Scarsdale’s communications more transparent and concise, playing a vital role in the Ad Hoc Committee/Advisory Council on Communications since its formation in 2016. He is currently engaged in the Ad Hoc Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Sereysky and his wife, Joan, raised their son and daughter here and have since welcomed 3 grandchildren into their family.

“As chairs of the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl Committee, we are thrilled to honor Andrew Seresky with this year’s Scarsdale Bowl Award. Andrew exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and community service, consistently giving selflessly of his time and energy to enrich the lives of so many. His dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making Scarsdale a better place are truly inspiring. We are privileged to celebrate his contributions and highlight the immense impact he has made in our community,” said Scarsdale Bowl co-Chair Marc Samwick.

Bowl Committee members delivering the good news. Back Row: Cynthia Samwick, Elise Flagg, Randi Culang, Anne Lyons (Foundation President), Marc Samwick, Middle Row: Alli Seiden, Isabel Finegold, Daniela Retelny, Joan and Andrew Sereysky

Sereysky has also served on the CNC Procedure Committee, SNAP, Citizens Nominating Committee, the Scarsdale Forum, Procedure Committee, School Board Nominating Committee as Administration Chairman, the Scarsdale Bowl Committee, STEP, the Board of the Scarsdale Foundation, and was a coach for many years for his children’s various sports teams. Time after time, Sereysky provided help and expertise to Scarsdale organizations. He also aims to mentor and raise up the next generation of volunteers, serving Scarsdale in myriad ways to preserve our volunteer spirit.Andrew Sereysky

Friend and former Village Trustee Deb Pekarek said, “I am so delighted that Andrew will receive the Scarsdale Bowl! Andrew loves Scarsdale and continues to volunteer his time unselfishly for the betterment of our beloved community. Andrew certainly represents the true spirit of the Scarsdale Bowl award. This will be a grand celebration!”

Following the Bowl Committee vote on Sunday night, co-chairs Marc and Cynthia Samwick along with Anne Lyons, President of the Scarsdale Foundation, Isabel Finegold, Treasurer of the Bowl Committee, and Bowl Committee members Penny Bauersfeld, Randi Culang, Elise Flagg, Daniela Retelny and Alli Seiden surprised Sereysky at his home with the news on Sunday night.

“Being selected as the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl recipient is such an honor. It's an incredible recognition for which I'm forever grateful.” said honoree Sereysky.

Scarsdale Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg said, “Andrew’s decades-long commitment to the Scarsdale community, marked by quiet dedication, tireless hard work, and unflagging good cheer, makes him an extraordinary candidate for this year’s Scarsdale Bowl. His selfless contributions, steady leadership, and ability to inspire those around him have had a profound and lasting impact on the village, ensuring its vibrancy and continued 'small-town' feel."

The Spotlight Award Goes to SAS
For the third year, the Bowl Committee also selected a Spotlight Award winner. As opposed to the depth and breadth required of the Bowl winner, the Spotlight Award recognizes meaningful contributions in a specific area or a problem solved after focused effort.

Bowl Co-chair Cynthia Samwick noted, “The Scarsdale Adult School has long been a cornerstone of our community, fostering lifelong learning and personal growth for residents of all ages. Their tireless efforts to provide outstanding educational opportunities, innovative programming, and a welcoming environment exemplify what makes Scarsdale so special. We are honored to shine a spotlight on this remarkable organization and its ongoing commitment to inspiring and enriching our community.”

The Bowl Committee requested suggestions of individuals and organizations alike from the community and reviewed many worthy nominations before voting Scarsdale Adult School to be the 2025 recipient of the Spotlight Award in recognition of their ongoing commitment to life-long learning through their widespread educational offerings. Scarsdale Adult School director Jill Serling was likewise thrilled to learn of the award when Bowl committee members surprised her at her home with the news on Sunday night. In fact, Serling was out of town, but received the news through her Ring doorbell and enthusiastically greeted the Bowl committee to hear of the recognition.

“I am humbled and overjoyed with the news that Scarsdale Adult School (SAS) has been awarded the Spotlight Award,” said Scarsdale Adult School Director, Jill Serling. Our success in serving our mission in service of our community of lifelong learners is truly a collective effort thanks to our amazing staff, board, advisory committee members, instructors, and students. This year’s Spotlight Award is a wonderful example of two Scarsdale institutions supporting each other in furtherance of education."

Established in 1938, the Scarsdale Adult School is an independent, not-for-profit organization chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. It launched that year with 10 classes as an evening program; its original classes were ahead of its time- including courses in finance for women. Today, the Scarsdale Adult School is a unique Scarsdale fixture, which offers continuing education and a wide range of enrichment curriculum for lifelong learning for any adult regardless of residence. The SAS serves thousands of individual students a year - filling close to ten thousand seats annually. For courses, there is a wide choice of intellectually stimulating, recreational, and skill-enhancing courses and lectures. Tuition is kept to a minimum which allows all to participate regardless of financial ability. From another community financial angle, SAS partners with other local organizations. In addition, it also rents space across various Scarsdale institutions which supports the community’s financial wellbeing.

Anne Lyons, President of the Scarsdale Foundation said, “Every year, the Scarsdale Foundation and the Scarsdale Bowl Committee seek to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and generosity that make our community so special by honoring those who exemplify those ideals. The Scarsdale Adult School has been a fixture in the Scarsdale community for 87 years attracting thousands of lifelong learners to partake in their impressive course selection thanks to the efforts of many dedicated community volunteers. Andrew Sereysky is the consummate community volunteer. His welcoming and inclusive personality, and the twinkle in his eyes when he asks you to help out, encourages many to become part of the rich volunteer community in Scarsdale that makes our Village a very special place. We are thrilled to be celebrating with such dedicated volunteers and our larger community on April 24th.”