Astoria Federal Savings Announces Its 2008 Teen Photo Contest Winners

		Irene Ferrall, Astoria Federal's Director of Marketing Communications (far right) presents the winners of the 2008 Teen Photo Contest with their awards. Back row: (left to right) Nicole DeMeo, Tia Sergio, Tara Byrne, Anton Alenychev, Monica Chulewicz, Eric Kunz and Kristen Waslufsky and Irene Ferrall. (Seated left to right) Stephanie Ossorio, Samantha Smith and Erin McCabe. (PRNewsFoto/Astoria Federal Savings) LAKE SUCCESS, NY UNITED STATES

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings has announced the 12 winners of its annual Teen Photo Contest. This year, the contest theme was "People in Action" and Astoria Federal asked contestants between the ages of 13 and 19 years old to use their cameras and their creative eyes to capture people of all ages doing interesting physical or creative activities. Participants were encouraged to think about the many ways people are in action such as when dancing, painting, playing sports or while at work. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080707/NYM086 ) The annual Teen Photo Contest is one of the many ways Astoria Federal is committed to "Putting people first" in the communities it serves. Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards said, "We're always finding ways to stay involved in the many communities we serve and we're committed to supporting education at every age level. This contest is a great way for young adults in our neighborhoods to express themselves in a creative way." Astoria Federal selected the twelve best photos, and those photographers each won a $250 cash prize. Not only did each winner receive a prize, but their school also benefited from their win. Each photographer's teacher won a $100 grant for his or her classroom use. Winning photos were selected based on their composition, clarity, and originality in depicting the "People in Action" theme. Winners were: Anton Alenychev from Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills; Tara Byrne from Eastchester High School in Scarsdale; Monica Chulewicz from MacArthur High School in Levittown; Nicole DeMeo from Elwood-John Glenn High School in Elwood; Li Gao from Earl Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson; Eric Kunz from Hicksville High School in Hicksville; Erin McCabe from Glen Cove High School in Glen Cove; Stephanie Ossorio from Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn; Tia Sergio from Smithtown Christian School in Smithtown; Christine Tabag from Division Avenue High School in Levittown; and Samantha Smith and Kristen Waslufsky from Bay Shore High School in Bay Shore. Astoria Financial Corporation, with assets of $21.5 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association. Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $13.0 billion, is the largest thrift depository headquartered 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 86 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, http://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 offices and loan production offices in New York, an extensive broker network covering twenty-two states, primarily the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia.