Astoria Federal Savings Announces Their 2007 Teen Photo Contest Winners

		Irene Ferrall, Astoria Federal's Director of Marketing Communications (far right) presents the winners of the 2007 Teen Photo Contest with their awards. Back row (left to right): Mary Ewen, James Clayton, April Greene, Christina Cianfione. Front row (left to right): Nicolette Regina, Sarah Landisman, Laura Morrin, Danielle Liotta, Michal Shilar, and Irene Ferrall. (PRNewsFoto/Astoria Federal Savings) LAKE SUCCESS, NY UNITED STATES

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings has announced the twelve winners of their annual Teen Photo Contest. This year, the contest theme was "Good Times" 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 enjoying life. Participants were encouraged to think about the many ways people have fun including family celebrations, playing sports, traveling to new places, or even just listening to music. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070713/NYF004 ) The annual Teen Photo Contest is one of the many ways Astoria Federal is committed to "Putting people first" in the communities they serve. 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 "Good Times" theme. Winners were: Sarah Landisman, Laura Morrin, and Michal Shilar from Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School in Plainview; Christina Cianfione and Samantha Galasso from Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn; James Clayton and April Green from Division Avenue High School in Levittown; Mary Ewen from Ward Melville High School in East Setauket; Danielle Liotta from Merrick Avenue Middle School in Merrick; Nicolette Regina from Patchogue-Medford High School in Medford; Vladimir Zhivulke from Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills; and Divya Chhabra from Ardsley High School in Ardsley. Astoria Financial Corporation, the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, with assets of $21.4 billion is the sixth largest thrift institution in the United States. Established in 1888, Astoria Federal is the largest thrift depository headquartered in New York with deposits of $13.4 billion 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-six states, primarily the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering forty-three states and the District of Columbia.