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Although I’ve only known you for a short time, a hearty congratulations for an award well earned! Your commitment to Poly is unquestionable and your sincere passion for your alma mater palpable. I look forward to working (and meeting in person!) with one of Poly Prep’s absolute best.

Opeyemi Laniyonu

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You make everyone a better version of themselves- no matter if they’re an old or new friend or if they see you daily, weekly, or monthly. You truly lift my spirits, as you do so many. I am honored to be your colleague!
Billy Joel’s “ You’re my Home” is an especially beautiful song which has always spoken to me- what a wonderful connection you made to Poly.
Wishing you all the very best, Matt. This couldn’t have been a better year for you to be the recipient.
Congratulations!!!
Peggy Cook

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It's always a joy to watch you with the kiddos. Thanks for being such sunshine no matter the weather! -Laura Grimm

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Congratulations, Matt. You make other people happy, better, inspired, and confident. You are a true teacher and coach; your students and players will never forget the positive impact you've had on their lives. You live the truth that the more you give to life, the more life gives you. I am so very proud to be your colleague. - Audrius Barzdukas

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Congratulations, Matty D! ❤️ The Plym family ⚾️

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Matty D,
This is the perfect award and is so well deserved. Every day you came to the field or the bubble with a huge smile on your face, you would instantly change the mood of the entire team. We are all so grateful for your constant support (in baseball and beyond), great hitting advice, and positive energy.

Thank you for everything, and we hope to see you soon,
PP Baseball '20

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Matt, you deserve this every year. You bring so much joy to our lives each day. I am proud to call you not only a colleague but a dear friend.
Congratulations and much love!
Bette Soto

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Dear Matt,

Congratulations!  I was thrilled to hear that you were selected as this year’s winner.  We go back a long way and I can say from experience that you are, and always were, a gentle spirit - so kind and caring and always ready to lend a hand.  Thank you for all you do for the community and for just being you.

All my best,

Marie Corkhill

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My Dear Friend Matty,
It is of no surprise to me that you are being honored for anything at all, especially “Spirit”.  You are one of the most caring, energetic and happy individuals that I know. You care deeply for your family, friends, colleagues, students and players. You take great pride in your work and it shows. I love listening to you speak about the great kids that you work with both on and off the field. You can see the joy in your eyes. I don’t think there is anyone more deserving of this honor than you. As a matter of fact, I believe that Poly should be honored that you are a part of their family, just as we all are. Congratulations!!!
- Angelo DiLeo

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CONGRATULATIONS Coach Durando!

You totally deserve this award!!!
👏🏾🏆🥇⚾️🌻🌈⭐️♥️

❌⭕️❌⭕️
Amina ‘30

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Matt, I genuinely believe that this is a well deserved award for you.  A heartfelt and sincere congratulations goes out to you.  You do so much for the Poly Community and are such a positive influence to everyone you come in contact with!
Congratulations

Lynda Casarella

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You make us smile everyday. You bring joy to all upper and lower school.

Holly & Erin Byrne ❤️

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There could not be a more deserving recipient of this award! Matt Durando embodies everything that Poly strives to be - he is simply one of the best coaches, mentors, educators and human beings we’ve ever come across!  Our son is so lucky to have you as a positive force in his life. Congratulations Matty!  The Zaremba family. Class of ‘95 and p ‘24 and p’29

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Coach Matt “Mr. Spirit” Durando,

Congratulations on this incredible and “MAJOR” award!! Can’t think of anyone more deserving. You tireless commitment to Poly is evident in all of your caring support to Poly’s athletes and students throughout the years. You are a true role model for us all and I am proud to call you a dear friend.

I wish I had a Battalion full of Matt Durandos.

Lieutenant Colonel Bryon Linnehan P ‘96

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Matt Durando is the best.

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Thank you, Coach Durando! You have been a great mentor and friend! Need to get out on the water with you when I get back East! Nobody deserves this more than you!

- Sammy Jacobs ‘05

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Congratulations Coach Durando! We say this all the time, but there isn't a nicer person on this earth than you. Thank you for always making the time to work on the most minute details in practice, chat about baseball, school and life. You always have a smile on your face and treat everybody as if they are the best of friends, even when meeting them for the first time. There isn't a more deserving person for the Spirit Award, Poly is truly lucky to have you as a teacher, coach and mentor. Congrats again!

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Congratulations Matt,welcome to the club.I cannot think of a more deserving person.Your love of Poly shows in everything you do.I have be very fortunate to have known you as a student,captain of my first varsity baseball team and as a colleague,but most importantly a friend.Poly is very lucky to have you working in the lower school and coaching Varsity Baseball with Matt ,you two make such a great team.Once again congratulations,Diane and I love you.

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Thank you for the positive impact you've made on Eric's Lower School years (you too, Mr. S!) Long live floor hockey in PE!
Congrats and well deserved!
Much love, The Muoio Family

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Matt, as your former teacher and coach, I was thrilled when I heard that you were this year’s recipient of the Spirit Award! Thanks for all your positive energy and good will through the years. You make Poly a better place. Congratulations!

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Matt, as your former teacher and coach, I was thrilled when I heard that you were this year’s recipient of the Spirit Award! Thanks for all your positive energy and good will through the years. You make Poly a better place. Congratulations!

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Heartfelt and sincere congratulations. The dedication, respect, genuine concern & concern is just one of the many reasons this award is so well deserved. As mentioned by many, you truly embody all the good at Poly. We are all very fortunate to have someone as special as you in our lives.
Congratulations!!

Love,
Billy & Danielle Basso

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Congratulations Coach Matty D! Can't think of a more deserving recipient for this award. I'll never be able to thank you enough for making me a better baseball player, but most importantly, a better person. You're second to none when it comes to caring about your players, and your kindness and warm heartedness are infectious to any and all around you. The class of 08 continues to discuss how much you mean to all of us, and how we miss the Matty D passion (and occasional Metallica music!). It's an honor to call Coach Durando both a mentor and a friend, and I say with all the confidence you've made Poly a better place!
Congratulations!

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Matt,

I can't think of a better person for this honor.  It was a privilege for me to work with you in the Lower School.  I will always remember your dedication to the children and your positive spirit!  Congratulations.

Chris Peters

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There is an adage in team sports that no name on the back of the jersey is bigger than the name on the front. But when the name on the back is Durando, its name has become one and the same with the front.

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Working this year with Matt (Mr. Durando) in PE has been a real pleasure. He is quite simply the heartbeat of the Lower School. He bleeds blue and grey and is a very fitting receipt of the Poly Spirit Award. Having gone to Poly and now carving out his career at Poly— Matt is the embodiment of all the good that Poly stands for: Mind, Body, Spirit!

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Matt, congratulations on this well deserved honor. From your days as a Poly student, loved LS teacher and respected baseball coach you have modeled all that is good at Poly. I am a better person for knowing you as a student, teacher and coach, congratulations!
-Mildred Piscopo

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Matty there is no one better than you! Working with you 24/7 at camp and at the Lower school was a dream come true. You absolutely earned this honor! I can not think of a better person or friend that deserves this!

Love always Devon

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Great teacher, coach, brother and friend

I’ve had the privilege of being taught by, coached with, and like most who Durando- felt his aggregate approach to the game of life! Congratulations- well deserved and wish you the best in the future!

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I truly can't think of someone more deserving of this award. Your smile and constant positivity are infectious. Poly is more than lucky to have you!

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Hello Matt,

Your smile and attitude is so warm and welcoming to everyone. You completely embody the true meaning of the Spirit Award. We are all so lucky you are a part of the Poly community! Not only do Tom and I enjoy spending time with you but all three of my children value your friendship. Thomas especially enjoys swapping fishing stories with you. You are so kind and generous with your time, it is no surprise that you are all the students favorite!! Thank you for your incredible dedication and positive outlook.

Congratulations!!  Tom, Barbara, Caroline, Claudia and Thomas

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When I visited Lower Poly for the first time, it was Mr Durando who sold me on the school in a chance encounter in the hallway when I got separated from the tour. We chatted for several minutes and I said to myself, if all the faculty and staff at Poly are as great as this guy, I know my kids will be in good hands. And they have been since then! Thanks Matt and congratulations!
Kippy Joseph P’24, ‘26

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Congrats, Matt! You are very deserving of this award, as your passion for and dedication to the Poly community are always evident.
-Steve Bates

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You are an incredible part of the Poly community and one of the people I miss the most. You have been nothing but kind and caring to me and my siblings throughout our Poly experience. You always had a bright smile and a kind word to say to every student. As a coach, you would take time out of your day to help me even though I wasn’t even your player, which was very appreciated. If anyone deserves this award, it’s you. Congratulations!!! Wishing you all the best.

Kerri Saputo

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Congrats Matty D this is so well deserved. Miss you and thank you for everything.

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Dear Matt,                            Congratulations on receiving this year's Spirit Award...so deserving.  Thank you for being such an amazing teacher and coach to Bart.  You are always there for others and your love for Poly is evident in everything you do to make our school a "Poly Family" Congratulations, again Matty D!      

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Dear Matt,                            Congratulations on receiving this year's Spirit Award...so deserving.  Thank you for being such an amazing teacher and coach to Bart.  You are always there for others and your love for Poly is evident in everything you do to make our school a "Poly Family" Congratulations, again Matty D!      

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Love,
The Moroney Family

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Matt, you are the kind of teacher/coach/leader that kids remember for the rest of their lives.  That is so powerful!  And you never squander it -- teaching kindness and inclusion in everything you do.

The Poly Community is so lucky to have you.

Angela Ortiz

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Matt -- Congratulations on this well-deserved award.  Your warmth, dedication and generous spirit inspire children and parents everyday.  My children adored you as a teacher.  As a parent, I am so grateful for your kind smile whenever I see you at Poly.  You always stop and ask how our family is doing.  That is Poly spirit.  That is Poly community.  Thank you.

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Matt -- Congratulations on this well-deserved award.  Your warmth, dedication and generous spirit inspire children and parents everyday.  My children adored you as a teacher.  As a parent, I am so grateful for your kind smile whenever I see you at Poly.  You always stop and ask how our family is doing.  That is Poly spirit.  That is Poly community.  Thank you.

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Matt - Congratulations on winning this year's Spirit Award. Thank you for teaching by example - to be kind, offer assistance and always with the biggest smile. Your impact on your students, friends and colleagues is enviable. Thank you for your dedication to our entire community - you make Poly a better place.

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I was so happy to see that you won the spirit award. It is rare people like you that make Poly the special place that it is. In such a short period, you made me feel like family. You are integral to what makes Poly baseball a community.
Keep teaching people that winning and being kind are never mutually exclusive. Your old players are better people for having learned that from you. I'm a better man for having learned that from you, no doubt. Cheers Coach.

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Matt Durando has been my assistant coach at Poly 2004 since I was hired as the Head Baseball Coach.  Matt not only brings a wealth of knowledge about baseball but he is always the first coach to support a player or fellow coach when they need it. Whenever I am having "one of those days" as a coach Matt is always there to remind me that it's going to be ok.  Not a moment goes by without Matt standing by my side encouraging his players to be the best they can be.  His wealth of knowledge and kind heart make him the perfect Assistant Coach.  Not to mention he can also talk fishing, food, movies and music when an escape from baseball is needed.  As I have heard 100 times, and I would like to reiterate myself "Matt is the kindest guy I know".  I have been lucky to have Matt by my side for 18 years on the baseball field, helping the Baseball Program to the most successful team in NY.  More importantly, I consider Matt a dear friend, and someone I can count on all the time.  Matt is like family to me.  Nobody is more deserving of this award than Matt Durando.

Matty, I love you and well deserved.

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Congrats Matt Durando!!! You  truly embody Poly's spirit and have made an impact beyond what you can imagine. It is an honor to call you a friend and to have you as part of the Poly family!

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Congrats Matt Durando!!! You  truly embody Poly's spirit and have made an impact beyond what you can imagine. It is an honor to call you a friend and to have you as part of the Poly family!

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Matt, it is clear how much you love Poly.  I just hope you know how much Poly loves you.  You are responsible for so many smiles every day, not just from the kids but also parents and colleagues.  You wear a lot of Poly hats but you wear them so well.  I am thrilled that you are getting the recognition you deserve. Thank you for your incredible Poly Spirit and dedication to our school.