For the past twenty-five years, Luis Marino has served as an invaluable member of the Scarsdale custodial team. Described with a “professional attitude, dedication, and high energy” by Scarsdale Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Hagerman, Marino was awarded the Thomas Sobol Award for his contributions to the Scarsdale community. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 5th at the Harwood Building and was hosted by Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Services.

Marino is originally from Peru, immigrating to Port Chester, New York in 1980. Although there are more opportunities and resources in the United States, the transition was not easy. “It was tough. You had to work a lot here to survive. Culture, tradition—it’s all different,” said Marino. 

At SHS, Marino started in 1994 as a night cleaner, working from 3 PM to 11 PM. He then transitioned to working on Saturdays and is now a daytime custodian. Throughout his posts, Marino has been hard-working and always cares about the “health, happiness, and wellness of others,” said Hagerman. 

Outside of the school, Marino is a volunteer with Howya, an organization that fundraises to collect toys, clothing, and supplies for over 400 children in Guatemala. “I enjoy helping kids. I just got back from Guatemala, and this is my fourth time going. We help as much as we can,” said Marino. He also devotes his time to his local community, serving as the deputy mayor of Port Chester.