Allyson Arleo and Nicholas Lanzisero compiled enviable records over the course of four years at Huntington High School and graduated near the top of the Class of 2017.
The two teenagers were academic and co-curricular standouts, playing integral roles in a number of teams and organizations and displaying exceptional leadership qualities. The duo was respected and admired by classmates and will be sorely missed next year when both are pursuing a new set of goals at their respective colleges.
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky presented Ms. Arleo and Mr. Lanzisero with this year’s National School Development Council awards during a ceremony in the high school auditorium.
“The National School Development Council provided me with the opportunity to present two awards for academic growth and student leadership in learning,” Mr. Polansky told the crowd at the senior academic awards night ceremony. “It was almost impossible for me to narrow it down to two, as there are so many incredibly deserving members of the class of 2017. I thought about learning as a process that touches all aspects of one’s high school career and really zoned in on the leadership premise.”
Ms. Arleo plans to study social work, management and leadership at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. Mr. Lanzisero is headed to Binghamton University where he is interesting in pursuing studies in engineering and business.
“When there is something that needs to be said, these two will say it,” Mr. Polansky said. “More importantly, when there is something that needs to be done, these two will do it. And they would never ask anyone else to do something that they would not do themselves. Most importantly, when there is someone or something that needs to be led, they will lead him, her, them or it. Whether it be in the classroom, on the field, in a class-related activity, in the robotics ring, for a community agency or simply anything of value and meaning, these two will be there.”
The two teenagers have been heavily involved in Huntington’s extracurricular activities programs while simultaneously maintaining high academic standing. Both have been leaders in the school and community and each of them play key roles with clubs and Blue Devil sport teams.
“It has been a pleasure to witness their growth over the years and it is comforting to know that we will be releasing these types of young adults into a world over which they have already begun to take charge,” Mr. Polansky said.
“The National School Development Council is a confederation of school study or development councils located across the country,” according to the organization’s website. “The Council embodies the philosophic and operational tenets of the school study and development council movement. Each of these regional, state, or county-based councils is, in turn, an association of local school systems that work together; usually in conjunction with one or more institutions of higher learning on matters of common concern.”
