Huntington School Briefs
Paul Otto has donated several items to the Huntington High School photography program, including a Canon AT! Manual 35mm single lens reflex camera with lens, Canon Point and Shoot camera and Luna Pro SBC light meter.
Additional donations to the photography program came from Charles Piffard, who contributed an Omega B-22 enlarger and Omega Prolab B-66 enlarger and Pamela Piffard, who gave the district a Bessler enlarger, model 23c.
Matt Harris has donated six Source 4 Lieco spotlights and three Desanti Leonardo model 320 spotlights. Carrie Nikodem donated three Nikon 35mm SLR cameras with 50mm lens as well as a Nikkor 35-135mm lens, Nikkor 80-200mm lens, Sunpak 30D flash, Nikon motor drive, Nikon 105mm lens and camera accessories.
Pechar Wins Two Scholarships
Huntington High School senior Brian Pechar would like to be a special education social studies teacher one day. His dream is to return to his alma mater as a faculty member. He also loves sports marketing, so that career field might tug at him, too.
At Huntington's senior academic awards night held earlier this month, Mr. Pechar won a $2,000 Rotary Club scholarship and a $1,500 SEPTA scholarship.
"We are very happy for Brian and wish him well as he starts a new chapter in his life," Superintendent John J. Finello said.
New NHS Officers Elected
The Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society at Huntington High School has elected its officers for the 2011/12 school year. Teacher Joseph Cohen serves as the organization's faculty advisor.
The incoming officers include Marie Clifford (president), Joseph Straub (vice-president), Natalie Acton (secretary), Holly Blakley (treasurer) and Michelle Rosenbauer (historian).
Tenure is Granted
During their meeting last Monday night, Huntington School Board members granted tenure to teachers Heather Barfuss, Wendy Bonilla, Christopher Hender, Chelsea Jablon, Kathleen Mallen Ozimkowski, Amanda Meyer, Ingrid Moreira, Matthew Perlongo, Erika Sabogal, Esmeralda Tello and Ronald Wilson and teacher assistant Kathryn Einhorn.
Prior to the meeting a reception was held for the tenure recipients and their family members. A talented choir of Huntington High School students performed during the affair, much to the delight of the crowd.
A.L.I.V.E. Scholarships
Huntington High School seniors Kevin Warren and Anthony Lupo won A.L.I.V.E. scholarships at this year's senior academic awards night.
The Association of Long Island Vocational Educators of Western Suffolk BOCES is dedicated to providing outstanding educational opportunities in the career and technical programs at Wilson Tech.
Scholarships are awarded each year to students from each of the Western Suffolk BOCES component districts based upon grades, attendance and community service and teacher recommendations.
Mr. Warren was presented with a $100 Outstanding Student Award and Mr. Lupo was recognized with a $400 academic scholarship.
Salutatorian Wins County Exec Award
Michelle Byrne, salutatorian of Huntington High School's Class of 2011 has earned the County Executive Public Service Award. The teenager was recognized during Huntington's senior academic awards night held earlier this month.
The award was presented to Ms. Byrne on behalf of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. It recognizes one student at each county high school "who has combined academic success with a commitment to the community."
Ms. Byrne will be attending Cornell University in the fall.
Cerezo Grateful for Rotary Scholarship
Huntington High School senior Danielle Cerezo is headed to SUNY College at Geneseo to study biology. "I hope to be active in their student organizations, such as their theater program and horse rescue organization," she said. "I am looking forward to the experience."
At this month's senior academic awards night, which was held in the high school auditorium, Ms. Cerezo was awarded a $3,000 by the Rotary Club of Huntington.
"I think that the full comprehension of being a recipient of this scholarship hasn't quite hit me yet," she said. "I am so excited to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Spilsbury and the other Rotary members. Of course, this scholarship will help tremendously with the cost of my college experience and I am extremely grateful that they chose me to receive one of their scholarships."
DAR Good Citizenship Awards
Huntington High School seniors Shayne Larkin and Jonah Kramer have won Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Awards.
The awards are given annually to two Huntington graduates-to-be who demonstrate honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism. Ms. Larkin, who is headed to the University of Delaware and Mr. Kramer, who will attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the fall, fit the bill perfectly.
The teenagers picked up their awards during Huntington's senior academic awards night held earlier this month.
She Walked 10 Miles
Cristina Badalamenti was a member of the Huntington High School National Honor Society contingent that raised nearly $4,000 in the Relay for Life at Northport High School earlier this month. The senior said the event "was such an amazing experience."
Ms. Badalamenti is a very good athlete, starring on the Blue Devil soccer, winter and spring track and field teams. She put her tip-top fitness to good use at the Relay for Life, circling the Northport track for a total of 10 miles.
"I'm very comfortable on the track, but I never thought I'd be walking laps at 3 a.m.," Ms. Badalamenti said about the overnight event. The 10 miles she covered "didn't seem like that much because I was walking with my friends and having a good time. Staying up for most of the night was completely worth it."
The relay raised $250,000 in all making it the most successful site of the initiative on Long Island. "Being there with people from all over the island was fantastic," Ms. Badalamenti said. "It was like a giant sleepover party, but much better because we all had a common goal, to cure cancer.
In all, 16 Huntington High School students stayed overnight at the event, including Ms. Badalamenti. "Relay for Life was a great experience and I would recommend that people take part in it," she said.
Donegan on First Potter Scholarship
Patrick Donegan feels honored. The Huntington High School senior wont he first Robert Potter Memorial Scholarship, given in honor of the beloved art teacher who passed away suddenly last fall.
Mr. Donegan, who took four years of classes taught by Mr. Potter, plans on attending Nassau Community College next fall and majoring in political science, with an art history minor. He said it's probable that he will transfer after he completes his freshman year. "Where I will go after that, I am still undecided about," Mr. Donegan said. The teenager will be working at the Dix Hills Adventure Camp this summer.
"I feel honored to have received the Potter scholarship and will be using it to pay for some of my expenses, including books and part of a semester at Nassau," Mr. Donegan said.
"Although Mr. Potter passed away before I graduated, every time I think about my high school years, I will think about a lesson Mr. Potter taught me that would relate to any of the obstacles I face every day," Mr. Donegan said. "It is in this way that Mr. Potter has had an everlasting effect on me and receiving this is an honor in and of itself."