Marie Clifford Becomes Essential to Mary Washington
Marie Clifford always makes the most of any given situation. The Huntington High School Class of 2012 member has already become an essential part of the University of Mary Washington campus in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the teenager is a freshman.
“I love it here,” Ms. Clifford said during a recent interview. “I could not see myself anywhere else for the next four years. I have made some amazing friends here and the classes I am taking I really enjoy!”
Ms. Clifford entered the Huntington School District as a kindergarten student and graduated as one of the top members of her class. She served as president of Huntington High School’s National Honor Society chapter, performed with the orchestra’s wind ensemble and in the orchestra pit during school musicals, played with the Blue Devil marching band and held down memberships in both the English and Science national honor societies.
Clubs and community service pursuits were a big part of Ms. Clifford’s Huntington years and she’s continuing such activities at Mary Washington. “I am the sponsorship chair for University of Mary Washington’s Relay For Life, as well as a member of the Washington Guides, which is the tour guiding program on campus,” she said.
Ms. Clifford and fellow members of Mary Washington’s Relay For Life committee recently raised money by wearing bald caps on Be Bold, Be Bald Day, a national cancer fundraising event that honors those who courageously fight the disease. Participants wear a bald cap for a day and get people to sponsor them for doing so.
The Huntington grad is a sociable young lady with an inquisitive streak. She seizes every opportunity to expand her knowledge. “One of my favorite things to do in college is meet new people,” Ms. Clifford said. “I have met people from all over and it is nice meeting new people with new perspectives.”
Ms. Clifford served as captain of Huntington’s girls’ fencing team, earning four varsity letters in the sport. She was treasurer of The Huntingtonian yearbook club for three years and volunteered with the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative and the Long Island Community Agriculture Network, an organization that works to save farms and create gardens so that LI can grow a significant percentage of its own food, organically and safely. She co-chaired Huntington’s first Relay For Life, assisted as several health fairs at Glen Cove Hospital and worked in Huntington’s summer arts enrichment program.
Prior to her senior year of high school, Ms. Clifford participated in the National Institute of American History and Democracy at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The three week pre-collegiate program included going to museums, reading scholarly journals and writing college level papers.
“I am still thinking about an American Studies major with a possible minor in museum studies,” Ms. Clifford said. “As for the area, it is beautiful down here. There are plenty of festivals, historic places to visit and the sweetest little shops in downtown. As I grow and learn here I hope to become more involved and meet as many new people as I can.”