Dozens of remarkable teenagers were inducted into Huntington High School’s chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national Math Honor Society during a ceremony filled with time-honored traditions on Thursday night in the school auditorium.
To be eligible for membership in the Society students must be enrolled in a math class higher than Algebra 2 Trigonometry, have a minimum un-weighted average of 90 in previous math courses and have at least an 85 average in the first quarter of their pre-calculus (or higher) math class.
Huntington’s 2018 inductees include Tyler Abedin, Nicole Abbondandelo, Nicole Arenth, Matthew Baker, Katherine Burton, Henry Cartwright, Hadley Clayton, Anna Crockett, Nina Danseglio, Christiana DeLuca, Emma Farrell, Nathaniel Gamboa, Emma Grassi, Mathew Hearl, Ryan Hoffmann, Katharine Kitzen, John Langton, Meagan-Elise Malone, Annabella Matheus, Candido Martinez, Michael McCooey, Noah Morris, Haley Mortell, David Mosden, Pitti Jackson, Matthew Quinn, Cathryn Ricciardelli, John Riley, Katie Riley, Alex Rivera, Sam Roberts, Julia Rogan, Kaitlyn Sage, Arashdeep Singh, Casey Smith, Katherine Stock, Charles Sze, Melisa Torres, Erika Varady, Jenna Yabroudy and Graham Young.
Huntington Math Honor Society
President Aidan Forbes.
“This year’s inductees are a dedicated and talented group, both in and beyond the classroom; one that will surely uphold the standards and traditions of the National Math Honor Society,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said.
Thursday night’s ceremony marked the 21st annual induction since the founding of Huntington’s Nathan Hale chapter of Mu Alpha Theta. Huntington math teacher Monica Racz is the organization’s faculty advisor.
The group is led by executive board officers Aidan Forbes (president), Rachel Moss (vice-president), Jamie Rosenbauer (secretary), Sebastian Stamatatos (treasurer) and Katarina Obermaier (tutoring coordinator). Each of the student leaders attended to various duties during the induction ceremony.
The Society’s new members followed tradition and lit candles during the ceremony. As the students were inducted, the auditorium lights dimmed until the room was illuminated by candlelight, producing a dramatic effect.
Huntington High School alum and 2017 valedictorian Steve Yeh was this year’s guest speaker. A National Merit scholarship finalist and Long Island Math Fair gold medalist, he served as president of Huntington’s Math Honor Society and Chinese foreign exchange club, captain of the high school Quiz Bowl and Science Bowl teams, treasurer of the Spanish Honor Society and founder and president of the stocks analysis club. He even found time to volunteer as a homework helper at the Huntington Station branch of the Huntington Public Library.
The Society’s new inductees join continuing members Serina Aguirre, Joel Alfaro, Natale Amato, Samuel Bergman, Michelle Castillo, Peter Ciccone, Niamh Condon, Benjamin Conner, Lianna DeChiaro, Lars Drace, Thomas Edgar-McNerney, Xavier Edgar-McNerney, Kenneth Fajardo, Jack Farrell, Aidan Forbes, Sara Frawley, David Fredericks, Ethan Garcia, John Healy, Alexandra Heuwetter, Levi Leach, Matthew Magerle, Isabella McGinniss, Zachary McGinniss, Casey Moskowitz, Rachel Moss, Katarina Obermaier, Amelia Reilly, Jamie Rosenbauer, Lindsay Saginaw, Raymond Sanders, Samantha Sgrizzi, Jamie Spector, Sebastian Stamatatos, Christina Varady, Will Vollack and Matthew Wildermuth.
The evening included performances by the Quadratics, a group of four talented Huntington High School strings musicians, including Nicole Arenth, Maggie Giles, Kyle Perea and Julia Rogan. The chamber choir also performed, including lively rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the auditorium lobby for students, parents and other family members, who casually socialized with one another and posed for photos.
