Gerard Federici has paid his dues over the past four years and now the Huntington High School senior is ready to claim some of his just rewards. The teenager is headed to the University of Maryland, College Park where he plans to study business.
“I picked the University of Maryland because of their excellent business school, location near Washington DC and because there are so many sporting events to attend,” Mr. Federici said.
The teenager considered the University at Albany, University of Delaware, Penn State, Rutgers and UMass Amherst before finalizing his plans to attend Maryland. Mr. Federici was named a Distinguished Senior earlier this spring after compiling a minimum academic grade average of 90 during every semester of high school.
The state’s flagship college, the University of Maryland, College Park enrolls more than 40,000 students. It’s one of the leading public research universities in the United States and is located about four miles northwest of Washington, DC.
A four year participant in the high school’s Natural Helpers program, Mr. Federici has played Blue Devil varsity boys’ basketball and lacrosse and junior varsity soccer.
Huntington High School senior Gerard Federici.
“Gerard has been one of my best friends for years now and he has always been a great friend and teammate,” classmate Alex LaBella said. “I know he’s going to do great things at the University of Maryland.”
A sampling of the teenager’s senior year academic schedule includes Advanced Placement Economics, AP Environmental Science, Calculus, Spanish V Honors and Mystery Literature.
Mr. Federici is well-liked by his fellow Class of 2018 members and he’s respected by the faculty. “Gerard is a Distinguished Senior, terrific athlete and a great friend,” classmate Tyler Gerbavsits said.
A participant in the high school’s Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, Mr. Federici has been active in all sorts of activities since his freshman year.
“Some teachers who I have grown close to during my years at Huntington include Mr. [Michael] Schwendeman, Mr. [Michael] Graziano, Mrs. [Paige] Tyree and Mrs. [Stacey] Byrnes,” Mr. Federici said. “All of them made class fun and really helped me grow as a student.”
“I met Gerard through Natural Helpers where I learned what a kind and caring person he is,” Mrs. Byrnes said. “I was lucky enough to have him in AP Physics last year and then again this year in AP Environmental Science. He is hardworking, reliable and always has a smile on his face.”
A resourceful young man, Mr. Federici has made good use of his time as he has explored his interests, put a shine to his skills and made a good impression on everyone around the high school building.
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Gerard the past four years,” Mr. Graziano said. “Gerard is hardworking and a positive contributor to our school community. His positive attitude and enthusiasm to succeed are present in his daily activities. I’m proud of him and hope many accomplishments are ahead for him.”
It wouldn’t be surprising if Mr. Federici’s mind wanders back to his Huntington and his classmates and teachers even while he’s in the midst of campus life at the University of Maryland, College Park.
“Having been Gerard’s ninth grade teacher and now having him in my senior elective it has been my privilege to watch him grow from a boy of few words to a fine young man,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “He has always been a straight shooter with a mischievous edge. I will miss him in class as well as the laughs we shared.”
As his days as a Huntington senior grow shorter and the June 22 commencement draws nearer, Mr. Federici took a few minutes to reflect on his run through Huntington High School.
“I really enjoyed everything Huntington had to offer during my four years here,” Mr. Federici said. “From sports to learning and everything in between, I will always have nothing but the best to say about this school and community. I’m really looking forward to what Maryland has to offer, but my high school experience was great in all aspects.”
