Any way you look at it, Gabriel Medina-Jaudes is a powerhouse. The Huntington High School junior is one of the top members of the Class of 2020. His sharp intellect, academic curiosity, leadership skills and athletic ability are all enviable.
An articulate young man who has already achieved notable academic success, Mr. Medina-Jaudes is the corresponding secretary of the high school’s junior class. He plans to get involved in the Key Club this year and participate in the activities of the English and Spanish Honor Societies, both of which he has already been inducted into.
Mr. Medina-Jaudes’ current academic schedule includes Advanced Placement Spanish, AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP English Language and Composition, AP Statistics, Pre-Calculus BC Honors, Symphony Orchestra and Science Research.
The teenager was accepted into Columbia University’s high school science honors program, which will run every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 beginning September 22 and continuing through May.
The program at Columbia is highly selective and offered for those with a strong interest in the sciences and mathematics. “Courses are primarily in the physical, chemical, biological, behavioral and computing sciences and instructors are scientists and mathematicians who are actively engaged in research at Columbia University,” states a program overview.
“I am looking towards a possible career in computer science or data science,” Mr. Medina-Jaudes said. “Some colleges I’ve shown interest in are Cornell University, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon and New York University.”
The teenager’s closest friends are Abby Holmes, Maddy Kye, Julien Rentsch, Jennifer Low, Abby Semelsberger, Faith Youngquist, James Obermaier, Diego Torres and Chris Mavrogian. It’s a great group of young people who have all shined and brought distinction to the district.
Mr. Medina-Jaudes’ favorite teachers include David Moriarty, Nicole Castaldo and Lauren Desiderio.
A member of the Huntington robotics team that reached the FIRST World Championships in St. Louis last spring, Mr. Medina-Jaudes volunteered in the STEM Summer Academy program at Jack Abrams School for fifth and sixth graders. “I’ve greatly enjoyed my time on the robotics team,” he said.
Always ready to explore new lands and help make the world a better place, Mr. Medina-Jaudes participated in a mission’s related trip last summer to Belize
This will marked the fifth year that Mr. Medina-Jaudes will be on the Blue Devil fencing team. He expects to compete with the varsity unit in each of the next two years.
“I feel like the Huntington High School is the epitome of everything that is good in the public education system,” Mr. Medina-Jaudes said. “It has a wide diversity of cultures and ethnicities that allows for knowledge and growth to flourish, outstanding athletic, artistic and musical departments and the ability to make the most of one’s young adult life.”