Phoebe Walther is a happy, optimistic and exceptionally hardworking young woman. The Huntington High School senior is headed to SUNY Geneseo in the fall where she plans to study to be a teacher. There is little doubt her future students are going to love her.
“As soon as I stepped onto the SUNY Geneseo campus for the first time I knew it was where I wanted to go,” Ms. Walther said. “I could not stop smiling the entire tour and almost asked the tour guide when move in day was! The people and campus are really inviting. I can’t wait to spend my next four years there.”
Huntington senior Phoebe Walther.
Ms. Walther earlier considered Providence College, Stonehill College, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oneonta, University of Scranton and the College of New Jersey before choosing SUNY Geneseo. “When it came down to making the decision after seeing all the schools, I just kept coming back to SUNY Geneseo,” she said. “It checked so many boxes and I knew it was the right choice for me.”
The teenager is a “mover and shaker” and when Ms. Walther decides to take on a new challenge she gives it everything she has. She’s a talented athlete, a gifted actress and a remarkable friend to those she holds dear.
“I plan on studying childhood education and special education,” Ms. Walther said. “I would also love to join the field hockey team, study abroad and become a part of the non-profit organization called Livingston CARES. Field hockey has been a big part of my life and I couldn’t imagine not continuing to play in college. Studying abroad has been on my mind since I traveled to Ireland with Ms. [Camille] Tedeschi my sophomore year. I just traveled again with her to Peru last week. She has truly inspired me to see the world.”
Volunteering and making the world a better place are both important to Ms. Walther. She intends to strive to continue doing both while studying at SUNY Geneseo through Livingston Cares.
“Livingston CARES is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting communities locally, regionally, nationally and globally in humanitarian projects, including disaster relief and recovery efforts,” Ms. Walther said. “Ever since I traveled to New Orleans in February with our Habitat for Humanity club to build the beginning of a house in the Lower Ninth Ward, I have wanted to do it again and again. It was one of the most rewarding experiences.”
The senior has enjoyed a great run and hopes to one day make her own classroom a magical place for young people. “I want to become a teacher and make a difference in the lives of students as many teachers in the Huntington School District did for me,” Ms. Walther said.
As she prepares to move on to the next stage of her life, the teenager is able to look back with a sense of satisfaction and appreciation. “I owe a lot to Huntington,” Ms. Walther said. “I have made so many great memories and met wonderful friends and faculty that I will never forget. One thing I will remember most is the strong support and encouragement throughout and, of course, to always to remember to bELIeve.”
