Huntington High School Class of 2019 member Alyssa Sorensen has captured the Tri-Community & Youth Agency’s Joseph Martone Memorial Scholarship award, which carries a $500 stipend.
Ms. Sorensen served as president of the Young Leaders youth development organization over the past year as well as being vice president of the high school’s student government and treasurer of the National Honor Society. She also played on the varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams.
Alyssa Sorensen is this year's recipient of the Tri-CYA's Joseph Martone Scholarship Award.
Recognized with the Town of Huntington’s Youth Philanthropy Award and with the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island’s Leadership Award, Ms. Sorensen is a dynamic young women who strives daily to help others of all ages.
Ms. Sorensen said taking advantage of all the opportunities she was offered and “using them to grow as a person” has been the key to her success. She plans to study public health at Drexel University and ultimately pursue a career as a physician assistant.
Mr. Martone had a long association with Tri-CYA, serving on its board of directors as president, vice president, treasurer and fundraising committee chairman at one time or another for more than two decades until his death in 2004.
The Martone scholarship is annually awarded to a graduating senior who combines “the values and ideals that Joe stood for; hard work, commitment to school work, athletics, teamwork and an unselfish dedication to a community cause,” according to Tri-CYA.
Tri-CYA Regional Director Debbie Rimler was on hand at Huntington High School’s senior academic awards ceremony to present the $500 Martone scholarship to Ms. Sorensen.
“As a [Tri-CYA] board member and volunteer, Joseph Martone stood for hard work and commitment to education,” Ms. Rimler said. “He was a team player and had an unselfish dedication to community service.”
Mr. Martone helped develop Tri-CYA’s Hall of Honor, which honors distinguished community members who have volunteered to help local youth. He was willing to do everything from helping around Tri-CYA’s facility to delivering food, supplies and even diapers to families in need. The scholarship award is funded by David S. Pottruck, one of Mr. Martone’s former students.