A group of Huntington High School graduates returned to their alma mater last Friday for the guidance department’s second annual Alumni Day program.
Alumni kicked-off their day with an 8:15 a.m. hot breakfast with school counselors in the high school college office. “Graduates represented various colleges and majors, ranging from public to private schools,” said Kitty R. Klein, district director of guidance and testing. “We were excited to welcome back our alumni as they spoke candidly regarding their transition into college, the majors they are pursuing, study abroad opportunities, co-curricular involvement and even employment.”
The Huntington grads met with current seniors in the School Heritage Museum (Room 140). Sessions were held over the course of several class periods. The department has spent more than two months planning for the event.
“Alumni Day is a relatively new initiative,” Ms. Klein said. “Its purpose is for our current seniors to convene with graduates and hear about their college experiences. To be able to host such a program in an environment where the education and community foundation was laid, is extremely valuable and memorable.”
Huntington’s Class of 2019 consists of nearly 350 students. The high school’s 158th commencement exercises will be held on Friday, June 28. Huntington has been graduating students since 1862 when six seniors earned diplomas.
“We all know that students identify with other students closest to their age and as such, they are more open to hearing about the do’s and don’ts of college, as opposed to what adults might share,” said Ms. Klein about the impetus behind last Friday’s Alumni Day. “As a result, what can be better than listening to the stories from those they may have passed through in the hallways, taken classes together or ate lunch with?”
School counselors anxiously looked forward to the event. “Our hope is to increase student awareness prior to our next set of graduates entering post-secondary schools,” Ms. Klein said.
Alumni Day panelists included:
- Joel Alfaro: A Class of 2018 member who is attending Colgate University and majoring in history.
- Niamh Condon: A Class of 2018 member who is attending Quinnipiac University and studying to become a physician assistant.
- Daniel Mollitor: A Class of 2016 member who is attending Binghamton University and double majoring in geological sciences and human development while carrying a minor in education.
- Aidan Forbes: A Class of 2018 member who is attending Cornell University and majoring in applied economics and management.
- Luke Giordano: A Class of 2018 member who is attending SUNY Maritime College and majoring in marine transportation.
- Lindsay Saginaw: A Class of 2018 member who is attending UCLA and majoring in political science.
- Francine Nastasi: A Class of 2018 member who is attending Adelphi University and majoring in business/marketing.
- Ally Arleo: A Class of 2017 member who is attending LaSalle University and majoring in social work while carrying a minor in business administration.
- Manyara Cuadra: A Class of 2017 member who is attending SUNY Old Westbury and majoring in secondary grade level math teaching while carrying a minor in Spanish.
- Katy Dara: A Class of 2017 member who is attending the University at Albany and majoring in communications and journalism.
- Jacob Strieb: A Class of 2017 member who is attending Carnegie Mellon University and studying mathematics within an interdisciplinary model.
- Tania Ulloa: A Class of 2017 member who is attending CUNY-John Jay College of Criminal Justice and studying forensic psychology.
- Sarah James: A Class of 2017 member who is attending Fordham University and majoring in communications while carrying a disabilities studies minor.
