Christopher Engle is a practical sort of fellow who likes to strip the emotion out of a decision and make it based strictly on the merits. That’s exactly how the Huntington High School senior decided that SUNY Oneonta was the best place for him to pursue his college studies.
“I chose SUNY Oneonta because I feel that I will thrive in a smaller school and because of how kind the staff is,” Mr. Engle said. “All of the faculty and staff were very helpful and friendly when I visited; even the custodian stopped what he was doing to help me find the department head I was looking for.”
Huntington senior Christopher Engle.
The University of Delaware, Ohio State University and University at Albany all accepted Mr. Engle and he considered going to each of the schools before deciding that SUNY Oneonta fit the bill.
Mr. Engle said the key to his success has “been maintaining a positive attitude, knowing how to manage my time and multitasking.” The teenager is on the high school’s honor roll and he’s worked well with classmates and teachers alike.
The senior is excited about his upcoming studies at SUNY Oneonta. “The department of environmental sciences has amazing opportunities for hands-on experiences in upstate New York and around the world,” Mr. Engle said. “I plan on studying environmental sustainability and I would like to get involved with the club hockey team and the funk band. I would also like to take advantage of their environmental research and study abroad programs.
A member of the 2018 All State Symphonic Band, Mr. Engle has been the principal trombone for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. He has performed with the Blue Devil marching band and the high school’s pit orchestra.
“My current goals are to find better and more efficient ways to use available resources, as well as protecting and cleaning the environment,” Mr. Engle said. He has been a participating member of Huntington High School’s environmental club and even found the time to play with the Northport-Huntington ice hockey organization.
Mr. Engle has been a student in Huntington UFSD since his first day of kindergarten at Washington Primary School. “I would have to say that my favorite teacher has been Mrs. [Judy] Pazienza,” he said. “I had her the past two years; last year for engineering and design and then this year for physics. In both classes Mrs. Paz found a way to make the most challenging topics fun and easy to understand. It was also great being able to talk about the Islanders with her since both of us are big Islander fans.”
As he transitions from high school to college, Mr. Engle will never forget Huntington High School or all the colorful personalities he encountered or the many friends he made there.
“I’ll always remember the connections I’ve made with my peers and teachers through extracurricular activities,” Mr. Engle said. “The music department and environmental club in particular, provided me with a setting to spend time with friends who have the same interests and enjoy working together as a team.”
