Henry Cartwright is a determined young man who does everything with confidence. The Huntington High School senior is headed to Virginia Tech University to study engineering.
Mr. Cartwright has landed a Naval ROTC scholarship worth up to $200,000. “I mostly chose Virginia Tech because that’s where I was awarded the NROTC scholarship as well as for its great engineering department,” the teenager said.
Huntington High School senior Henry Cartwright.
The senior earlier considered SUNY Maritime College, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Michigan.
“I plan to be involved in the Corps of Cadets and I plan to study aerospace engineering,” Mr. Cartwright said. “I plan to graduate as an officer in the United States Navy and eventually become involved in the aerospace field.”
Mr. Cartwright’s desire to become an US Navy officer while also wanted to study engineering meant searching for schools that offer both the NROTC scholarship and were ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering) certified. Virginia Tech is one of the top six military colleges in the country with a highly regarded engineering program.
The senior’s parents both worked in the aerospace engineering sector for many years. Virginia Tech’s orientation is set for mid-July and Mr. Cartwright will learn more about the program at that time. He expects the Corps of Cadets to dominate his time at the university. It offers leadership training to all cadets.
Mr. Cartwright has been awarded an Emerging Leaders scholarship, which is given to incoming freshmen with outstanding leadership and academic potential who join Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets.
Mr. Cartwright said his family has been the “motivating factor” in encouraging him to do his best academically and in athletics. He has earned varsity letters with the Blue Devil football, swimming and lacrosse teams.
“Henry is a hardnosed competitor and a great teammate,” said Steve Muller, Huntington’s head football coach. “He was an outstanding player for us and someone we could always count on. He’s a gamer.”
“I’ll always remember my time on the football team and playing in the Homecoming Day games,” Mr. Cartwright. He will never forget the trip he took to Eastern Europe, touring through several countries.
Mr. Cartwright looks forward to gaining a commission as a US Navy officer, similar to his sister Nina, who is studying at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in the Class of 2020.
The teenager got his start in the district as a kindergartener at Flower Hill Primary School. Mr. Cartwright is a longtime member of the student council and is currently the schoolwide student government treasurer. He’s also been involved in the Young Leaders youth development organization.
“Mrs. [Lori] Kenny is my favorite teacher because I’ve been with her for four years and she’s helped me expand my knowledge of science,” Mr. Cartwright said. “She’s always seen me grow as a human throughout high school.”
As he looks back over the past four years of high school and 13 years in Huntington UFSD, Mr. Cartwright is proud of what he has accomplished and excited about what awaits him in college and beyond.
