Hadley Clayton is headed to Princeton University in the fall, but Huntington High School’s Class of 2019 valedictorian isn’t about to forget three very special teachers who have guided, nurtured and inspired her along the way.
Huntington High School senior Hadley Clayton
When the teenager was asked to name a favorite teacher she reflected on the question for quite some time. “I feel so lucky because Huntington has so many great teachers that have really helped me a lot over the years,” Ms. Clayton said. “So I really can’t answer with just one favorite; to me there are three that stood out.”
The senior cites “optimism and dedication” along with the support of family and friends as the keys to her success. Honored recently as a Distinguished Senior, Ms. Clayton completed an internship at BAE Systems, participated in Brookhaven National Lab’s student research program, captained the Blue Devil cross country and track teams and completed numerous triathlons over the years.
“From way back in third grade Mrs. [Luz] Marotta taught me my work ethic, good study habits and that there are no limits to what I can do,” Ms. Clayton said. “Mrs. [Maryann] Daly, who was the head of the SEARCH and Math Olympiad programs showed me that it’s okay to take risks and how to have fun with problem solving. Mrs. [Dame] Forbes at the high school opened up incredible opportunities for me. Her faith in me as a student and researcher helped me go farther in my schooling than I ever thought I could.”
A second degree black belt, Ms. Clayton plans to study electrical engineering at Princeton, with a concentration in photonics and optics.
“What I remember most about Hadley in the third grade was her willingness and drive to be challenged,” Mrs. Marotta said. “She was tenacious and had a positive attitude with a strong believe that no matter how difficult a task, she would get the job done. She was laser focused, listened and worked hard to be the best she could be. Hadley understood, at a very young age, the value of working hard and the ability to balance work with fun, such as her hobbies, music, karate, swimming, etc. I wish Hadley nothing but the best as she begins the next chapter in her life.”