Huntington Class of 2020 member Sulma Campos has captured the Carmela Santorsola Provenzano scholarship, which carries a stipend of $1,000.
The scholarship is presented in honor and memory of a woman who because of the expectations and constraints of the era in which she was raised didn’t have an opportunity to attend college.
Sulma Campos is this year's recipient of the Carmela Santorsola Provenzano scholarship.
The Carmela Santorsola Provenzano scholarship was endowed by her children and grandchildren in honor of her 90th birthday. Her dream was to become a teacher, but due to economic circumstances her education ceased following the eighth grade. “Her love for education was passed on to her children, one of whom worked as a counselor in Huntington UFSD for many years,” said Director of Guidance Jeannette Alomia, who announced this year’s scholarship recipient.
A member of Huntington’s National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society chapters, Ms. Campos is a sensational young woman. She plans to study biology at St. Joseph’s College and eventually attend medical school in preparation for a career as a physician.
The teenager has been working incredibly hard since she immigrated to the United States from El Salvador three years ago. Ms. Campos credits “hard work and dedication from the very first day” for her success, which includes being named a Distinguished Senior and excelling in Advanced Placement classes.
Ms. Campos draws daily inspiration from her parents. The new Huntington grad said she has always tried to be the best version of herself to make her mother and father proud. She learned the English language within a year coming to America and reads as much as possible to strengthen her command of English and to increase her overall knowledge as well as for personal pleasure.
Ms. Campos has dreamed of being a medical doctor since she was a young girl. She’s not sure if she wants to be a surgeon or a pediatrician, but that will become clear in time.
A Town of Huntington Hispanic Heritage Award recipient, Ms. Campos has volunteered countless hours at Huntington Hospital. She’s been an integral member of the high school’s United Amigos club, mentoring students new to the United States, assisting them with conversational English skills and helping them adjust to their new surroundings.
While many consider the college application process to be an especially stressful experience, Ms. Campos said she enjoyed it.