Chris Mavrogian has many gifts. He is a charismatic leader with an ability to express himself like few others can. The Huntington High School senior is also a wonderful musician with a showman’s flair. He intends to bring all of these qualities together and study at SUNY Potsdam for a career as a music teacher.
“SUNY Potsdam, in my opinion, provided the best opportunities for me to succeed in my intended majors of music education and performance,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “The second I met students I will work with in my studio, it felt like home away from home and that’s when I knew this is where I wanted to be. I want to be a high school music teacher.”
Huntington senior Chris Mavrogian.
There’s little doubt that Mr. Mavrogian will be challenged at SUNY Potsdam. He’ll be studying in the Crane School of Music, one of the top music teacher and performance programs in the country.
“Huntington has prepared me far more than enough for college,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “Mr. [Brian] Stellato and Mr. [Jason] Giachetti have both given me so much valuable knowledge and advice in navigating a seemingly overwhelming field.”
The teenager has tested himself across academic disciplines, mastering tough courses and growing intellectually from all of them.
“Probably one of the most challenging courses I took was Advanced Placement Seminar due to the significant workload and commitment to time management and research,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “As intense as the class can be, Mrs. [Dianna] Cazzalino makes her students far better writers than they were when they came into the class. It felt like an intro research class for college and that’s what every student needs to become more confident in their abilities to write, explore topics of interest and make a compelling argument.”
The senior found AP Music Theory to be one of his most valuable courses, too. “It was really difficult as there are a lot of different components of the exam to prepare for, which could be stressful at times,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “I took both of these classes because of how well they reflect collegiate standards and I feel I have a head start compared to other students. A shout-out to Mr. [Kenneth] Donovan for giving a unique approach to teaching American history. I appreciated that.”
Mr. Mavrogian’s favorite activities during high school have included the Boy Scouts, student government and performing with assorted music ensembles. “All three provided a feeling of accomplishment and fun opportunities to make new friends,” he said.
The senior’s advice for incoming ninth graders? “High school is what you make of it, as everyone says,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “Don’t ever settle for less and put yourself out there because you never know what you’re capable of. Don’t take every AP or join every club; it drains you. Find some things you take serious interest in and build off of that. Never forget to have fun and laugh.”
Never one to hesitate to reach out when he thinks he can use assistance, Mr. Mavrogian has made good use of Huntington High School’s faculty members.
“I have had a handful of mentors in my time at Huntington,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “Mr. [Jason] Giachetti sticks out. He has been extremely helpful providing college audition advice and sharing his own personal experience with the process and how to flourish in college. He has demonstrated in a lot of ways what I feel is an ideal teacher. I certainly have other mentors who have always been extremely generous to me; always willing to give me advice and be open to talking. These teachers include Mr. [Joseph] Cohen, Mr. [Edward] Florea, Mrs. [Amelia] Saggese, Mr. [Matthew] Darrell and Mr. [Brian] Stellato.”
Mr. Mavrogian has been in the Huntington UFSD’s fold since his first day of kindergarten at Washington Primary School. He’s always had a way of making his presence known in any room, so there will be a noticeable void when he leaves for college and is no longer walking the high schools halls each day.
“I have had a great experience in Huntington,” Mr. Mavrogian said. “I think any senior will say they wish they had their spring semester, but aside from that, I will miss the good times with friends in school and the smiling faces I saw in the halls. There is a unique spirit at Huntington, which I always appreciated and I sincerely hope the school continues its efforts to make the school year more dynamic and interesting. I will always remember the good times I had with friends.”
