Eli Mollineaux will never be forgotten at Huntington High School or in the community. The wonderful young man was an inspiration to his teachers, classmates and family, shouldering all of his considerable challenges with unwavering determination and hope.
The teenager passed away in October 2016 after a lifelong battle against Pearson’s Syndrome, a rare disease triggered by a mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. Mr. Mollineaux was just 15 years old.
Huntington's Eli Mollineaux will always be remembered
Following his tragic passing, Mr. Mollineaux’s family and Ilene Messina, a teacher aide in the district who worked with him for many years created the bELIeve Project, which sponsors annual scholarships that are presented to graduating Huntington seniors.
“Eli Mollineaux was an inspiration to everyone he met,” said Mrs. Messina earlier this week at the high school’s scholarship awards ceremony. “Kind, compassionate, always smiling, Eli lived every moment of his life to fullest. Tonight, Ellen Mollineaux and I take great pride in awarding the Eli Mollineaux Memorial Scholarship to exceptional Huntington seniors who live their lives like Eli, bringing joy, kindness and compassion to others every single day.”
This year the bELIeve Project presented Eli Mollineaux Memorial Scholarship Awards in the amount of $1,000 each to Huntington High School Class of 2021 members Niurca Chabla-Leon (Adelphi University), Brianna Isaza (Binghamton University), Lily O’Heir (CUNY Hunter College and Gracia Renkewitz (Nassau Community College).
“Each of tonight’s recipients are extremely well respected by their teachers and peers,” Mrs. Messina said. “They have spent countless hours volunteering throughout the Huntington community and have been a great support for their families. Some have suffered immense hardship and still they continue to stay positive and share their positivity with those around them. Just like Eli, they will not allow their struggles to define them.”
Eli Mollineaux Memorial Scholarship Recipients
2017 Allyson Arleo, Charles Ehrman, Nicholas Lanzisero
2018 Luke Eidle, Alex LaBella, Rachel Moss, Jamie Spector
2019 Julia Aureliano, Katherine Burton, Christopher Engle, Natalie Gonzalez, Meagan Malone, Ilsi Martinez Euceda, Noah Morris, Jeraine Nieves-Morales, Edgar Rivas Lizama, Samuel Roberts, Casey Smith, Phoebe Walther, Jenna Yabroudy
2020 Holly Wright, Shyann Maragh, Julien Rentsch
2021 Niurca Chabla-Leon, Brianna Isaza, Lily O’Heir, Gracia Renkewitz
