It is easy for Zoe Dumas to go relatively unnoticed. The Huntington High School senior is quiet and she tends to fly under the radar. But the teenager has embraced her classes and clubs with enthusiasm and while she has been enjoying her experience, she is also looking forward to an exciting future as she goes about pursuing her many goals.
Ms. Dumas is an optimistic and positive-thinking your woman. Teachers enjoy working with her and classmates find her sincerity and honesty refreshing.
The senior is interested in SUNY New Paltz, Marist College, Quinnipiac University, College of New Jersey, Hofstra University and the University at Albany She plans to study for a career as an elementary grade level teacher.
“I have done a lot of traveling within the United States and some traveling out of the country,” Ms. Dumas said. “Within the United States, I’ve been to California, Massachusetts, Florida and Maine. My favorite place has been is California. It was so beautiful and I loved the beaches. I also loved going to Los Angeles and seeing the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I’ve also been to Croatia twice and I’ve been to Italy once.”
Ms. Dumas is in the midst of a wonderful senior year. She recently began taking Participation in Government and she thinks it’s a course she will enjoy. She has had a great time in Italian class. Chamber choir is another favorite, in large part to the many friendships she has made in it.
“One teacher I am really close with is Ms. [Victoria] Garbarino,” the senior said. “She has really helped me grow as a singer and a person. She is also a great mentor. Another teacher that’s had a big impact on me is Mrs. [Nathali] Kopshti. Over the years, she has pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me in a Language I wasn’t that confident in. Also, Mrs. [Rebecca] Arlin, Mr. [Michael] Graziano, Mrs. [Jean] Czerniawski and Mr. [Michael] Schwendemann and so many others, have made a great impact on me.”
Ms. Dumas is a participating member of Huntington’s Class of 2022 government, Key Club, National Honor Society, English Honor Society and Italian Honor Society as well as three different performing choral groups.
“What makes Huntington special is the community,” Ms. Dumas said. “Especially during the pandemic, you really saw how caring the people are and the teachers and administrators did so much to try and make our high school experience as good as it could be.”
As an eighth grader at J. Taylor Finley Middle School, Ms. Dumas won an award presented in honor of Eli Mollineaux, a Huntington High School student who passed away in October 2016 after a lifelong battle against Pearson’s Syndrome, a rare disease triggered by a mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. The sophomore was just 15 years old.
The recipient of many high school Pride Awards, Ms. Dumas rolls up her sleeves and gets to work every day. Kind and generous to everyone she crosses paths with, the teenager is even having fun in a tough physics course this year.
“I really enjoyed my time at Huntington High School,” Ms. Dumas said “The teachers are very caring and really want you to be successful. I’ve made lifelong friends in Huntington and been happy as a student in high school.”