Mary Grace Rorke does everything with class. One of the leading seniors in Huntington High School’s Class of 2022, the teenager takes pride in everything she does and she’s compiled an exceptional record across the board. She is thrilled to be headed to Duke University, where she will open a new chapter in her life.
“I am incredibly grateful and excited to be attending Duke University next fall,” Ms. Rorke said. “In addition to its great academic reputation and research opportunities, I chose Duke because it also allows me to pursue both my academic and artistic interests. I can continue my classical ballet training and I have the option to play the harp in both ensembles and the orchestra. I found the campus to be breathtakingly beautiful and I love the strong school spirit and rigorous academics.”
Duke really does seem to be the perfect fit for the Huntington teenager. “I was really impressed with how the students are engaged in giving back to their community as part of the Duke culture,” Ms. Rorke said. “I plan on studying civil engineering and I hope to design and build water systems in the future to help people get clean and accessible water.”
Some of the senior’s favorite courses this year are Advanced Placement Computer Science,
AP US Government and Politics and AP Physics. “Just to name a few, my favorite teachers have been Ms. [Suzi] Biagi, Mrs. [Lauren] Desiderio and Mrs. [Patricia] Avelli, but honestly, I have loved all of my teachers in the district,” Ms. Rorke said.
President of the French Honor Society, treasurer of the English Honor Society and vice president of the high school orchestra, Ms. Rorke is also an active member of the Junior Junior Welfare League of Huntington, which helps local families in need. The senior is also engaged in a credit bearing internship with the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education.
Ms. Rorke is enrolled in a mentorship program at H2M Architects and Engineers in Melville and is also participating in the highly regarded Women in Technology internship program at BAE Systems in Greenlawn.
“My experience at Huntington has been incredibly positive, even through the pandemic,” Ms. Rorke said. “The teachers and administration are remarkably supportive. I am very grateful to Mr. [Eric] Reynolds and the Huntington Music Department for allowing me the opportunity to play the harp in the orchestra during my time in the district.”
An articulate, creative and hardworking teenager, Ms. Rorke has been on a great run through the high school. The past four years have been filled with notable accomplishments and memorable experiences.
“I want the Huntington community to know that the high school offers amazing resources and opportunities for a multitude of interests while still being academically challenging, which was most appealing to me as a student and what makes Huntington such a special place,” Ms. Rorke said.
The senior is excited about what the future holds. “I am hopeful of taking advantage of Duke’s international programs,” Ms. Rorke said. “Specifically, the Duke Engineers for International Development, which partners with underserved communities on sustainable projects to improve the standard of living for numerous individuals around the world.”
