The United Amigos club has carved out a very special niche for itself at Huntington High School and the organization’s faculty advisor, Rosario Lorenzana couldn’t be more proud of the group and everything it has accomplished.
Teacher Rosario Lorenzana with Blue Devil soccer players who earned United Amigos awards.
Ms. Lorenzana’s room has always been an active place after school. Students who needed tutoring and English language support would gather and word soon spread to other students who came for science and language review as well as other support including understanding American culture and navigating around a large suburban high school.
United Amigos typically meets once a week for general academic and language support and to plan and execute various community service initiatives. For example, club members gather winter coats and food for local pantries several times a year. They participate in the Safe Halloween program for elementary school children at the high school and play a role in dances on Valentine’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. They also get involved in a variety of timely special initiatives.
“The club’s initial purpose was to help immigrant students coming to the distinct from Central and South American countries to adapt to a different atmosphere and feel as if they were in their mother homelands,” Ms. Lorenzano said. “United Amigos is not only a place for a lot of fun, but it also allows students to come together and become part of the Huntington family. It has created a secure place for students over the past few years.”
The club presented scholarships to 15 members of Huntington’s Class of 2022 at this year’s senior academic awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.
Erik Flores Reyes (Boston College) captured a $350 scholarship with Keylin Quintanilla Villalobos (Suffolk Community College) garnering a $200 award. Yanira Rivera Ronquillo (CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice) was presented with a $150 scholarship. Joselin Benitez-Villatoro (Western Suffolk BOCES nurse assistant program) and Janatan Moreno Moreira (Suffolk Community College) both earning $100 awards.
Ten Blue Devil varsity boys’ soccer players were given $50 awards. The group includes Daniel Alzate (professional soccer), Cristian Avelar-Romero (Cornell University), Jeison Blanco Portillo (Nassau Community College) Roberto Contreras (Nassau Community College), Jose Flores (employment), Enrrique Garcia (Binghamton University), Matthew Lange (University of Kentucky), Liam Lennon (SUNY Geneseo), Julio Martinez (University at Albany) and Max Rentsch (Binghamton University).
Ms. Lorenzana became emotional as told the crowd about the 15 exceptional seniors and all that they have meant to the United Amigos club.