Sarah Berry culminated an exciting run through Huntington High School by capturing the prized Jean Hoerner Vandersall Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a graduating senior who has excelled academically and musically.
The $500 scholarship is funded by Scott and Amy Vandersall in memory of Mr. Vandersall’s mother, Jean Hoerner Vandersall, who passed away in 2008. She resided in Huntington for more than five decades.
Huntington Class of 2022 member Sarah Berry is headed to SUNY College at New Paltz.
The scholarship was presented to Ms. Berry by Coordinator of K-12 Art & Music Education Brian Stellato during the departmental awards ceremony in the auditorium.
An Advanced Placement Scholar, Ms. Berry said she has most enjoyed studying in Huntington High School’s music program. She said the program acted as a “safe haven” for her on her hardest days.
A member of the high school’s chamber and pit orchestras and an intern with an Advanced Placement Music Theory class, Ms. Berry plans to attend SUNY College at New Paltz and pursue a degree in special education and music therapy.
“When I think of Sarah Berry I think of someone who is dedicated, disciplined and organized, but is also creative and talented,” said Bernadette Walsh, Huntington High School’s college counselor. “Sarah seems mature beyond her years and is able to set her goals well in advance and keep them in perspective.”
The Vandersall scholarship criteria includes:
• The student will be a graduating senior from Huntington High School who has excelled in both academics and music.
• The student should plan to continue being involved in music performance in the future, but not necessarily major in music.
• The award is not needs based.
• The student applicants will write an essay which will be reviewed by the music staff. The Vandersall family will read the top essays and select the scholarship winner.
• The topic of the essay will be: “What role has music played in your education in Huntington? What steps can be taken by your generation of musicians to keep music alive in the concert halls and schools in the future?”
Jean Hoerner Vandersall passed away on March 30, 2008. She was an accomplished pianist and a member of the Manhattan School of Music’s faculty. Mrs. Vandersall maintained a very active teaching studio in Huntington and was an inspiration to her students. Mrs. Vandersall and her husband, Thornton sent three sons through the Huntington School District.
Scott and Amy Vandersall, reside in New England. Mr. Vandersall was a member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1977. He went on to earn a BA in economics at Colby College and an MBA with a concentration in financial services at Boston University. He is employed as vice president, regional manager and commercial loan officer at the Cape Cod 5 community bank