Theadora Carnesi has dreamed of serving her country since she was a little girl and within hours of the Huntington High School senior graduating later this month she will be headed to the United States Military Academy at West Point where she will begin training to become one of America’s elite uniformed officers.
Gregory Kies, a member of West Point’s Class of 1997 who now works closely with the Academy to recruit and screen the “best and the brightest” for the 220 year old institution that’s widely known as the premier leadership development program in the world, presented Ms. Carnesi with a Certificate of Appointment during this week’s senior departmental awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.
Ms. Kies’ moving words about West Point, its place in American history and Ms. Carnesi’s exceptional attributes brought tears to the eyes of many in the crowd, including Principal Brenden Cusack.
“There are so many accomplished members of Huntington High School’s Class of 2022 and they are all such beautiful people in countless regards,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Teddi is a shining example of just that, as an intelligent, driven, kind and compassionate individual. In brief, she is an ideal candidate for the Academy, where she will continue to build upon her legacy. For her, and as we have seen from her so routinely, it will always be about what she can do for others. We share our sincerest congratulations and best wishes with Teddi and her family!”
Ms. Carnesi credits her success to hard work, pushing herself to always give 110 percent, being empathetic and treating others the way she would want to be treated. She’s “loved making new friends from all different sports, clubs, grades and classes and creating bonds” with her teachers.
A three sport varsity athlete, Ms. Carnesi has won Blue Devil letters in soccer, basketball and softball. President of the Class of 2022, she was chosen as a Natural Helper and assisted classmates through difficult periods in their lives. The National History Day club treasurer and American Legion Girls State delegate, the teenager has been a member of the Suffolk County Anti-Bias Task Force.
Ms. Carnesi plans to study international relations at West Point, where she will undergo rigorous physical training and leadership development so she can one day take her place among America’s top military officers.
