Hannah Pipolo's Enthusiasm is
hard to Match
Hannah Pipolo's energy and enthusiasm is hard to match. The Huntington High School senior is a fine student, athlete, humanitarian and role model. People look up to her and for good reason.
Ms. Pipolo has been a Huntington student since kindergarten. She's gained the respect of her teachers and classmates and is one of the most popular members of the Class of 2013. While she has taken a well-balanced array of courses, the teenager has especially enjoyed art and music classes and those activities have played a "big part" in her overall high school experience.
The teenager has also developed a close working relationship with Woodhull Intermediate School teacher Allison VonVange, who serves as that building's drama club faculty advisor. Ms. Pipolo assisted Ms. VonVange with Woodhull's recent wildly successful production of Hans Christian Andersen's timeless tale, The Little Mermaid.
"Hannah was the star of my play, Annie when she was in sixth grade at Jack Abrams School," Ms. VonVange said. "Three years ago she volunteered to help out with the Woodhull play. She has been a big help, but this year she truly developed into a student-director, choreographing many numbers and taking over the day-to-day running of practice. The students love learning from her. It has been a pleasure to watch her grow up from 'Little Annie' to a confident young lady on her way to college!"
"It was such an amazing and unique experience being able to be a part of the three successful plays," Ms. Pipolo said. In prior years the senior assisted with Woodhull's production of The Music Man and Aladdin.
"It has been so great being able to spend so much time with Ms. VonVange and the group of 100 some-odd fifth and sixth graders," Ms. Pipolo said. "Every practice was a fun and usually comical time. It has been one of the best things I've ever had a chance to be a part of. Ms. VonVange has really been amazing."
Juggles many Activities
Ms. Pipolo's organizational skills are impressive. She juggles so many activities and manages to do them all well. She's currently considering a number of colleges, but her favorites are clearly the University of Scranton and James Madison University.
Ms. Pipolo is enrolled in a challenging set of classes this year, including AP Government, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature and Composition, chamber choir, art portfolio and economics.
The senior has worked well with Huntington High School's teachers and endeared herself to the faculty. She completed AP Studio Art last year with teacher Kristin Singer and the relationship between the two is strong. "Ms. Singer has been such a major part of my high school experience," Ms. Pipolo said. "She's been my art teacher for the past four years."
The teenager has been a member of the school chorus since her sophomore year and belongs to both the chamber choir and a cappella group this year. "Mrs. [Veronica] Mainville is my chorus teacher and she's incredibly fun and enthusiastic," Ms. Pipolo said.
"Other teachers who I have loved over the years include Mr. [Joseph] Cohen and Ms. [Camille] Tedeschi," she said. "Mr. [Robert] Gilmor is definitely one of the all-around best people I've ever met. I got to know him better through being in Natural Helpers. He is one of the things I'll really miss the most about Huntington after I graduate."
All through high school, Ms. Pipolo has played on the Blue Devil soccer and lacrosse teams. She earned the New York State Scholar Athlete Award last fall. She's also held a position with the school's student government for the past four years, working with class advisors Lauren Desiderio and Donna Nugent, "who are great," she said. "It has been so much fun to be a part of all the school fundraisers and amazing events."
Humanitarian Streak
A streak of humanitarianism runs through Ms. Pipolo. "My uncle and my family started Project H.O.P.E (Helping Other People Eat" at St. Hugh's when I was in primary school and I have been a part of that ever since, including serving and running Sunday supers and other fundraisers," she said. The teenager also helped early in the life Mad Dog, the cancer related foundation her family created. "We raised a little over $50,000 in six months," the teenager said.
The Pipolo family has always thrown its full backing behind the senior. "I'm really thankful for my family being so supportive of everything I've done in Huntington, especially my sister Emma," Ms. Pipolo said. "She's fabulous."
Although she's led a high school life filled with academic and extracurricular activities, Ms. Pipolo's experience helping direct Woodhull plays has clearly left indelible memories. "I've had the chance to work with Ms. VonVange for three years, which has been unbelievably fun," she said. "I'm so thankful she gave me that chance."
As she inches closer to this year's commencement exercises, the senior has gained a good perspective on her experiences in the school district. "I've made a lot of friends in Huntington that I will keep for life," Ms. Pipolo said. "I'm so lucky to be part of the Class of 2013. I really love my grade and I can't imagine a better group of people to go through high school with."