Heather Forster Accepts Albany Basketball Scholarship
It just might have been inevitable. Heather Forster signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent to play basketball at the University at Albany. Her sister starred on the court for Great Danes, setting single season and career records for rebounds and earning All-Conference honors.
One of the best forwards in the state this year, Ms. Forster is expected to lead the Blue Devils as they challenge for league and county crowns. She’s been on the Huntington varsity since eighth grade and will be counted on more than ever this winter. The senior also plays on a highly regarded AAU basketball team.
“I traveled to a lot of schools during my junior year and choosing between them proved to be a very difficult decision for me to make,” Ms. Forster said. “In the end Albany was the best fit for me. It accepted AP credits, wasn’t too far, had both great academics and athletics and it felt like home. My sister, Julie graduated from Albany in 2013 and my brother, Jack currently attends Albany. As you can imagine, I’ve been at Albany a lot in the past few years and when it became time for me to make my decision, Albany had already been a part of my life for so long and I guess I just wasn't ready to let it go.”
The teenager is enrolled in a challenging set of courses this year, including AP Calculus AB, AP Spanish, AP Government and Politics, AP Microeconomics, AP Literature and Composition, Honors Physics, Career and Financial Management and Fashion II. “Right now, I’m looking at majoring in either advertising or education,” Ms. Forster said. “I want be an advertising designer or an elementary teacher.”
The senior also plays on Huntington’s volleyball and lacrosse teams. Ms. Forster is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, English Honor Society, Math Honor Society and History Honor Society and is the treasurer of the Science National Honor Society.
“Throughout my high school experience I have had a lot of teachers that have had an impact on my life,” Ms. Forster said. “Ms. [Anna] Fabela’s class is one of the most memorable things during my sophomore year. Whether it was learning about cells or talking about the dress code, she always made me have a new outlook on the things around me and helped me grow as a person.”
Ms. Forster said math teacher Joann Ferazi is another teacher who has had influence on the teenager. “She was my Pre-Calculus AB teacher last year and is currently my AP Calculus AB teacher,” the senior said. “Ms. Ferazi has been there countless mornings to help me with my homework and prepare me for an upcoming test. She has always read my face and seen when I don’t understand a topic, offering to go slower and help me if I need it. All of my teachers have impacted me one way or another, but Ms. Fabela and Ms. Ferazi have been the two that have helped me grow and learn the most during my academic career at the high school.”
The teenager has thrived with the Blue Devil basketball team. “Being a part of the girls’ basketball program has been so special,” Ms. Forster said. “The past five years have been such a great experience for me and the program has grown so much. I can only hope that this last year will be just as memorable as the others. I look forward to coming back and seeing the program continue to grow while I’m in college.”