Women’s Empowerment Club Strives for New Heights

Huntington High School’s Women’s Empowerment Club is striving to climb to new heights. Guided by faculty advisor Sara Guagliano, the group is determined to make a difference in the lives of its members and in the overall atmosphere around the building.

This marks Ms. Guagliano’s third year as the club’s advisor. “Over the last three years, we have had a dedicated group of students fundraise money so that we can donate feminine products to students at Huntington High School,” she said. “This year, we are delivering 25 packages to the Family Service League’s homeless shelter that contain various hygienic and feminine products.

“Being the advisor for women’s empowerment for the last three years allowed me to learn more about the diverse community of women we have at Huntington High School,” Ms. Guagliano said. “Students of all genders are welcome to join the club to discuss equity issues, solutions and methods to provide a safe space for all.”

A graduate of Valley Stream Central High School, Ms. Guagliano earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Stony Brook University. She currently teaches classes in Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Earth Science and Forensic Science. She’s the senior class faculty advisor and assists with the Natural Helpers program.

The club is led by its President Lily Froggatt-Bale, Vice-president Yosary Turcios, treasurer Alejandro Orjuela and secretary Nathali Yanes Reyes.

Although significant progress has been made over the past 100 years in advancing the rights of women in America, prejudice against women still exists in some quarters of society and many areas the world.

“In the Huntington High School Women’s Empowerment Club, we aim to continue the work of these [female] leaders by educating and inspiring girls while teaching others how to be good allies and support the movement toward gender equality,” according to a club profile. “It is important to have a safe space for students to meet and talk about current issues that affect us all. In these meetings, club members have a chance to share their thoughts and engage in thought-provoking discussions with their peers.”

The club is open to both female and male students and has had both through the years. “I am proud mostly of the efforts of my students,” Ms. Guagliano said. “While they are all highly involved in multiple clubs and extracurriculars, they always take the time to collaborate with each other for the betterment of the clubs message: To provide equity for all students.”