Huntington Duo Named Long Island Scholar Artists

Mary Marinello and Jada Joseph have been recognized by the Long Island Arts Alliance as scholar artists. The Huntington High School seniors are among a select group of Nassau and Suffolk fine and performing artists to be honored.

Ms. Marinello was one of 20 Award of Distinction recipients while Ms. Joseph was among just 20 Award of Merit honorees.

“This is a huge honor for Mary and Jada and a credit to years and years dedicated to their craft,” said Brian Stellato, district director of fine and performing arts. “The department is extremely proud.”

The LI Arts Alliance’s Scholar Artist program recognizes students who excel academically and in the areas of either music, visual arts, dance, theater, or media arts. For more than a decade, the initiative has recognized students judged to be “the best of the best” on Long Island in both academics and in the arts.

Ms. Marinello captured her award in the category of dance while Ms. Joseph was recognized in media arts. As an Award of Distinction recipient, Ms. Marinello will be profiled in Newsday during the 2023/24 school year.

This marks the LI Arts Alliance’s Scholar Artist program’s seventeenth year. Schools are limited to only one nomination in each of five categories: music, visual arts, dance and theater and media arts.

“Ballet has always been a huge part of my life and my form of self-expression,” Ms. Marinello said. “I’m so honored to have been chosen as the scholar artist in the dance category because it proves that all my hard work has paid off.”