Katerina Damiano to Study Film at SUNY Purchase

Katerina Damiano is one of Huntington High School’s top young filmmakers. The senior is so good she has already garnered several awards with more in the pipeline, including one that will be presented soon at OHEKA castle. The teenager plans to study film at SUNY Purchase College.

“I chose Purchase because of its outstanding film program,” Ms. Damiano said. “It’s a highly selective program as they only accept 30 students per year. Purchase College has state of the art equipment for its students to use and many of their alumni have been notably successful within the film industry.”

Ms. Damiano has been studying for many years with high school art teacher Heather Swan, who leads Huntington’s video arts program.

“I’ve always enjoyed being a storyteller through my writing and art and film just combines my artistic eye and storytelling mind into one,” Ms. Damiano said. “I hope to write and direct narrative films in the future that tell stories of people from all walks of life. I hope through my films that I can impact people with new perspectives on life.”

A personable young woman with many friends, Ms. Damiano is highly regarded by her teachers and classmates.

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with such a supremely talented student for the past four years,” Ms. Swan. “Katerina is an exceptional storyteller; from her ability to write captivating and humorous scripts, to directing her actors, film with interesting lighting, camera angles and editing.  Katerina has been a force to be reckoned with in Huntington High School’s video program and at film festivals around the country. I wish her continued success in the Purchase College film program, and I am confident that she will continue to produce incredible films in the future.”

Ms. Damiano has thrived in the video arts program and her skills have steadily skyrocketed as has her creativity.

“The Creative Video course has definitely been a highlight in my time at Huntington High School,” Ms. Damiano said. “I’ve been able to create a diverse portfolio of short films as well as scripts. Taking the creative video course all four years of high school with Ms. [Heather] Swan has allowed me to find my passion for filmmaking and already start developing vital conceptual and practical skills, which will be crucial for my future career.”

Collaborating with classmates and the guidance and mentoring she has received from Ms. Swan have served Ms. Damiano well.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my experiences at Huntington and for me specifically, the amazing art programs,” Ms. Damiano said. “The teachers and community of peers I’ve spent years with have been a key point in shaping who I am as a person today. Huntington has provided me with so many opportunities to uplift myself and others around me on my way to becoming an adult.”