Senior Duo Shares National School Development Award

Grace Allen and Aislyn Franciscovich are two of the most exceptional members of Huntington High School’s Class of 2023. The exceptional duo has been named this year’s recipients of the National School Development Council Awards.

Admired by classmates and teachers alike, the pair will be sorely missed next year when each begins pursuit of a new set of goals at their respective colleges.

The National School Development Council is a confederation of school study or development councils located across the country.

Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky presented the teenager’s with this year’s awards during the high school’s senior scholarship awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.

“Grace and Aisy have prioritized their academics, and have also immersed themselves in school life throughout their educational careers in Huntington,” Mr. Polansky said. “They are well respected by their peers and understand the importance of both family and community. They are clearly ready to take the next steps, but I know that Huntington will remain a part of them indefinitely.”

Mr. Polansky presented Ms. Allen and Ms. Franciscovich with certificates and gift cards.

Ms. Allen plans to attend Fairfield University where she intends to pursue an academic major in psychology. She said the key to her success has been “self-discipline and consistent hard work.” She gives credit to her family for inspiring and encouraging her to remember the importance of “dedication and diligence” toward service and academics.

President of the A World of Difference club and editor in chief of the The Dispatch student newspaper, Ms. Allen is also the founder and president of Huntington’s Mindfulness Club.

Ms. Franciscovich will be attending Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. She plans to study studio art and computer science. She joked that the key to her success has been “copious amounts of tea, stress baking and art therapy through painting.” She has especially enjoyed art classes with teacher Kristin Singer and Advanced Placement Computer Science with teacher Nicholas Wagner.

President of the Women’s Empowerment Club and the French Honor Society, Ms. Franciscovich has also been the Math Honor Society’s secretary, junior editor of Etcetera literary magazine and captain of the Blue Devil marching band’s color guard unit.

“The Council embodies the philosophic and operational tenets of the school study and development council movement,” states the organization’s website. “Each of these regional, state, or county-based councils is, in turn, an association of local school systems that work together; usually in conjunction with one or more institutions of higher learning on matters of common concern.”