H-ton Seniors Claim bELIeve Project Scholarships

Eli Mollineaux will always be remembered at Huntington High School and in the community. The special young man was an inspiration to his teachers, classmates and family, shouldering all of his many challenges with steely determination and never ending hope.

The teenager passed away in October 2016 after a lifelong battle against Pearson’s Syndrome, a rare disease triggered by a mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. Mr. Mollineaux was just 15 years old.

Following his tragic passing, Mr. Mollineaux’s family and Ilene Messina, a teacher aide in the district who worked with him for many years created the bELIeve Project, which sponsors annual scholarships that are presented to graduating Huntington seniors.

“Eli Mollineaux was an inspiration to everyone he met,” said Mrs. Messina last week at the high school’s scholarship awards ceremony. “Kind, compassionate, always smiling, Eli lived every moment of his life to the fullest. Tonight, we take great pride in awarding this scholarship to students who live their lives like Eli, bringing joy, kindness and compassion to others every single day.”

This year, the bELIeve Project presented Eli Mollineaux Memorial Scholarship Awards in the amount of $1,000 each to Huntington High School Class of 2023 members Charlotte Wesnofske (Adelphia University), Joseph Algieri (Hartwick College) and Sol Rodriguez (Binghamton University).

Three scholarships were formally presented by Mrs. Messina and Mr. Mollineaux’s mother, Ellen and brother, Samuel.

“Each of tonight’s recipients are extremely well respected by their teachers and peers,” Mrs. Messina said. “They have spent countless hours volunteering throughout the Huntington community and have been a great support for their families. Some have suffered immense hardship and still they continue to stay positive and share their positivity with those around them. Just like Eli, they will not allow their struggles to define them.”