Dominick Vidota Captures Justin Giani Memorial Scholarship

Dominick Vidota is a great competitor in and out of the classroom. A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 2023, he is a high achiever who sets challenging goals and works hard every day to accomplish them. The teenager is headed to the University of Rochester to study psychology on a pre-med track.

Mr. Vidota is this year’s recipient of the Justin Louis Giani Memorial Scholarship. The award carries a stipend of $4,000, allotted in annual amounts of $1,000 for each of four years of college.

The scholarship was announced by Associated Teachers of Huntington President James Graber and presented to Mr. Vidota by Mr. Giani’s parents, Linda and Joseph. The award honors a wonderful young man who will never be forgotten for his happy-go-lucky demeanor and general good nature, loyalty to family and friends and competitive spirit.

The Justin Louis Giani Memorial Scholarship has become an especially cherished award at Huntington High School.

An outstanding student, Mr. Giani compiled a 95 academic grade average, graduating near the top of Huntington’s Class of 2007. He obtained a bachelor’s degree at Drexel University in Philadelphia where he majored in finance and competed on the NCAA Division I wrestling team.

Mr. Giani won varsity letters with the Blue Devil cross country and wrestling squads. He earned a record of 118-32 in five years of varsity wrestling, the last four as a Blue Devil. (He wrestled for Harborfields as an eighth grader.)

As a senior, Mr. Giani went 25-7 on the mat and won the Suffolk League V title. As a junior, he finished with a 28-6 mark and was league runner-up. At the time of his graduation, he was 10th on the all-time Huntington career victory list with 101 wins.

The Huntington alum was killed on March 28, 2015 while crossing US Highway 501 in South Carolina during a golf vacation with his friends. He was 25 years old. His death was devastating to his family as well as his former classmates, teammates, teachers and coaches.

A scholarship fund was created to help perpetuate Mr. Giani’s legacy and memory at his alma mater. It has been awarded to a select group of exceptional graduating seniors ever since.

Mr. Giani interned at Philadelphia based film distributor Breaking Glass Pictures before being hired full-time by the company and helping to develop its “financial architecture” and helping steer it toward acquisitions as it went about building its brand.

“Justin was more than an employee; he was a master of numbers, a ball of energy, an even-keeled ray of light that brought smiles to all he crossed paths with, no matter the situation,” the company said in a statement following the Huntington alum’s passing. “As we mourn the loss of a member of the Breaking Glass Pictures family and team, we more importantly celebrate the life of one of the world’s true gifts. Justin was always so full of life and happiness and we will always remember him that way.”

Mr. Vidota said his success can be attributed to pushing himself past what he believes he can do and “then continually raising the bar.” He regularly makes time to step back and be grateful for what he has accomplished. He said one aspect of high school that he’s especially enjoyed has been acquiring knowledge that he can not only use in his academic pursuits but throughout his life.

Mr. Vidota earned varsity letters with the Blue Devil football and fencing teams. A New York Scholar Athlete Award recipient and Science Honor Society member, he was also tapped as a social justice ambassador.

Mr. Giani’s memory continues to shine brightly through the annual scholarship that bears his name.