Empire Automotive Group Scholar Athletes Honored

Huntington seniors Hope Bilkey and Nikolai Seferian were named the 2023 Empire Automotive Group Scholar Athlete Award recipients. The talented pair was honored at the 55th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards ceremony in the high school auditorium

The Empire Automotive Group Scholar Athlete Awards were provided by Michael Brown, a 1987 Huntington graduate who played on the Blue Devil football team and won All-County honors with the track team. He went on to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees at Boston University and has been in the automotive business his entire professional career.

Ms. Bilkly and Mr. Seferian were presented with attractive personalized plaques along with checks for $500. The pair posed for a commemorative photo as crowd of several hundred applauded.

The awards were presented by Huntington alum and Blue Devil coach Kevin Thorbourne, a close friend of Mr. Brown.

“The first award goes to an incredible competitor who has excelled in soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field and on the football field as a placekicker,” master of ceremonies Michael Schwendemann said. “A county and state champion and an All-American, she is headed to Roger Williams University to prepare for a career as an elementary school teacher. Our first Empire Automotive Scholar Athlete Award winner is Hope Bilkey.”

Ms. Bilkey attributes her success to staying focused and on top of her work, seeking help when she needs it and maintaining a good attitude. She has especially enjoyed meeting friends and her teachers. Without them, she wouldn’t be who she is today.

“Our second Empire Automotive scholarship goes to a county and state champion and an All-American who has been equally accomplished in the classroom as a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student,” Mr. Schwendemann told the crowd. “A talented artist and Virtual Enterprise business executive, he will be attending Georgetown University where he plans to run on the NCAA Division I track team and study political science and government in preparation for a career in public service: Nikolai Seferian.”

Mr. Seferian said a “huge part” of his success is dedicated to the help he has received from his friends and family. He acknowledged that he would not be in the academic position he finds himself in today with the “countless things” that people have done to help them. He also cites his “determination, hard work and refusal to give up” as keys to his high achievement.