The Distinguished Seniors were feted at a dinner that drew a crowd of 325.
The Distinguished Seniors were feted at a dinner that drew a crowd of 325.

Huntington’s Distinguished Seniors Honored at Dinner

May 1, 2023

The top members of Huntington High School’s Class of 2023 were honored last Thursday night at this year’s Distinguished Seniors dinner in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.

During the festive affair the exceptional teenagers recognized a set of teachers who have meant so much to them over the years. A large crowd numbering about 325 turned out for the annual dinner that recognizes Huntington’s leading scholars.

Principal Brenden Cusack saluted the 137 exceptional students for their remarkable academic performance and noteworthy efforts outside of classes and in the community.

“This is an outstanding group of 137 individuals who have certainly made their mark here at Huntington High School,” Mr. Cusack said. “By maintaining an overall average of 90 or better over seven semesters of high school, these scholars have shown that they have a great deal of tenacity. Many of our students balance very busy lives with schoolwork, sports, performances, work, family obligations and other activities that make it a challenge to maintain such high academic standards. These students have managed to do just that throughout their high school careers and I could not be more proud of them.”

Superintendent James W. Polansky, several Huntington School Board members, department leaders and Assistant Principals Jully Williams and Gamal Smith also attended the event.

“We are beyond proud of these fine young people, whose achievement, efforts and citizenship have been exemplary throughout their years in Huntington,” Mr. Polansky said. “I have been privileged to witness their growth and development since entering our primary schools as curious young children … and now they are ready to take on the world. They provide a true sense of hope for the future as the next generation takes the reins. Congratulations to each and to their families!”

137 Distinguished Seniors Honored

The honorees included Riley Ackerman, Talia Addeo, Joseph Algieri, Nadeera Ali, Grace Allen, Vito Aloe, Sana Amin, Anthony Annunziata, Jaden Argaman, Matthew Armstrong, SammyMac Arner, Dyana Augustin, Katherine Balm, Victoria Befumo, Evelyn Benitez, Hope Bilkey, Ismael Blaise, Laurel Bonn, Roman Borovica, Sophie Bradford, Peter Breingan, Sofia Breskin, Dylan Brinn, Fiona Brosnan, Mack Brunner, McKenna Buffa, Hannah Byers, Aidan Carrello, Gemma Cartwright, Nathaniel Cordova, Oscar Cortez Zavala, Breyelle Corvoisier, Sarah Corwin, Emely Cruz, Izabela Cuji, Ryan Curran, Laura Curtin, Katerina Damiano, Jackson Danseglio, Megan Donaghy, Gabriella Ferreira, Keith Fives and Gianna Forte.

Quinn Fox, Aislyn Franciscovich, Peter Gaal, Annika Galvin, Lauren Gennarelli, Matthew Gerardi, Jonah Gillenwater, Emma Glascock, Molly Heffernan, Angie Hernandez-Ramos, Ian Husselbeck, Kieran Husselbeck, Brenda Jandres-Benitez, Tyler Johnson, Ella Kamenstein, Michael Kline, Sarah Krisch, Lexie Krivosheiw, Timothy Kusterbeck, Cecilia Kye, Pierre Leroy, Isabella Lima, Daniela Luca, Isabella Lanfranco, Anna Larson, Ryan Lawless, Kailyn Mackay, Tessie Maerz, Keyla Maldonado, Allison Malone, Markella Markotsis, Seamus McDevitt, Kaci McDonald, Renee McKean, Kathryn Meagher, Renata Meiram, Jamie Mejia-Ortez, Danielle Mendikyan, Gabriella Miller, Kathryn Montefusco, Samuel Morales and Dandy Moreira were also recognized as Distinguished Seniors.

The honorees also included Rachel Morina, Martin Newman, Brad Nisipeanu, Chloe Northrop, Jefferson Ochoa-Martinez, Soraya Ortega-Salgado, Christian Panameno-Delcid, Jillian Panos, Abigail Pawlak, Dawin Preval, Enzo Pupillo, Erin Purcell, Neha Rathore, Yorimilet Rodriguez, Sol Rodriguez-Arevalo, Gabriela Rodriguez-Moreira, Brian Romero-Bonilla, Benjamin Root, James Rosselli, Ian Rotunno, Anna Safonte, Erin Scanlon, Annalise Schettino, Mikah Schueller, Nikolai Seferian, Sophia Segal, Leah Sheran, Haileigh Smith, Evan Spagnoletti, Joshua Stephen, Yoanny Suarez, Sophia Thompson, Joseph Toscano, Logan Toth, Liam Tucker, Dominick Vidota, Levis Villatoro Villatoro, James Viola, Tyler Walters, Anaya Watkis, Charlotte Wesnofske, Stephanie Wickey, Linnea Wong, Anna Bell Young, Nicholas Zahn and Zachary Zboray.

The seniors were asked to select one teacher to be honored from the first school they attended in the district and from each of their subsequent schools.

The seniors recognized teachers Rosita Lanoue, Wendy Bonilla-Santos, Suzanne Proimos, Patrice Monks, Chelsea Jablon, Lisa Baldanza, Travis Smith and Joseph Malizia.

The large crowd was feted to a delicious meal whipped up by highly regarded Long Island chef Howard J. Fay. Huntington High School administrators and secretaries served the crowd as it passed along tables filled with various dishes.

As the evening’s program finally drew to a close, parents began snapping hundreds of photographs of the seniors as they posed in groups with their classmates.