Busy Summer Sets Stage for Emma Polinsky’s Junior Year

It was a busy, but fun summer vacation for Emma Polinsky. The Huntington High School junior always makes good use of her time, pursuing activities that help her grow in every possible way.

The teenager is highly regarded by her classmates and teachers and she’s looking forward to a great year, filled with her favorite classes, clubs, teams and outside pursuits.

“It was a busy summer,” said Ms. Polinsky the night before classes began this week. “I just got back from Connecticut where I was on a mini sailing trip with my family.”

Ms. Polinsky served as a Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition ambassador, giving multiple well-received presentations on environmental impact and health including on to New York State Senator Peter Harckham, who chairs the state senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee.

The teenager was also a summer academy intern with NYSCHECK, “meeting twice a week with medical students, college professors and peers to discuss threats to children’s health in New York State,” Ms. Polinsky said. “We were also broken up into groups to develop advocacy projects that were aimed at making an impact on extreme heat legislation in New York.”

“The mission of NYSCHECK is to prevent, diagnose and treat environmentally related conditions for families across New York State,” according to the organization. “As the first state-based model for pediatric environmental health services in the country, New York now has dedicated pediatric champions across the state working together to protect and promote children’s health and the environment.”

Ms. Polinsky also volunteered with North Shore Holiday House, working with summer campers from underserved communities, educating them via games and fun about the environment, personal health and care and making good choices.

The dynamic Huntington junior participated in the Rotary Club of Huntington’s oyster reef protection project aimed at preserving Long Island’s oyster population, volunteering for activities in Northport and Huntington that involved cleaning and restoring a healthy habitat for local oysters.

Ms. Polinsky took time to volunteer as a youth coach and counselor at the Huntington Booster Club’s summer tennis camp, helping younger children how to play tennis.

A Blue Devil varsity tennis player herself, the teenager attended the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on the LIU Post campus in preparation for the fall season with the Huntington High School team.

Ms. Polinsky is the Huntington Habitat for Humanity’s club chapter’s vice president and treasurer. Along with her colleagues, she participated in summer meetings to organize activities for the 2024/25 school year. She also attended a media day for the first Habitat home built (in Brentwood) on Long Island that was constructed entirely by 3D printing. In July and August she attended builds for the 3D house in Brentwood, placing roof supports.

Ms. Polinsky is excited to start classes this week and to dive into her club and athletic activities. This looks to be her best year yet.