Zaida Correal Presented Huntington Foundation Scholarship

Zaida Correal is this year’s recipient of the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education $2,500 scholarship. The Huntington Class of 2024 member plans to attend the University at Albany.

The teenager became interested in the college after attending a University at Albany sponsored conference in Huntington. Huntington Foundation President Jennifer Stevens and Vice President Tara Poli presented Ms. Correal with the organization’s scholarship award.

“I heard one of the professors speak about cybersecurity and it really motivated me to visit the college,” Ms. Correal said. “Once I visited, I realized this was the best option because I get to experience campus life. They have a lot of opportunities and connections and so many clubs to join. My cousin and a few other people that I know went to Albany and they all loved it. I heard a lot of positive things about the school. I want to study cybersecurity and most likely minor in a business or French. My career interests are to be able to work for a private company or the government. In this field, I can help many people with cyber threats and help the most vulnerable.”

Ms. Correal played on the Huntington volleyball, basketball and flag football teams. A four year student government vice president, she participated in the drama club, United Amigos and Grandfriends club and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She was inducted into the Spanish and French honor societies.

Named a Distinguished Senior for her strong academic performance, Ms. Correal credits her success to the positive connections she has formed with people; the way she was raised and the respect she has when it comes to relationships. She has especially enjoyed getting involved and always going the extra mile in her classes.

“I was able to do so much like sports and being involved in clubs, which helped me get to where I am today so I am very thankful for my friends and for my teachers,” Ms. Correal said. “I had a very fulfilling experience. I got to make so many friends and I loved my teachers. Everyone was amazing. I made a lot of connections that I think will last for a while. Huntington also helped me grow as a person and be more extroverted.”

Huntington Foundation history

Parent Nancy Lundell came up with the original idea for an educational foundation in 1993. She pulled together a group of people, including fellow district parents Beverly Wayne and Elliot Levine, an attorney who performed the legal work necessary to formally create the Foundation’s corporate structure.

That small group of parents, along with several others, began meeting in the superintendent’s conference room in what was then the administrative wing at Woodhull School. It was from those meetings that the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education emerged, becoming a non-profit organization in 1994, with formal bylaws, a logo and a board of directors.

In addition to Mrs. Lundell, Mrs. Wayne and Mr. Levine, the original directors included Diane Kirchner, Tom Webster, Susan Agolia, Paula Schneider and Susan Jouard. The first fundraiser was held on a Sunday afternoon at Coco’s Water Café on New York Avenue in Halesite. (The site is now occupied by Prime.)

The original group of volunteers devoted an enormous amount of time to the organization, helping to insure its long-term success.