Damaris Mani-Munoz Claims J.M. West Scholarship

Damaris Mani-Munoz has claimed this year’s Joseph M. West Vocational/STEM Scholarship following an exceptional four year run. The Huntington High School Class of 2024 member was presented with a $500 stipend.

To be considered for the scholarship a graduating senior must plan on either studying a trade or pursuing a college academic major in or related to science, technology, engineering or math.

Candidates for the award must be creative, ambitious, goal-oriented and scholarly. “It is preferred if the candidate is a hands-on learner and enjoys working on projects of any kind both in and out of the classroom,” states the scholarship criteria.

Huntington guidance counselor Diana Bonilla announced that Ms. Mani-Munoz is this year’s award recipient at the senior scholarships and awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.

The teenager is headed to SUNY Geneseo to study public health with a concentration in biology and a minor in music. She said that keeping organized and focusing on protecting her peace has been the keys to her success. She uses a calendar app to help stay organized and completes her assignments as soon as possible. “Talking out” her “troubles” to someone when things begin to overwhelm her has also helped her to be successful.

Ms. Mani-Munoz ran with the varsity cross country, winter and spring track and field teams. She was inducted into a long list of academic honor societies. She participated in the Global Health Leadership Conference at Johns Hopkins University.

Ms. Mani-Munoz won awards in the National History Day initiative. The teenager has starred in Huntington’s orchestra program, playing viola. She also performed with the All-County and Long Island Strings Festival orchestras.

The new alum said she has especially “loved meeting and making new friendships with people on different track teams.”

Ms. Mani-Munoz is looking forward to challenging herself at SUNY Geneseo.