Anthony Retamal Captures Full Scholarship to Cornell University

Anthony Retamal is headed to the Ivy League to study chemistry. The Huntington High School senior has captured a full, all-expenses paid scholarship to attend Cornell University. He has compiled an exceptional academic record and all of his hard work and sacrifices are paying off handsomely.

“I applied to Cornell because it has a great chemistry program, which is perfect for my goal of working in the medical field,” Mr. Retamal said. “It’s also in New York, which makes it close to home, but still challenging. At first, I applied just to see what would happen, but after learning more about the school, I saw that Cornell has the resources and research opportunities that will help me reach my goals. Coming from a low-income family, getting a full scholarship would make a huge difference and give me the chance to attend a great school without worrying about the cost. Cornell is a place where I can grow and study to reach my dream of working in medicine.”

Mr. Retamal is a happy senior. He likes to laugh and his smile is bright. Faculty members are proud of him and expressed delight at learning he had landed a complete scholarship to attend Cornell.

“My interest in chemistry started with my teacher, Mrs. [Danielle] Raguzin,” Mr. Retamal said. “She taught me Honors Chemistry last year and her teaching made the subject really interesting and easy to understand. She inspired me to want to learn more and now I have her for AP Chemistry. I’m interested in chemistry because it connects to the medical field and I want to use what I learn to help others. I hope to work in medicine, possibly in research or healthcare, where I can use chemistry to make a difference.”

The teenager said he’s worked hard to balance the demands of school and extracurricular activities. He’s proven himself to be capable of juggling a variety of responsibilities and still excelling across the board.

“I’ve taken many honors classes, along with AP Language & Composition and AP Spanish Language,” Mr. Retamal said. “Currently, I’m taking AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP African American Studies and AP Spanish Literature.”

A member of five separate academic honor societies, Mr. Retamal is vice president of the Spanish Honor Society and secretary of the Math Honor Society. He performs with the high school’s chamber orchestra and volunteers at Helping Hand Rescue Mission.

“I’ve learned to guide myself with the support of my teachers and friends,” Mr. Retamal said. “The encouragement from my teachers, especially in challenging subjects like chemistry, has helped me push forward and succeed. I’ve also leaned on my friends for support, whether it’s for academic advice or just to stay motivated. I’ve learned to be independent and rely on the resources around me, like my teachers and classmates, to keep me on track. Their support has been invaluable in helping me achieve my goals.”

On top of all of his substantial responsibilities, Mr. Retamal finds the time to work as a cashier five days a week at Huntington ShopRite. The job has taught him time management and work ethic related skills.

The senior has already qualified for the New York State Seal of Biliteracy on his diploma and he is working on qualifying for the state Seal of Civic Readiness. He will be honored this spring as a Distinguished Senior. Last summer he garnered the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence.

“My experience at Huntington has been very positive,” Mr. Retamal said. “I’ve had the chance to challenge myself with honors and AP courses and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also taken on leadership roles in honor societies and extracurricular activities. Balancing work and school can be tough, especially since I work five days a week as a cashier. It can be exhausting, especially when I go directly from work to chamber orchestra practice afterward. However, I enjoy playing the violin, and I always make the effort to be there. I know that all of this is helping me build the skills I need for my future. Huntington has supported me throughout all of this, and I’m thankful for the opportunities it has given me to grow.”