Claire Parks Pursues Amazing Huntington Experience

Claire Parks has embraced working hard, community service, personal growth and enjoyable activities as she goes about her junior year at Huntington High School. The teenager recently completed a more than two month long internship program at worldwide defense giant BAE Systems’ facility in Greenlawn.

“I’ve always had an interest about BAE since it’s an international defense, aerospace and security company that has local facilities and is so successful,” Ms. Parks said. “When I decided to do some research on the company I discovered their Women in Technology program and I was instantly ecstatic. I’ve always be highly engaged in STEM, especially tech and computer related fields. BAE offered a highly informative and engaging curriculum, including software, mechanical, manufacturing and electrical engineering, as well as signal processing and failure analysis. These skills are all critical aspects of STEM that I have always had such a passion for. I knew that this program would be just what I needed to further expand my skills in technology, and decided to apply.”

Ms. Parks is driven, to be sure, but she also recognizes that friends and family are important aspects of her life, too. She strives to be a loyal and trusted person and she certainly has gained the respect of her classmates and among her teachers.

“My experience at Huntington has been so amazing,” Ms. Parks said. “I have made so many amazing friends through sports, clubs and classes and been taught by teachers who have all left such a positive impact on my life inside and out of school. I’m so thankful for all the opportunities I have been given through Huntington. It has truly been such a great environment where I have been able to grow so much.”

A top student, Ms. Parks is considering her options for college and career. “As of now I don’t have my eyes set on a specific career or college, but I do know that I want to pursue a career related tech in my future,” she said.

The teenager’s rigorous academic schedule includes Honors French, AP Computer Science A, AP  Chemistry, Advanced Science Research Honors, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Language and Composition and AP United States History.

Ms. Parks participates in numerous clubs and academic honor societies. She serves as vice president of the Science Olympiad, treasurer of the Investment Club, financial advisor of the French Honor Society and a member of the Math Honor Society, English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, Science Honor Society and National Honor Society.

The junior plays on the varsity girls’ tennis team and is captain of the varsity girls’ golf team.

Ms. Parks is an ambassador with the not-for-profit Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition.

“I’ve been with the HBCAC for over a year and our main focus is public and environmental health,” Ms. Parks said. “We do many community outreaches to youth audiences giving digestible teachings on global health/climate change and consumer awareness to create a better future for all.”

Ms. Parks participates in weekly meetings with her HBCAC ambassador colleagues, “presenting recent research any of us has found, or special guests that present their research to us, opening new aspects of public and environmental health to explore,” she said. “HBCAC has also given me the privilege to work with New York State Children's Environmental Health Centers (NYSCHECK) all summer and advocate for public health concerns in New York and a focus on extreme heat, present my colleagues and my own findings to state officials, and get such informational and eye-opening lectures from state healthcare professionals.”

The teenager recently moderator a virtual NYSCHECK youth symposium, between such non-profits as Sixth Street Community Center, Blueprint Geneva, Cafeteria Culture, Futures Ignite and more, discussing important topics of public health concerns and advocacy in New York, “as well as doing my part to spread passion and inspiration as an ambassador of HBCAC to all attending the meeting and also as a representative of the youth aspect,” Ms. Parks said.

The Huntington junior is currently in the process of developing and coding an app with previous and current members of the HBCAC.

In addition to her work in the public health area, Ms. Parks is a member of the Junior Welfare League and the Junior League of Long Island. “As a member in these leagues, I regularly participate in various local charity events such as food drives and fundraisers for those in need,” she said. “I’m always more than happy to do what I can to grow and share my knowledge as well as give back to my community and being able to integrate science into it makes it twice as enjoyable.”