Kiley Barch & Daniel Simon Win LI Teachers Scholarships

This year’s Len Motisi Scholarships presented by the Long Island Teachers Benevolent Fund to a pair of graduating Huntington High School seniors went to Kiley Barch and Daniel Simon.

Associated Teachers of Huntington President Elizabeth Flanagan made the formal presentation at the senior academic awards and scholarships ceremony in the high school auditorium before a crowd of 300.

The $1,000 scholarships are funded by the dues of NYSUT members and their locals. They are available to graduating seniors who have at least one parent who is an active teacher with membership in a NYSUT local. Seniors are required to submit an application for the award.

Ms. Barch earned the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma designation. She was an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of six academic honor societies.

“The key to my success has been believing that I am working towards becoming the best version of myself while being supported by my family, friends, and teachers,” Ms. Barch said. “I’ve enjoyed being in classes such as research and Spanish where I’ve felt myself grow as a student and learned to be a more empathetic person. My time on the cross country spring track teams has built up my tenacity and given me a team that feels like family. Participating in Habitat for Humanity has fueled my love for service, allowing me to see the good in communities all across America.”

Ms. Barch is interested in studying psychology at Boston College. President of Huntington’s Yearbook Club and a Newsday Long Island Scholar Artist in photography, she will be missed around the high school this coming year.

An Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, Mr. Simon also excelled academically. He, too, was a member of multiple academic honor societies and played key roles in the co-curricular club program and the interscholastic athletics program. He also thrived in the high school’s music program.

Known for always giving 100 percent, Mr. Simon plans to continue his studies at Binghamton University.