Huntington’s Louisa Skrobela Wins Prestigious Essay Contest

Huntington High School senior Louisa Skrobela has been named the recipient of the Honorable Peter Fox Cohalan Scholarship in American History sponsored by the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation. The award is in the amount of a total of $40,000 over four years.

Ms. Skrobela’s winning essay was titled “Triumph Over Nature: Grumman Aerospace and the Transformation of Long Island.” The topic carries personal significance for the Huntington senior’s family. Her great-uncle, now 93 years old, devoted his entire career to Grumman and is himself a living piece of the history. His memories, his stories, and his connection to that legendary company brought the subject alive for her in a way no textbook could.

There is also a historical connection that makes this achievement especially meaningful for the entire Huntington community. A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1911, Leroy Grumman delivered the salutatorian address at the commencement exercises on June 20, 1911.

Now, over a century later, a Huntington High School senior is being honored for telling the story of what Mr. Grumman and his partners went on to build.

The Huntington scholar expressed her gratitude to the teachers and staff who played an essential role in this accomplishment. She is deeply thankful to teachers Lauren Desiderio and Kenneth Donovan “for writing wonderful letters of recommendation on her behalf and for being exceptional teachers who have made a lasting impact on her and fostered her love of history.” She is equally grateful to teacher Dianna Cazzalino, whose instruction in AP Seminar and AP Research gave her the research and writing skills necessary to produce a paper of this caliber.

An Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, Ms. Skrobela will graduate with the AP Capstone Diploma, Seal of Civic Readiness and Seal of Biliteracy. A member of six separate academic honor societies, she is also the senior editor of the school newspaper and a ballet dancer who has trained at the Lynch School of Ballet since 2015.

Community service and volunteer work has included traveling to Florida with Habitat for Humanity to build family housing and serving as a Key Club officer and member of Huntington Youth Court and Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education Youth Board.

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, primarily supports the study of New York State history, with an emphasis on Suffolk County. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner's Island. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner's Island since 1639, obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England. The Foundation's mission is inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner's lifelong passion for New York history.

“What an extraordinary accomplishment and well-deserved honor,” Principal Rochelle C. Brown said. “We are incredibly proud of Louisa Skrobela and all that she has achieved during her time at Huntington High School. Her essay topic and the meaningful connection to both her family history and Huntington’s legacy make this recognition even more special. She truly represents the ideals of Huntington High School and we look forward to celebrating all that she will continue to accomplish.”

“The key to my success has been never giving up and continuing to try my hardest academically and with extracurriculars, no matter the obstacle,” Ms. Skrobela said. “Being determined and motivated to achieve my goals has contributed to my success. I’ve enjoyed meeting more people, taking rigorous classes, and being involved in sports and clubs.”

Ms. Skrobela intends to study at Villanova University.