Pride Awards Put Science in Spotlight
The Huntington High School library was the setting last week for a special ceremony honoring more than four dozen students for their fine performance in science courses this year. Teachers told short anecdotes about members of their classes and why the teenagers were chosen to receive a Pride Award.
The event provided science teachers with an opportunity to recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional effort, improvement in performance or who have been outstanding role models. Classmates and family members of the honorees crowded into the room for the ceremony along with building administrators and many teachers from other departments.
Following short introductory remarks by Kenneth Graham, Huntington’s director of science, teachers were soon presenting certificates to deserving students.
The honorees included Takemia Akines, James Aldridge, German Alvarez, Jeffrey Arnoux, Jaclyn Beatty, Amanda Bosco, Michelle Byrne, Maria Contreras, Brendan Cribbin, Peter Delfino, Elizabeth DeMaio, Guillermo Dominguez, Sandra Duarte-Zavala, Darlose Francisque-Cheriel, Melissa Garcia, Henry Grill, Walter Garcia-Lopez, Alexa Giammarino, Monique Harris, Kerry Hempel, Vanessa Hernandez, Kerry Hicks, Angel Iglesias, Steven Inman, Alexandra Kiley, Alexandra Kimchy, Benjamin Kitzen, Shayne Larkin, Christopher Lau and Elkin Lorenzo.
Also recognized were Sean Lyons, Amelia Jane Malone, Marisela Mejia, Jose Miranda-Martinez, Samantha Mohr, Thomas Monks, Ryan Pavelka, Brian Pechar, Wilfredo Pena, Christina Picciochi, Danielle Pugliese, Francisco Rivera, Andrew Salazar, Allie Shea, Theresa Spohrer, Sean Sullivan, Sarah Unger, Eva Valerio, Fabicio Vasquez, Francisco Viera-Pereira, Morgan Whiffen and Lea Woelker.
Teachers recognized students from a long lineup of science courses. Faculty members told of the effort, hard work and leadership displayed by students, who were often embarrassed by it all. However, family members in attendance got choked up and beamed with pride.
Each month a different department presents Pride Awards to recognize students who either continue to demonstrate excellence or who have displayed marked improvement in that particular academic discipline. The monthly ceremonies are usually very well attended by parents and students and are followed by refreshments.
The monthly ceremonies are increasingly drawing friends of those being honored. While the teenagers recognized at this month’s event might have felt some awkwardness in being singled out individually by name, the group clearly enjoyed its moment in the limelight.
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