Huntington Grad Keynotes Jack Abrams School Career Day
This year’s career day at Jack Abrams Intermediate School will have a decidedly local flavor as Huntington High School alumnae Erin Zammett-Ruddy will be the keynote speaker.
Career Day is the brainchild of school librarian Patricia Dillon who annually seeks out participants who are willing to discuss their career with students and participate in question and answer sessions. This year’s event will be held on Oct. 24.
“The students do a lot of background research on careers and in the past speakers have been very impressed with the quality of questions students ask,” Mrs. Dillon said. “It’s an incredibly rewarding few hours for both the speakers and the students. It’s a way for people in the community to participate in the school district.”
Ms. Zammett-Ruddy is an author, freelance writer and noted blogger. Shortly after graduating from the University of Tennessee, she joined GLAMOUR magazine’s editorial staff. One year later, she was battling for her life after being diagnosed with leukemia.
Since then, she has been writing the magazine’s award-winning “Life with Cancer” column, which details her personal battle with the disease. Her cancer remains in remission.
A 1996 graduate of Huntington High School, Ms. Zammett-Ruddy has been honored with a Clarion Award for her column and a Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of New York. She writes a daily blog, Life with Cancer, which can be found on the website, www.glamour.com.
Overlook Press published Ms. Zammett-Ruddy’s memoir My (So-Called) Normal Life in May 2005. Standing in front of a large crowd as a guest speaker is not unusual for the Huntington grad. She has done just that many times as a volunteer with cancer organizations. She also serves on the board of directors for the New York City chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Denise Rich’s G & P Foundation for Cancer Research.
Over the years Ms. Zammett-Ruddy has raised tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research and appeared on several television programs, including Nightline, The Today Show, Dateline and Good Morning America. She left GLAMOUR magazine this past June to pursue a freelance writing career, but has continued penning her Life with Cancer blog and column.
Several local professionals have also stepped up and volunteered to meet with students and speak about their careers and the role school plays in preparation for future work experiences.
The Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education awarded a grant several years ago to Mrs. Dillon to purchase career education books that students read through in the weeks leading up to Career Day.
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