Catching up with Dillon Blatt
Dillon Blatt has an upbeat personality and always manages to find the sunshine in life. He showed these qualities throughout high school and is doing the same at SUNY College at Oneonta where he’s a freshman after having graduated from Huntington High School last June.
Mr. Blatt is majoring in economics and philosophy, participating in the economics club and serving as a computer lab manager as part of a work-study program. His days are full of classes, study and activities. That’s just the way he likes it.
The fall semester course schedule includes Western Civilization II, Principles of Macroeconomics, Introduction to Philosophy, Physics of Light and Color and Composition. "My classes have all been provocative, as well as enlightening," Mr. Blatt said, adding that his study habits have helped him stay on top of his work.
In addition to a full course load, Mr. Blatt also volunteers three hours every week taking notes for a student with a disability. He’s the captain of his intramural volleyball team, which includes among others fellow 2009 Huntington graduate Olivia Hayes-Hurley. "I'm really enjoying the close connection that everyone has on campus,” he said. “As a student at a small school, I have a great opportunity to know my teachers and classmates well."
Like many members of Huntington’s Class of 2009, Mr. Blatt participated in a host of extra-curricular activities and assumed several leadership positions, including the vice-presidency of both the Key club and the National Spanish Honor Society chapter. With the Key club he assisted in a clean-up around the Long Island Maritime Museum, pitched in with a district-wide coat drive organized by classmate Alex Lau and volunteered for the Safe Halloween program for elementary school youngsters and the school blood drive.
With the Spanish Honor Society Mr. Blatt tutored ESL students, helped raise money for a family that lost its home due to a devastating fire and volunteered at a local homeless shelter. As a senior he earned a $5,000 Huntington Lion’s Club scholarship and a $250 Long Island Blood Services scholarship. He was recognized as an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction.
Oneonta seems to be the perfect fit for Mr. Blatt. “I love the small school setting,” he said. “Everything and everyone here is in close proximity. The school is nice and the view of the mountains from anywhere on the campus is amazing. Aside from classes, school-work, and volleyball, I spend time playing tennis and baseball with my friends. Although Oneonta doesn't have a football team, I've been watching the Jets games with my friends here.”
“I definitely miss my friends and teachers from Huntington,” Mr. Blatt admits, yet he found the transition from high school to college “easy” for a number of reasons, including his decision to stay in New York, the AP classes he took at Huntington and going to Oneonta with 22 college credits.
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