Huntington PTSA Honors
Four Seniors
Generous scholarships were presented to four graduating seniors by the Huntington High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association. The financial awards went to a group of teenagers held in high esteem by classmates and the school’s faculty and staff.
Joselyn Fajardo, Kyra Kiesel, Lori Messina and Chelsey Hoole Schlakman were each honored with $500 stipends. “These students have demonstrated good citizenship, character and academic work ethic,” PTSA President Anne Connell said.
Ms. Fajardo is headed to Suffolk Community College in the fall. She’s been a member of the International Club and Boys & Girls Club and participated in charitable walks to raise money for breast cancer victims. A summer counselor and supervisor for the Boys & Girls Club, the teenager also works as a babysitter in the community.
Ms. Fajardo worked hard throughout high school, improving her grades each year and earning a spot on the high honor roll as both a junior and senior. “Working as an intern this year with Spanish teacher Lorena Diaz has confirmed her love of teaching,” Mrs. Connell said. The Class of 2010 member hopes to become a Spanish and special education teacher.
Ms. Kiesel, who will soon be off to St. Thomas Aquinas College, served as vice president of the Key Club and was a member of Habitat for Humanity, H.O.P.E. (peer educators), Grandfriends, marching band and varsity cheerleading, wrote articles for The Dispatch student newspaper and participated in the student faculty forum.
“She has kept very busy with outside interests as well, including serving in a soup kitchen, conducting shopping tours for children, coat drives, blood drives and many fundraisers,” Mrs. Connell said.
Ms. Kiesel, who has been on the high honor roll, has worked on the staff of the OOMPAH summer arts and music program for elementary school students and also held down part-time jobs. “She figured out that believing in herself and hard work really does pay off,” Mrs. Connell said
Syracuse University-bound Lori Messina was honored for her outstanding high school record in and out of the classroom. She earned various academic awards, was a member of the Key Club and Habitat for Humanity, qualified for the high honor roll, worked as a camp counselor, babysitter and photographer’s assistant.
Ms. Messina has also participated in a lengthy list of charitable activities, from wheelchair basketball to helping out at food pantries and serving Thanksgiving dinner to homeless families.
“She even has carpentry skills, after helping to frame a house in New Orleans this spring,” Mrs. Connell said in reference to a Habitat for Humanity trip to Louisiana. Ms. Messina starred in goal for the Blue Devil girls’ soccer team in goal and also played softball and basketball at various points over the past four years.
Ms. Shlakman, who plans to attend SUNY College at Morrisville in the fall, is one of a kind. She’s been a member of the school orchestra and played on the track and volleyball teams. The teenager donated blood during the school’s blood drives, participated in Challenge Day activities, attended school board and town board meetings to keep abreast of community happenings, worked part-time as a sales clerk, played basketball in a local church league and helped a friend earn his Eagle Scout award.
“She has worked hard to overcome some challenges and struggles in her academics, but has proven that she could do just that by exceeding her own expectations as a junior and senior,” Mrs. Connell said.
The PTSA raised the money for the scholarship awards over the past year through various initiatives. “It’s very generous of the PTSA to present these fine young women with a total of $2,000 in awards,” Superintendent John J. Finello said.
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