Matt Petryk Wins Schnittman Award for Physics
Those who remember former Huntington High School physics teacher Martin Schnittman have no doubt the late educator would have enjoyed the experience of working with and guiding Matthew Petryk, one of the most distinguished members of the school's Class of 2012.
The teenager is this year's recipient of the Martin Schnittman Award for Physics. The award was presented at Huntington's senior academic awards night in the school auditorium. Mr. Petryk will soon be headed off to Binghamton University to study physics.
Mr. Schnittman passed away late in his career at Huntington High School. The award, created by the Schnittman family, carries with it a $1,000 stipend. It is given in memory of the teacher's "dedication to his students and his love of physics."
Mr. Petryk chose Binghamton University over a group of top tier schools. He is fluent in English and Polish and pursued advanced studies over the past four years. He was a National Merit scholarship program finalist, captained Huntington's Science Bowl team, held down membership in numerous honor societies and was a top cellist in the school orchestra.
The teenager has credited his success to the support of his family and the patience of his teachers. He acknowledges that he asks an awful lot of questions in class. Mr. Petryk's high school experience included conducting research at Brookhaven National Lab, participating in CW Post College's chamber music festival, being an integral member of the pit orchestra and developing a work ethic second to none.