Suffolk Zone Honors Lupi and DeSimone
Seniors Nick Lupi and Katia DeSimone are two of Huntington High School's top student-athletes. Their accomplishments in physical education and athletics will forever be noted in Blue Devil record books as will be their exceptional academic performance, outstanding character and citizenship and their willingness to lead classmates and teammates.
The pair was honored by the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance during a recent dinner at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch in Hauppauge.
The Suffolk Zone honors one senior male and female student from each high school in the county. To be eligible, students must have earned at least a 90 average in physical education class and a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average in all classes prior to the senior year, demonstrate outstanding character, show leadership skills in both physical education class and general school-wide activities and serve as a role model for other students.
Mr. Lupi, who is interested in attending Duke, Brown or Harvard, has competed on the Blue Devil football and wrestling teams. The teenager believes physical education class is a time "where social inspiration and bonding are freely practiced and cultivated." He's enjoyed the opportunity to work with and lead his classmates in PE classes, stating it's been a time for him to interact with students he "would not have otherwise been able to meet and grow fond of."
"Nick appreciates his physical education teachers and coaches who fostered him during class and athletics," said Georgia D. McCarthy, district director of health, physical education and athletics. "He's expressed that he was honored to have teachers that taught him life skills and encouraged his daily motto of 'desire, discipline and determination.'"
The senior has been on the high honor roll since seventh grade and is a member of the National Honor Society and the English Honor Society as well as various clubs at the school. Mr. Lupi has also volunteered in the community including at a local homeless shelter and in a homework help program.
One of the top wrestlers in Suffolk this winter, Mr. Lupi has earned numerous honors in the sport and is currently being recruited by several NCAA schools.
Ms. DeSimone has won varsity letters in field hockey, fencing and lacrosse. She is interested in attending the US Naval Academy or Ohio State University.
The teenager has earned a spot on the high honor roll every academic quarter for the past six years and is a member of the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society. Ms. DeSimone has volunteered with the Junior Welfare League, National Junior Firefighters, Key Club, Habitat for Humanity, Grandfriends and the Huntington Rotary Club. The senior has also pitched in at a local homeless shelter and participated in the Chinese student exchange program.
Ms. DeSimone said she has "great memories" of physical education, especially from her freshman year in Project Adventure. She explained how scared she was to climb the catwalk and how she will never forget that her classmates encouraged her and gave her the confidence to successfully make that climb. She has really enjoyed such units as floor hockey and European handball, noting the "great enthusiasm" classmates displayed.
"Katia has expressed her appreciation of our physical education teachers," Mrs. McCarthy aid. "Even if she did not have them as her own teacher, they were always supportive and encouraging."
Mr. Lupi and Ms. DeSimone were surrounded by family members as they received their respective awards at the recent dinner. "All of us are proud of these outstanding Huntington teenagers," Mrs. McCarthy said. "They have been exceptional representatives of our district and community and are wonderful role-models for their classmates."