Danny Gallagher is Mr. AP
Daniel Gallagher doesn't sweat the small stuff. The Huntington High School senior knows his way around the district and has found what he loves to do and he's done it well.
Mr. Gallagher is a life-member of the Huntington School District. He started in kindergarten at Flower Hill School with teacher Leticia Caramonica, continued on to Huntington Intermediate School and then to J. Taylor Finley Middle School before heading into the "home stretch" at Huntington High School.
The senior recently had the honor of introducing Ms. Caramonica, now Mrs. Cutherbertson, at this year's Distinguished Seniors Dinner at the high school. She was chosen to be recognized by members of the Class of 2013 who started school at Flower Hill.
One of the top members of this year's graduating class, Mr. Gallagher has pushed himself academically. He is enrolled in six Advanced Placement classes this year, including AP Physics, AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, AP Literature and Composition, AP Government and Politics and AP Microeconomics. He previously completed five AP courses.
"So far my favorite class and teacher has been AP Chemistry in 11th grade with Mrs. [Dame] Forbes," Mr. Gallagher said. "She is such a great teacher. I really enjoyed her class and it really piqued my interest in the sciences."
The teenager has been inducted into the National Honor Society as well as the English, science and math honor societies, the latter of which he is serving as this year's president.
Mr. Gallagher has been a member of the Blue Devil crew team since his sophomore year.
"It has been a great way to connect with people and make friends," he said. He intends to continue participating in the sport.
"My most prominent memory from the district was in fourth grade when Ms. [Heather] Weinstein (now Mrs. Flaherty) had us write a letter to ourselves 20 years from then," Mr. Gallagher said. "I still have that letter today and I can't wait to read it in 12 years, since I can't remember what I wrote in it. When I open it, I hope to look back at it and see how much I've changed and what my feelings and ideas were then as opposed to now and in the future."
Mr. Gallagher is bound for Northeastern University where he will study biomedical engineering in the honors program. "I am very excited to be living in Boston and can't wait to further my studies in college, as well as continue rowing," he said.
One of Mr. Gallagher's happiest high school memories involves a private trip he took to Peru with classmates during the mid-winter recess of his junior year. "It was a wonderful experience that I truly enjoyed," he said about the trip sponsored by Education First Tours. "It was my first time leaving the country, albeit without my parents. I am really looking forward to going to Berlin and Prague this summer."
Mr. Gallagher is a serious student with a passion for understanding complex concepts. He's competed in Mathletes and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. The teenager has displayed a true love for learning and he's garnered the admiration of his classmates and teachers.
"If I were to give incoming freshmen some advice it would be try a little of everything freshman year; join as many clubs as you can and see which ones you like the most," Mr. Gallagher said. "Choose a couple that you really like and put your time and effort towards those. This way you can meet others and find out what suits you while doing what you enjoy and without overloading yourself."