Nearly four dozen exceptional teenagers were inducted into Huntington High School’s chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national Math Honor Society during a ceremony filled with time-honored traditions late last week in the school auditorium.
To be eligible for membership in the Society students must be enrolled in a math class higher than Algebra 2 Trigonometry, have a minimum un-weighted average of 90 in previous math courses and have at least an 85 average in the first quarter of their pre-calculus (or higher) math class.
Huntington’s 2016 inductees include Evan Aguirre, Serina Aguirre, Joel Alfaro, Natale Amato, Samuel Bergman, Michelle Castillo, Peter Ciccone, Niamh Condon, Benjamin Conner, Grace Curran, Michelle D’Alessandro, Lianna DeChiaro, Jahi Douglas, Lars Drace, Thomas Edgar-McNerney, Xavier Edgar-McNerney, Kenneth Fajardo, Jack Farrell, Aidan Forbes, Sara Frawley, David Fredericks, Ryann Gaffney, Ethan Garcia, William Garfinkel, John Healy, Alexandra Heuwetter, Levi Leach, Matthew Magerle, Isabella McGinniss, Zachary McGinniss, Casey Moskowitz, Rachel Moss, Katarina Obermaier, Amelia Reilly, Jamie Rosenbauer, Michael Russak, Lindsay Saginaw, Raymond Sanders, Samantha Sgrizzi, Jamie Spector, Sebastian Stamatatos, Christina Varady, Will Vollack and Matthew Wildermuth.
The Mu Alpha Theta chapter of the
Math Honor Society is 20 years old.
“We continue to take great pride in the accomplishments of Huntington High School’s math students,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “The induction of 44 new members into this prestigious society affirms students’ aptitude for and enjoyment of topics in mathematics, which will certainly remain with them during the remainder of their high school experience and beyond. Additional congratulations to the fine math teachers who have guided them throughout their Huntington years.”
Huntington math teachers Monica Racz and Patricia Avelli are the organization’s faculty advisors. Last week’s ceremony marked the 20th induction since the founding of Huntington’s Nathan Hale chapter Mu Alpha Theta.
The organization is led by executive board officers Steve Yeh (president), Jonathan Shechter (vice-president), Shannon Foley (secretary), Donald Stewart (treasurer) and Nicholas Newell (tutoring coordinator). Each of the student leaders attended to various duties during the induction ceremony.
The Society’s new members adhered to tradition and lit candles during the ceremony. As the students were inducted, the auditorium lights dimmed until the room was illuminated by candlelight. The effect was understandably dramatic.
Huntington High School alum Hillary Hardardt was this year’s guest speaker. Vice president of the Math Honor Society, corresponding secretary of the Class of 2015 and a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Art Honor Society, Ms. Hardardt compiled an enviable academic record.
The Society’s new inductees join continuing members Alexander Ardell, Anna Ardell, Gabriella Bartley, Abigail Bellistri, Christopher Chang, Tyler Conforti, Gabriella DeLuca, Julia Engle, Shannon Foley, Anjali Kapur, Louise Koepele, Magenda Lopez, Amanda LoScalzo, Erin Morrisroe, Nicholas Newell, Miranda Nykolyn, Thomas Pandolfi, Emma Petrizzi, Rachel Roday, Lauren Sage, Jonathan Shechter, Donald Stewart, Jacob Strieb, Dawson Wallace and Steve Yeh.
The evening included performances by The Pentagons, a group of five talented Huntington High School strings musicians, including Lianna DeChiaro, Ericka Varady, Camryn Libes, Julia Rogan and Arielle Harvey. The choir also performed, including an upbeat rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the auditorium lobby for students, parents and other family members, who easily socialized with one another and posed for photos.
