Huntington Alumni News
Graig Sammis recently appeared in a United Way advertisement for Katz Media employees. “They are doing a campaign with United Way and I was selected to be in a series of pictures wearing t-shirts with the ‘Live United’ slogan on it,” Mr. Sammis said.
A 2002 Huntington High School graduate, Mr. Sammis obtained a Bachelor’s degree at Hofstra University in 2007 after earning a spot on the Dean’s List every semester.
Mr. Sammis is employed by Clear Channel Radio Sales in Manhattan as a sales assistant, managing and organizing national client accounts for radio account executives, inputting radio orders and handling discrepancies by working as a liaison between ad agencies and radio stations.
Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Sammis interned with The Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio, participating in live national broadcasts on the weekly Intern Show, assisting guests in preparation for the show, joining weekly meetings with staff members and submitting questions to be posed to guests on the air and in red carpet interviews.
Casey Scully is enjoying her first semester at Iona College in New Rochelle, where she is playing on the women’s lacrosse team and contemplating future career plans. A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 2008, Ms. Scully was a three-sport star for the Blue Devils.
She sees definite differences between high school academics and athletics and the college level. “The college classes have more papers and writing assignments,” Ms. Scully said. “College professors aren't on top of you to make sure you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing. So, it is all up to you to get your work done and do well.”
Ms. Scully has rapidly adapted to college lacrosse, participating in Iona’s fall season, including practices and several games against other colleges. “Participating in a college sport requires more commitment,” she said when asked to compare it against high school. “We practice at least five days a week all year round. Another difference is that we have a strength and conditioning coach [that works with us] three days a week, which is tough, but it gets you in good shape. The level of play is also a big difference. Every girl playing at this level is really talented. This increases the level of intensity on the field.”
What’s in Ms. Scully’s future? “I would love to coach basketball, but I wouldn't mind coaching soccer or lacrosse either,” she said. “I’m not actually sure what I want to do yet. I am interested in both physical therapy and teaching. But, I would love to coach one day.”
Penny Lynn Makoske has made quite a name for herself since her Huntington High School graduation day in June 1965. “She was a fun gal then, and is just as delightful now,” wrote fellow grad Joanne Valentine Powell in an e-mail message to alumni. “She has written a wonderful children's book, beautifully illustrated, which would be a perfect holiday gift for all those grandchildren (yours and your friends).
Now known as Penny L. Hunt, the Huntington alum has written what’s being described as a “moving and inspirational children's picture book” entitled, “Little White Squirrel's Secret – A Special Place To Practice.” The book carries the endorsement of the American Society of Autism and is under consideration for various literary awards.
“The book is beautifully illustrated and is the story of a little white squirrel having trouble learning to jump,” according to a promotional description. “His father notices his struggles and lovingly takes him to a secret place in the forest to practice. He never becomes ‘super squirrel’ or the most popular squirrel in the forest but, once away from the teasing and unkind laughter of the other forest animals, he develops the skills and gains the confidence necessary to return to his peers. This is a story every child and parent can relate to. Furthermore, this book is being used by educators to help mainstream students develop greater understanding and compassion for the special needs students in their communities.”
Jay Bikoff continues to make his alma mater proud. Huntington’s 1995 valedictorian started a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University this fall. It’s roughly equivalent to a medical doctor’s residency.
“I'll be studying the mechanisms through which neurons in the spinal cord become specified, and how this generates the circuitry necessary for sensory and motor function,” Mr. Bikoff said.
Mr. Bikoff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Brown University in Rhode Island. While there he became interested in the development and function of the nervous system. He later obtained a Ph.D. at Harvard University in neurobiology. His current postdoctoral fellowship is a necessary next step should he choose to become a college professor.
In an interview earlier this year, Mr. Bikoff recalled his experience at Huntington High School. “I had many good teachers, but one in particular who stood out was Richard Kurtz,” he said. “He taught A.P. Biology, and was the person who recommended that I apply to the Partners for the Future program at Cold Spring Harbor Lab. I think if you were to ask my classmates, many of them would have very fond memories of Mr. Kurtz, both because he was an excellent teacher and a funny guy. Certainly, he encouraged me to continue on in science.”
Steven Palacios (Huntington, Class of 2002) is studying for the February Law School Admission Test. He has worked in the family’s real estate business for the past two years. Mr. Palacios is one of Huntington’s all-time great wrestlers and he won the state championship as a senior. He recently became certified as a wrestling referee and will officiate at Suffolk meets and tournaments this winter.
Mr. Palacios’ brother, Xavier (Huntington, Class of 1988) earned an undergraduate degree at Columbia University and obtained a law degree at Boston University. He currently maintains law offices in Mineola and Huntington, where he resides.
Richard Medico (Huntington, Class of 1993) hosted his family for Thanksgiving at his Buffalo home. They weren’t the only ones there. There were almost 70 people in attendance. His father-in-law roasted a lamb and pig for the occasion. The Huntington alum will be back in Huntington for the Christmas holidays.
After weighing a career as either as physical education teacher and coach or as a physical therapist, the SUNY College at Cortland grad decided to head back to college for additional science courses and eventually found his way to the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where he graduated in 2004.
Dr. Medico, who is employed at Lancaster Dental Associates, completed a general practice residency program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo in June 2005. The next month he was married to Christina, a native of Buffalo.
Among the family members making the trek north were Dr. Medico’s parents, Mike and Joan and his brother, Anthony (Huntington, Class of 1991), who owns a Manhattan-based advertising company and currently resides with his wife in the Huntington School District.
“My brother and I are training for the Miami marathon in late January so we have been busy with training,” Dr. Medico said. The pair ran in a local turkey trot race on Thanksgiving morning.
Dr. Medico played baseball at J. Taylor Finley Junior High School and soccer through his freshman year, but he was best known as a Blue Devil wrestler, winning league championships in 1992 and 1993 and a string of invitational titles and serving as team captain. He was one of the key cogs in the Huntington mat machine. He went on to compete at the college level at both SUNY Brockport and SUNY Cortland.
Dr. Medico’s son, Anthony Mark, will celebrate his first birthday on Dec. 14. He said that fatherhood is everything it is advertised to be, and then some.
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