Huntington Alumni News
Sherry Cesare-Pumar is one proud Huntington High School graduate. “I always tell everyone, when I hear they are reluctant to send their kids to Huntington, that some of the best teachers I have ever had were in the Huntington School District,” she said. “When I got to college, I was more prepared for the workload and more importantly, the ‘real world’ than anyone I met from private schools. My sister (Cindy Cesare HHS Class of 1989) and my father (John J. Cesare, HHS Class of 1955) all went through the district and felt the same way. I can't wait for one day to be able to send my future children through the Huntington School District as well."
Ms. Cesare-Pumar recently returned from a vacation to her husband’s native Venezuela. Carlos Pumar works as a teaching assistant in the Woodhull Intermediate School computer room while pursuing a graduate degree at C.W. Post College. He hopes to become a high school Spanish teacher.
Ellen J. Bennert (Huntington Class of 1998) is a research physicist at Praxis, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, where she resides. According to its website, “Praxis is an engineering and management services company strategically focused on supplying advanced technology skills, expertise, and technical services to the space, defense, and information systems markets. Our engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in the areas of space systems, instrumentation, defense and intelligence and information technology.”
Ms. Bennert earned her B.S. degree at Florida Institute of Technology.
Eleanor Courtemanche (Huntington, Class of 1986) is an assistant professor of literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her undergraduate degree at Yale University in 1990 and obtained a M.A. at Cornell University in 1994 and a Ph.D. at Cornell in 1998.
Prior to her present position, Ms. Courtemanche worked as a visiting assistant professor of English and research scholar in the Office of Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is the spouse of Ted Underwood and lives in Champaign.
Graig Sammis continues to lead a very active life. The 2002 Huntington graduate earned his college degree at Hofstra University and has resided in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for the past two months.
Mr. Sammis has worked for Clear Channel Radio Sales since June 2007. “I have a very easy commute to work at about 20 minutes and live about 15 minutes from Manhattan,” he said. “Overall, things are going well with me.”
The future could hold a return to school for a graduate degree, a career in sales or a completely different line of work. During his high school years, Mr. Sammis competed on the football, wrestling and lacrosse teams for the Blue Devils. He has remained close to fellow Class of 2002 member Stef Sair, who has been working as a substitute teacher and coach in the Huntington School District.
Lance Craft is a member of Huntington’s Class of 1970. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree at Drexel University and a Master’s degree at Polytechnic Institute of New York. Today he resides in Trinity, Florida and is the plant manager for PRIDE Sumter Furniture in Bushnell, Florida.
According to the PRIDE Enterprises website, “Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. doing business as PRIDE Enterprises, is an internationally recognized prisoner training company operating general manufacturing and services facilities throughout the State of Florida. PRIDE operates 36 diverse industrial training programs in 20 state correctional institutions. A private, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1981, PRIDE has experience and expertise working in correctional environments. PRIDE provides for job placement and other support services for ex-offenders to help them successfully transition back into society after a period of incarceration.”
Mr. Craft and his wife Terri are parents to a daughter and two sons.
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