Emily Arciprete Honored by
Town Councilwoman
As Emily Arciprete starts a new phase of her life at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, the Huntington High School Class of 2012 member can take considerable comfort in knowing she left behind an impressive legacy at her alma mater.
Ms. Arciprete is a determined young woman. She's undecided on a college major, but has expressed interest in pursuing a career as a social worker, helping needy children. The teenager was presented with the Councilwoman Susan A. Berland Overcoming Obstacles Award during Huntington's senior academic awards ceremony late last spring.
"I was flattered that I received this award from the Town of Huntington, especially since I didn't even apply for it," Ms. Arciprete said. "I was recognized for overcoming my disability and accomplishing all that I have in my four years at Huntington High School."
"The Councilwoman Susan A. Berland Overcoming Obstacles Award is given to a student living with dyslexia or similar learning disability," according to the special proclamation Councilwoman Berland presented to Ms. Arciprete before a crowd of several hundred. "This student has risen above their challenges and excelled in the classroom."
The proclamation states that Ms. Arciprete "has worked hard to overcome any and all academic difficulties she has encountered." The teenager graduated with an advanced Regents diploma.
The new grad is starting college with an open mind. "I want to keep my options open and see where life takes me," Ms. Arciprete said. "I am looking forward to making more memories and meeting new people and making new friends. Huntington High School will always be close to my heart. My years there were most memorable. I couldn't have asked for a better four years of my life."
Ms. Arciprete was an All-Conference field hockey player for the Blue Devils. "Playing a sport, especially field hockey, was probably one of the best things I did in high school," the teenager said. "It gave me confidence along with a great way to socialize and make great memories with my teammates!"
Outstanding Young Woman
"Emily is an outstanding athlete and young woman," said Jillian R. Talleur, who was Ms. Arciprete's field hockey coach. "She was on the JV team her freshman year and was pulled up to varsity for playoffs. Emily ended up playing in the game and was very successful."
Ms. Arciprete was the Huntington field hockey team's starting center forward for the past three years. "Emily has a passion for field hockey and it shows through her aggressive determination on the field," Ms. Talleur said. "She was a leader on the field, a strong force on our forward line and an integral part of our offensive corners. Emily has a unique style of play that makes her stand out on the field. She may be tiny, but she is mighty and the other teams knew it. The team will miss Emily as she goes on to college and hopefully she will continue to show her love of the game by participating in intramural field hockey."
Ms. Arciprete was among hundreds of Huntington High School students that helped make the Relay For Life so successful this past June. She said it was a "high point" of her senior year. "I took great pride in fundraising for the American Cancer Society," she said. "Everyone knows someone who is suffering or has passed from cancer and I was able to be in the middle of raising money to find a cure. The excitement at Relay For Life was beyond compare."
Always Remember Homecoming
The teenager will always remember Homecoming Day, calling it a "great time" in high school. "School spirit at the football game was the best," Ms. Arciprete said. "Riding through town [in the parade] with my field hockey team was something I will never forget."
Ms. Arciprete developed a wide circle of friends in high school and enjoyed close relationships with several faculty members. "Some of my favorite teachers are the ones that were always there for me in difficult times such as Mrs. [Kim] Cotler and Mrs. [Jennifer Bruno] Rommel," she said. "It was a great asset to be able to go to them for clarification, support, extra help and even a shoulder to cry on at times."
Some of the new alum's favorite courses over the years were Multi-Cultural Literature and Holocaust with teachers Sara Winterling and Gina Colica. "The teachers made these classes interesting and helped improve my writing skills," Ms. Arciprete said.
After four years at Huntington High School, Ms. Arciprete said her "best advice for incoming freshmen is to be involved in some way, whether it's a sport, a club or a fundraiser and make sure you find a teacher that you can talk to about life! Enjoy every minute because before you know it, you are graduating. Make memories!"