Science Honor Society Inducts 43 Members
Huntington High School’s National Science Honor Society chapter is back to full strength after the organization inducted a set of new members during a recent ceremony in the School Heritage Museum.
The society’s fifth annual induction saw the new members wearing shirts that they made, which featured adjectives that described the respective personality of each students. “The idea was that the society, like DNA, is made up of many different genes, each with their own unique trait that they bring to the table,” said teacher Dame Forbes, who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor along with colleague Lori Kenny. “The students are the society and we look for each of them to bring their best to help better the society.”
A crowd of parents joined the festivities, which were also attended by Superintendent James W. Polansky, Principal Carmela Leonardi and Assistant Principal Brenden Cusack.
This year’s inductees include Hector Alvarado, Ryan Bonitz, Molly Brambil, Alexander Castillo, Elizabeth Coneys, Aron Coraor, Caroline Doscas, Hayley Drace, Elizabeth Eichenberger, Greta Farrell, Marc Feldman, Jesse Feldman-Stein, Rachel Feltman, Collin Francis, Jeremy Gelb, Cynthia Gowani, Christian Jamison, Rogelio Jimenez, Catherine Koumas, Gavin Li, Hannah Lomele, Alexandra Mandriota, Gabriella Madriota, Morgan Mars, Brandon May, Brian McConnell, Emily McGoldrick, Naomi Medina-Joudes, Benjamin Nikodem, Olivia Palmer, Anthony Puca, Summer Rudish, Danielle Schultz, Robert Scott, James Sosa, Anthony Spinthourakis, Michael Stafford, Victor Tellez, Matthew Whitcher, Lyndsey Williams, Caitlin Yabroudy, Frank Yeh and Spencer Young.
The new inductees join continuing members Ashley Angstadt, Jessica Baik, Claire Beach, Rachel Bosco, Conor Byrne, Allegra DePasquale, Brent Filippini, Erica Flor, Daniel Gallagher, Brian Gilbert, Samantha Greenidge, Lucinda Gulino, William Hannon, Megan Hansen, Cindythia Harjono, Kaylyn Johnston, Holden Kata, Emaad Khwaja, Kylee Kiesel, Samantha Lai, Amanda Lindner, Joshua Morris, Ari Moskowitz, Anne Nugent, Jennifer Polster, Molly Prep, Jacob Roday, Ana Ruzic, Thomas Scott, Nicole Smoot, Joshua Solomowitz, Eric Sze, Emal Wafajow, Alexis Weitzner, Anna Wertheim, Elizabeth Whitcher, Adelia Witt, Jonathan Wood and Scout Ziegler.
“It was nice to share the evening with many of Huntington High School’s best and brightest,” Mr. Polansky said. “Inductees and current Science Honor Society members continue to demonstrate that the greatest scientific minds are among the most creative as well.”
Society members are currently engaged in their annual holiday plant sale to raise funds for scholarships. Each year the goal is to raise more money than the year before so the group can increase the amount and quantity of scholarships the organization presents to graduating seniors.
The Society is in the process of ramping up its bottle return initiative to include the entire high school. The organization’s student-tutoring program is also up and running.
“The Science National Honor Society induction is a time of great pride for the entire science department at the high school,” Mrs. Forbes said. Prospective Society members must meet stringent requirements, including a minimum average of 90 in science, 80 in math and 85 in all classes. To remain in good standing, society members must compete in science competitions, perform peer tutoring, participate in club fundraising and attend meetings on a regular basis.
This year’s SHS is led by Jacob Roday (president), Josh Solomowitz (vice-president), Amber Lindner (secretary), Alexandria Mandriota (recording secretary), Samantha Greenidge (treasurer), Hannah Lomele (historian), Thomas Scott (recycling coordinator) and Jessica Baik (tutoring coordinator).
Following the formal ceremony a small reception was held in the area outside the School Heritage Museum. The gathering allowed new and continuing members to mix and chat with one another and with the family members and friends who attended the festive affair.
“It was a great night for the celebration of the uniqueness of our society and its dedication to making our science community in Huntington a better one,” Mrs. Kenny said.
“Congratulations to all, including Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Forbes, on an enjoyable ceremony and on the fine work that they do on a daily basis in the classroom and laboratory,” Mr. Polansky said.