H-ton Math Honor Society
Inducts 34 Members
As Huntington High School students continue to take up the challenge of advanced math study, the school’s chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the national Math Honor Society inducted 34 new members last week.
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 new inductees include Usra Amin, Alyson Baker, Charles Beers, Megan Boyce, Leah Butz, Rachel Carpenter, Elizabeth Corrao, Dixon Doblas, Justin Edgar-McNerney, Heather Forster, Calvin Francis, Collin Francis, Hillary Hardardt, Omotayo Ikuomensian, Caitlin Knowles, Patrick Lombardi, Ashley Lopez, Olivia Lopez, Justin Loturco, Samantha Lynch, Hanna Murphy, Kathleen Nugent, Kylie Palmer, Suzanne Petryk, Matthew Reed, John Reilly, Joseph Saginaw, Amy Schmelter, James Sosa, Ketevani Tsotskolauri, Meelod Wafajow, Kaitlin Wascher, Brendan Wirth and Lana Ziegler.
“It has been a pleasure to witness the growth of the society in recent years,” said Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky, who attended last week’s ceremony. “It comes as no surprise that this growth coincides with increased enrollment in advanced math classes. Members not only do an outstanding job in their own math classes, but have made a genuine commitment to conveying their enjoyment of math to their peers and to younger students throughout the district.”
Monica Racz, a Huntington High School math teacher who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor, along with department colleague Patricia Tagliente extolled the group’s members in a short speech during the induction ceremony.
Last week’s ceremony marked the 17th such induction since the founding of Huntington High School’s Nathan Hale Chapter. Playing central roles during the ceremony where this year’s officers, which include Greta Farrell (president), Brian Gilbert (vice-president), Naomi Medina-Jaudes (secretary), Elizabeth Eichenberger (treasurer) and Caitlin Yabroudy (tutoring coordinator).
The Society’s new members lit candles during the ceremony. As the students were inducted, the auditorium lights dimmed until the room was illuminated by candlelight. It produced a dramatic effect.
District resident Joseph Brambil was honored by the Society during the induction ceremony. An executive with J.P. Morgan Chase, he spoke about the value of studying mathematics.
The Society’s new inductees join continuing members David Alvarado, Sabrina Blakley, Ryan Bonitz, Molly Brambil, Alexander Castillo, Elizabeth Coneys, Aron Coraor, Hayley Drace, Elizabeth Eichenberger, Greta Farrell, Marc Feldman, Jesse Feldman-Stein, Rachel Feltman, Jeremy Gelb, Katherine Gerdes, Brian Gilbert, Alexa Gorczycki, Cynthia Gowani, Megan Healy, Christian Jamison, Catherine Koumas, Alexandria Mandriota, Morgan Mars, Brian McConnell, Naomi Medina-Jaudes, Haley Miller, Ryan Newell, Benjamin Nikodem, Oliva Palmer, Michael Piazza, Tara Purcell, Summer Rudish, Michael Stafford, Victor Tellez, Caitlin Yabroudy and Spencer Young.
The evening included performances by The Logarhythms, a group of five gifted Huntington High School strings students, including Christian Jamison (violin 1), Brian Gilbert (violin 2), Holly Grabowski (viola), Benjamin Nikodem (bass) and Brendan Wirth (cello).
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the auditorium lobby as students, parents and family members socialized with one another and posed for photos.
Marybeth Robinette serves as the Huntington School District’s director of mathematics and testing.