Huntington Senior Matt Reed
Plays to Win
When the chips are down, Matt Reed can always be found rallying behind a friend in need. The senior is that kind of guy. Loyal and trustworthy, his classmates and coaches know they can count on him. In many ways, the teenager is Huntington High School’s Mr. Reliable.
Mr. Reed has been in the Huntington School District’s fold since his first day of kindergarten at Southdown Primary School in September 2002. He’s been winning over teachers and classmates ever since then.
The senior has already been accepted by Hofstra University, Binghamton University, Worchester Polytechnic Institute, Drexel University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of Connecticut and Stony Brook University. Mr. Reed is still waiting to hear from Cornell, Bucknell, Lehigh, Carnegie Mellon and Northeastern. Many of the schools have offered him significant academic scholarships.
Mr. Reed plans to study mathematics or civil engineering in college. He’s interested in possible careers that encompass applied mathematics, actuarial sciences or finance.
“Matt is a good friend that I can always count on and he has a sense of humor that never fails to make me laugh,” said Joseph Saginaw, salutatorian of Huntington’s Class of 2015. “We’ve shared some good memories from lots of late nights doing math homework and making trips to Rosa’s Pizza.”
Played forward for Blue Devils
The teenager played forward on Huntington’s league championship basketball team this winter. The Blue Devils compiled a 16-4 record and reached the Suffolk Elite Eight round before dropping an epic home game in six overtimes to Northport before a capacity crowd. The contest is the longest high school boys’ basketball game in the history of Section XI. Mr. Reed played during much of those extra frames and was sensational under crushing pressure.
“Matt’s been a great friend and a great teammate,” said Kenny McCarthy, a fellow senior and basketball player. “If you’re around him there’s a good chance you’ll end up laughing. He’s the kind of laid back person that you want to have around to lighten the mood. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent in class and on the court with Matt.”
Mr. Reed has been playing basketball in Huntington for many years. When time permits, he plays on an outside league team, too. The teenager loves the sport and he’s very good at it.
“Matt is an amazing teammate and an even better person,” said Kenny Charles a Huntington junior and basketball player. “He always would look out for others on the team. Matt was always there in our toughest moments motivating us. Whenever someone needed a ride, Matt would always help them out. Aside from athletics, Matt does very well in school and we’re all expecting big things from him.”
Personal relationships mean a lot to Mr. Reed. He valued and trusted by his classmates and teammates. They enjoy being in his company and have good reason to believe they can count upon him, no matter what.
“Matt’s been my friend forever,” fellow senior and basketball teammate Scott Gulizio said. “He’s one of the funniest kids I know and very smart. I just know that he’s going places and will succeed wherever he goes.”
Challenging set of senior courses
Mr. Reed is engaged in a series of tough courses for his final year of high school. He’s taking AP Physics, AP Calculus BC, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP Literature and Honors Spanish. The senior said his favorite teachers have been Judy Pazienza, Stacey Byrnes, Monica Racz and Patricia Avelli.
“Matt is a great kid,” said Ms. Pazienza. “He has an outstanding grasp on AP Physics and he is always willing to help other kids, but what I love most about Matt is his clever sense of humor that makes everyone laugh! He also makes origami birds very often in class; he even made a special one with physics formulas on it that we call the ‘Physics Falcon.’ I have that one on my desk. It’s the class pet. He really is a special kid!”
The teenager is musically inclined, too. Mr. Reed is the first chair baritone in the senior band. He has also performed with the pep band over the past four years.
Mr. Reed counts winning the league basketball crown and the annual Relay For Life events as among the highlights of his high school years.
“An excellent people person”
The senior has developed meaningful relationships with his teachers, who genuinely respect Mr. Reed. “Matt is in my AP Calculus BC class,” Ms. Racz said. “This is by far the most rigorous math course we offer at the high school level. Matt is consistently performing very well. Where he excels is in his ability to visualize the problem very rapidly. His comprehension and application of these difficult concepts is commendable. In addition he was a participant this past weekend in a Moody’s Math Challenge. This required teams of students to give up 11 hours of their Saturday to complete. He aspires to be an actuary which he certainly has the talent for. However, he is an excellent people person, so I foresee him applying the math as well. His options for the future are versatile.”
“Matt is an extremely hardworking young man,” Ms. Avelli said. “He always seeks further understanding and has a thirst for knowledge. He shows a great interest in applied mathematics. In addition, he is kind, respectful and helpful.”
Last summer the teenager worked as a counselor at Sunrise Day Camp, which bills itself as “the only dedicated full summer day camp in the nation for children with cancer,” according to the organization’s website. “It is a camp designed to meet the emotional, social, recreational and physical needs of these children while allowing them to enjoy the comforts and safety of their own homes at night. Best of all, Sunrise Day Camp is offered free of charge to all children being treated for cancer and their siblings on a non-sectarian basis.”
Mr. Reed developed “some really special relationships with the kids” at the camp, he said. The teenager also learned a lot about life and just how fragile it can be.
An all-around good guy
His friends and teachers say that Mr. Reed is an all-around good guy. He cares about others and his community. For example, he participated in International Beach Clean-Up Day with others interested in preserving the beauty of local shores.
Mr. Reed has even had an article published in the newsletter of the American Littoral Society, which “promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same,” according to the organization’s website.
“I would tell incoming freshmen to not be afraid to try new stuff and meet new people,” Mr. Reed said in a nod to next year’s ninth grade class. “High school goes by fast so take advantage of every opportunity you are given.”