Brown University a Perfect Fit for Emma DeGennaro
Emma DeGennaro’s smile and laugh is a clear giveaway. The Huntington High School senior is a happy young woman. She should be. The teenager is headed to Brown University, where she was recruited to play on the NCAA Division I lacrosse team.
Bright, inquisitive, articulate and well-informed, Ms. DeGennaro owns a long list of academic, athletic and co-curricular accomplishments and has one of the largest circles of friends imaginable.
Ms. DeGennaro has excelled academically while taking numerous honors and Advanced Placement courses. She considered several colleges before settling on the Ivy League school located in Providence, Rhode Island.
“Brown is the perfect school for me,” Ms. DeGennaro said. “After stepping on campus, I knew that I didn’t want to spend four years anywhere else. The atmosphere of the campus, as well as the lacrosse team and coaches made the decision easy. The aspect of Brown’s open curriculum was also a major deciding factor and definitely drew me to the college.”
“Emma is an outstanding member of a terrific class,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Her acceptance to Brown is beyond well-deserved based on her efforts and achievement in all regards. She is a formidable student and athlete and a well-respected member of the school community. She is characterized by her humble nature and one whose actions have always spoken volumes. As a result, she has grown into a true peer leader and role model. I am sure that she will shine at Brown much as she has for many years in Huntington.”
Not prone to rash decisions
The teenager is not prone to rash decisions, preferring to take her time and consider every aspect of a situation. Ms. DeGennaro is a very hard worker who is known for juggling many balls in the air at any one time. Responsible and respectful, she has earned the loyalty and affection of countless classmates and teachers.
The senior is participating in a credit bearing internship in the Huntington School District’s Office of Public Information, writing stories, providing background and contact information, photographing events, developing ideas for the website, Facebook and Twitter pages and working behind the scenes to improve the overall level of coverage.
While Ms. DeGennaro hasn’t definitively settled on her college academic pursuits, she is gravitating toward certain areas. “I am going in undecided, but I hope to study environmental science at Brown and later pursue a possible career in law,” the senior said.
The teenager is very popular with her classmates and teammates and through the years she has always been well-liked by her teachers. She gets along well with others and is known as a sensitive, caring and pleasant young woman who maintains high standards of personal conduct.
“Emma is a natural leader that others look up to and want to be around,” said Nicole Cooper, who is Ms. DeGennaro’s Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher at Huntington High School. “She is a driven and diligent student who makes difficult tasks seem effortless. She truly is a pleasure to teach.”
All-County in field hockey and lacrosse
Ms. DeGennaro has earned All-County honors in both field hockey and lacrosse and been active in various clubs around Huntington High School, including Habitat for Humanity.
The teenager likes to laugh and to spend time with her family and friends. She can often be found attending Blue Devil games and supporting her friends. Ms. DeGennaro’s sister, Katherine is a Huntington High School freshman and the two are close. They are enjoying attending school together this year.
“Something that will always stand out in my mind about Huntington High School is how close everyone is,” Ms. DeGennaro said. “We have a tight-knit community, full of people who are always looking out for each other. Growing up in Huntington and going through the district has made me realize how lucky I am. There is no other town I would have wanted to grow up in.”
The senior turned in a sensational field hockey season, including scoring many goals, including one on a penalty shot against East Islip at Blue Devil Field. Ms. DeGennaro had such a good time that she has even considered playing the sport on the club level at Brown.
“I have had the honor of coaching Emma in both lacrosse and field hockey,” said Marissa Bergmann, a Huntington physical education teacher. “Emma is a hard working dedicated student athlete. She has always worked diligently to better her craft. I’m so proud of all her outstanding accomplishments and know she will continue that success at Brown.”
The teenager is one of Suffolk’s most explosive scorers on the lacrosse field, possessing an extremely strong left-handed shot. Over the past two seasons she has tallied 93 goals and 28 assists and appears poised for an exceptional senior campaign.
Ms. DeGennaro has been prepping for her final high school season by working with a personal trainer, going to the gym, running, training at Huntington High School and participating in informal workouts with her teammates.
“An amazing athlete and friend”
“Emma is an amazing athlete and friend and it’s been an honor to play alongside her for so long,” said Taylor Moreno, a fellow senior who is the lacrosse team’s goalkeeper. “She’s going to do great things at Brown and they’re lucky to have her. She always knows how to make everyone laugh on and off the field and that’s what makes her such a great person. I know Brown is a perfect fit for her and I wish her nothing but the best of luck as she continues to carry her game to a whole new level.”
Ms. DeGennaro played basketball in middle school and as a freshman, but field hockey and especially lacrosse increasingly captured her interest. She is a determined competitor who wants to be on the field every second of every game and to score as many goals as she can. The senior never tires of putting the ball in the net.
The teenager has scored seven goals in a single game for the Blue Devils on two occasions and has scored five and six goals in a game too many times to count. Ms. DeGennaro’s teammates and coaches have come to rely upon her ability to score in bunches and befuddle opposing defenses and goalkeepers.
Ms. DeGennaro is looking to finish her high school lacrosse career on a high note and to have fun with teammates she has played with for many years. Huntington has a very talented group of players this year and hopes are running high for a very successful season.
“Easygoing, enthusiastic and passionate”
“I have known Emma for years and I am proud to call her one of my best friends,” said Irina DeSimone, a fellow senior and lacrosse teammate. “She is constantly smiling and has no trouble making friends wherever she goes. She is easygoing, enthusiastic and passionate with everything she does and the challenges she takes on. Emma is a hard worker and has excelled in her school work and on the lacrosse field as well. I cannot wait to see what she will accomplish in her next four years at Brown University. She has a very bright future ahead of her.”
The senior continues to investigate Brown’s academic and co-curricular offerings and reflect upon what she would like to explore on and off campus. “Other than lacrosse, I hope to get involved in clubs at Brown and continue participating in community service,” Ms. DeGennaro said.
Since the day she started kindergarten at Jefferson Primary School, Ms. DeGennaro has been giving the Huntington School District everything she has. She will leave behind an outstanding academic record, impressive athletic achievements and a reputation as a friendly, outgoing and upbeat young woman.
“My advice to an incoming freshman would be to never skip out on anything,” Ms. DeGennaro said. “The high school has so much to offer and I promise you’ll be upset if you sit back and let things pass you by. Make the most of your four years here because they’re some of the years you will remember the most.”