Huntington’s Dan Mollitor Wins NEFCU Scholarship
Dan Mollitor is known by some as the Mayor of Huntington and for good reason. The Huntington High School Class of 2016 member seems to turn up everywhere. He earned top grades, played on three Blue Devil athletic teams, served as an elected student government officer, participated in numerous clubs and worked a high profile job in the community.
Mr. Mollitor is headed to Binghamton University in the fall. He cites a “strong work ethic and exceptional time management skills” as two of the keys to his success. The teenager is this year’s recipient of the $500 NEFCU Making a Difference scholarship award.
NEFCU traces its origins to April 28, 1938 when “a group of school employees joined together to form the Valley Stream Teachers Federal Credit Union,” according to the company website. “This financial cooperative made it possible for school employees to pool their savings and to borrow from one another. The mission was simply to develop a mechanism by which employee’s financial needs could be met.”
NEFCU assumed its current name in 1981. Since 2010 it has also served Suffolk County residents. Beginning with 10 members and $50 in assets in 1938, NEFCU now has 160,000 depositors with accounts totaling more than $2 billion. “Our field of membership initially included employees of Nassau County schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, other affiliated groups, their families and retirees, but it has expanded through the years to include a range of professionals; teachers, lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, engineers, etc., along with their support staffs and families,” according to the company website.
This year’s NEFCU Making a Difference scholarship was presented to Mr. Mollitor by Huntington High School guidance counselor Denise Bonilla during last month’s academic awards ceremony in the auditorium.
The scholarship requires applicants to have earned an academic grade average of at least 90 over the previous four years and have demonstrated “strong community service.”
Honored as a Distinguished Senior for his stellar academic performance, Mr. Mollitor earned varsity letters with the volleyball, basketball and tennis teams serving as a captain in all three sports. He developed very close relationships with all of his coaches and routinely reaches out for advice from the mentors he has surrounded himself with.
President of Huntington High School’s Chinese cultural exchange club, vice president of both the Habitat for Humanity chapter and the Class of 2016 and treasurer of Natural Helpers, Mr. Mollitor deftly handled each position of leadership.
The summer is a busy time for Mr. Mollitor, who holds a very visible position at the Bay Club.