Dynamic Duo Wins Joan Lehnert Mathematics Awards

Huntington Class of 2025 graduates Isabella Careccia-Johnson and Kai Rotunno are this year’s recipients of the Joan Lehnert Mathematics Award, which was presented by department director Dr. Teresa Grossane and retiring Math Honor Society faculty advisor Monica Racz. The scholarship recipients claimed prizes of $500 each.

Valedictorian of the Class of 2025, Ms. Careccia-Johnson plans to attend Northwestern University. Editor in Chief of The Dispatch, the high school’s student newspaper, treasurer of the Latin Honor Society, secretary of the Art Honor Society and a key contributor to Huntington’s mock trial team, which won a pair of county championships and reach the state finals multiple times, the teenager excelled in every academic discipline, including mathematics.

Mr. Rotunno will be attending Binghamton University. “My key to success has been challenging myself and making sure I get all my work done, which still giving myself breaks,” he said. “Throughout high school, I’ve most enjoyed making friends and learning about interesting topics.”

Ms. Careccia-Johnson and Mr. Rotunno are both Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction and combined to be members of 10 academic honor societies.

Mrs. Lehnert lived in the community and sent her own children through the district. Her career in Huntington UFSD began in February 1993 in a math teaching assignment split between the high school and J. Taylor Finley Middle School. She taught exclusively at the high school from 1she has worked exclusively at the high school.

“I have enjoyed working here with so many fine people, in the community in which I live, and have never regretted my decision to teach,” said Mrs. Lehnert in her final months as a teacher.

Mrs. Lehnert earned an Associate of Arts degree at Nassau Community College in December 1977. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at LIU-C.W. Post in May 1977 and a Master of Science in educational technology, also at C.W. Post, in May 1986.

Teaching was a second career for Mrs. Lehnert, who previously worked at Citibank. She completed her student teaching requirements at Huntington High School in 1987 under cooperating teacher Virginia Tutschulte. She initially worked in a Catholic school and then served as a leave replacement in Manhasset, before landing the position in Huntington.

Mrs. Lehnert passed away on August 3, 2023.