Senior Trio Presented with Donald A. Pius Scholarships

Huntington High School seniors Anthony Addeo, Gustavo Ramirez Castillo and DeAndre Simmons are this year’s recipients of the Donald A. Pius Scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each.

The awards were presented by Mr. Pius’ daughter, Morgan Pius at the high school’s annual scholarship ceremony in the auditorium. A crowd of about 300 attended the festivities.

The Donald A. Pius Scholarship is available to seniors in the town. Five scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each are presented and are renewable for four years, covering college or vocational trade education.

Criteria for the scholarship includes financial need, academic performance community service, family responsibility and extracurricular activities. Applicants are asked to submit a 500 word essay in which they describe the problems or needs in the community they would like to address. “Discuss your future goals and how receiving this scholarship would benefit you,” states the application.

Mr. Addeo is headed to the University of South Carolina to study finance. He has won many awards over the years and earned varsity athletic letters with the Blue Devil golf and baseball teams. The key to his success has been studying hard and exerting maximum effort in every class.

Mr. Ramirez is equally hardworking and is very well liked by his teachers and classmates. He chose to attend Suffolk Community College and work part-time as he begins a new phase of his life and pursues his hopes and dreams.

Mr. Simmons has also won many awards after a fabulous four year run through the high school. He has been a mainstay in the Huntington performing arts program and will be attending Ithaca College in the fall.