Senior Matthew Jimenez Captures Otto Kahn Scholarship

The Friends of OHEKA has announced that Huntington High School senior Matthew Jimenez is one of eight recipients of its 2026 Otto Kahn Scholarship Awards. Each student will receive a $2,700 scholarship to support their studies in the arts.

“The key to my success has been keeping my mental health safe and trying to submit assignments way before the due date,” Mr. Jimenez said. “Having good mental health allows me to keep track of school and other things in life and turning in assignments early helps decrease stress throughout high school. I enjoyed the music part of my high school career; such as the marching band, chamber orchestra and orchestra in general. It’s all about the experience, even though there can be hard times. Some of my highlights of my extracurricular activities include marching band competitions and Syracuse. In chamber orchestra, going to NYSSMA Majors and Six Flags. In stage crew, building and painting for shows have been fun experiences.”

Recognized as a Distinguished Senior earlier in the spring after compiling an academic grade average of at least a 90 during every semester of high school, Mr. Jimenez plans to study music education and mathematics at SUNY Geneseo.

The Friends of OHEKA will hold its annual fundraiser, “Brunch in the Formal Gardens at OHEKA,” on July 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at OHEKA Castle. The event will feature live music, food and cocktails, along with a Great Gatsby-themed costume contest.Guests are encouraged, though not required, to dress in Gatsby-era attire, with prizes to be awarded for the best costumes. Tickets are available online at www.friendsofoheka.org and through the organization’s fundraising page.

According to Friends of OHEKA, the nonprofit has raised more than $300,000 to support high school seniors pursuing arts education, continuing the legacy of Otto Kahn, the original owner and builder of OHEKA Castle, who was known for his support of the arts.