United Amigos Awards Scholarships to Seniors

The United Amigos club has carved out a unique niche for itself at Huntington High School and the organization’s retiring faculty advisor, Rosario Lorenzana is especially proud of the group and everything it has accomplished.

Ms. Lorenzana’s room has always been a bustling place after school. Students who needed tutoring and English language support would gather and word soon spread to other students who came for science and language review as well as other support including understanding American culture and navigating around a large suburban high school.

United Amigos typically meets once a week for general academic and language support and to plan and execute various community service initiatives. For example, club members gather winter coats and food for local pantries several times a year. They participate in the Safe Halloween program for elementary school children at the high school and play a role in dances on Valentine’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. They also get involved in a variety of timely special initiatives.

“The club’s initial purpose was to help immigrant students coming to the distinct from Central and South American countries to adapt to a different atmosphere and feel as if they were in their mother homelands,” Ms. Lorenzano said. “United Amigos is not only a place for a lot of fun, but it also allows students to come together and become part of the Huntington family. It has created a secure place for students over the past few years.”

The club presented scholarships worth $2,900 to 11 members of Huntington’s Class of 2026 at this year’s senior scholarships and awards ceremony in the high school auditorium.

Senior Joselyn Martinez Licona (Adelphi University) garnered a $600 scholarship as did Mindy Najera Flores (Suffolk Community College). Both Ana Raymundo Sarceno (Suffolk Community College) and Katherine Moronta (Suffolk Community College) claimed $300 scholarships.

Scholarships in the amount of $250 each went to Dana Avila Justo (Molloy University), Manuel Orellana Montano and Jose Benavides Villatoro (Suffolk Community College). Nathali Yanes Reyes (Suffolk Community College), Katherine Valle Herrera (Suffolk Community College), Hamilton Giron Hernandez and Susan Barrientos Recinos (Suffolk Community College) were all presented with $100 scholarships.

Ms. Lorenzana was nearly overcome by emotion as she told the crowd about the eight exceptional seniors and all they have meant to the United Amigos club.