As a new generation of Huntington High School students challenges itself with advanced math courses, 33 new members were inducted into the school’s chapter of the national Math Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta.
Huntington’s new inductees include David Alvarado, Sabrina Blakley, Ryan Bonitz, Molly Brambil, Alexander Castillo, Elizabeth Coneys, Allegra DePasquale, Hayley Drace, Elizabeth Eichenberger, Jesse Feldman-Stein, Rachel Feltman, Jeremy Gelb, Katherine Gerdes, Alexa Gorczycki, Cynthia Gowani, Megan Healy, Christian Jamison, Catherine Koumas, Alexandria Mandriota, Morgan Mars, Naomi Medina-Jaudes, Brian McConnell, Haley Miller, Ryan Newell, Benjamin Nikodem, Oliva Palmer, Michael Piazza, Tara Purcell, Summer Rudish, Michael Stafford, Victor Tellez, Caitlin Yabroudy and Spencer Young.
To be eligible for membership in the Society students must be enrolled in a math class higher than Algebra 2 Trigonometry, have a minimum un-weighted average of 90 in previous math courses and have at least an 85 average in the first quarter of their pre-calculus (or higher) math class.
Monica Racz, a Huntington High School math teacher who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor, praised the group’s members in a short speech during the induction ceremony.
Last week’s ceremony marked the 16th such induction since Huntington High School’s Nathan Hale Chapter debuted. Playing integral roles during the ceremony were this year’s officers, which include Daniel Gallagher (president), Daniel Tuohey (vice-president), Greta Farrell (secretary), Jon Wood (treasurer) and Aron Coraor (tutoring coordinator).
The Society’s new members lit candles during the ceremony. As the students were inducted, the auditorium lights dimmed until the room was illuminated by candlelight. It produced a dramatic effect.
Recently retired Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services David H. Grackin was honored by the Society during the induction ceremony. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and statistics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he later obtained a Master of Arts degree in mathematics. Mr. Grackin worked as a math teacher at Sachem High School North for eight years early in his career.
The Society’s new inductees join continuing members Conor Byrne, Andrea Cerini, Taylor Choy, Todd Colvin, Aron Coraor, Greta Farrell, Marc Feldman, James Ferraiolo, Brent Filippini, Daniel Gallagher, Brian Gilbert, Debbie Gomez, Francesca Gray, Samantha Greenidge, Melanie Grossman, Katie Healy, Emand Khwaja, Ryan Lader, Samantha Lai, Josh Morris, Ari Moskowitz, Molly Prep, Christopher Schoen, Thomas Scott, Daniel Tuohey, Emal Wafajow, Alexis Weitzner, Anna Wertheim, Jonathan Wood, Frank Yeh and Scout Ziegler.
The evening included performances by The Quadratics, a group of four gifted Huntington High School strings students, including Christian Jamison (violin 1), Brian Gilbert (violin 2), Jesse Feldman-Stein (viola) and Katherine Gerdes (cello).
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the auditorium lobby as students, parents and family members socialized with one another and posed for photos.
