HHS Sophomore Wins Japan Center Essay Contest

Huntington High School sophomore Madison LoFaso captured first place in the Stony Brook University Japan Center essay contest for her work, No Stroll in the Park about the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck.

Huntington sophomore Charles Beers earned one of four Merit Awards presented in the competition for his essay, Putting Things into Perspective: Lessons from the Far East. Sponsored by Canon USA, the Japan Center’s eighth annual contest received 199 submissions from 32 metropolitan area high schools and two colleges.

Ms. LoFaso’s award carries a $3,000 stipend and a Canon camera. Mr. Beers’ essay garnered a $200 award. The two sophomores are enrolled in social studies teacher Camille Tedeschi’s Advanced Placement World History class. They will be recognized at the Japan Center’s annual meeting at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University on Saturday, April 6.

Huntington’s Santiago Alzate, Kaitlin Dayton and John Reilly reached the finals in the essay competition. Hanna Murphy and Daniella Schoen advanced to the semi-finals.

“I am so played with the amazing success of these students in our department under the tutelage of Ms. Tesdeschi, who gives her heart and soul to teaching,” said Joseph Leavy, Huntington’s chairman of humanities, 7-12.

A distinguished panel of judges comprised of Stony Brook faculty members evaluated the essays for the insight, creativity and originality of expression as well as their style, form and organization. Shigeyuki Hiroki, ambassador and counsel general of Japan and Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer of Canon USA served as honorary judges.

Ms. LoFaso is in the midst of an impressive run at Huntington High School. “She is adorable,” Ms. Tedeschi said. “She is always happy and smiling and friendly. Maddie will participate in class every day and answer all of my questions. She is an asset to our class and a role model for her peers. She is talented, artistic and creative and thinks in ways that other students her age do not.” 

The teenager is pursuing advanced studies across the academic spectrum. “Maddie sees the world and studies history in a manner that is quite impressive,” Ms. Tedeschi said. “I have loved being her teacher last year and this year and look forward to working with her in Women’s Studies next year.” 

Mr. Beers has earned a reputation as a positive, well-spoken and conscientious scholar. “He is an outstanding student,” Ms. Tedeschi said. “He is always prepared and ready to work. He is quiet most of the time and absorbs the world around him. He works extremely hard and is very creative. He has distinct talents that most teenagers don’t possess. He is a student that others can look up to and admire. I am grateful to have had him in my class for the past two years.”

Taken as a whole, Huntington’s performance in the essay competition surpassed that of every other high school involved in this year’s contest. Essay contestants were required to touch on one or more aspects of Japan’s arts, cultures, traditions, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences or future goals.

“I am so proud of all of my students who participated in this competition,” Ms. Tedeschi said. “I am excited about the great strides all of them made and how successful Maddie and Charles were to earn awards. Both students deserve to be recognized for their achievement. I look forward to a wonderful remainder of the school year and seeing their future success. These are two talented individuals and I feel honored to be their teacher.”