Hauppauge students honored for military commitments, academics, STEM, music and athletics

At a school board meeting, Hauppauge Union Free School District district leaders recognized graduating seniors who committed to military service, high-achieving students, STEM research winners and student-athletes for awards and upcoming competitions.

The recognitions highlight student achievements that include military enlistments and academy appointments, advanced academic honors and regional and national-level competition placements.

Gary Quintaville, director of values, introduced the graduating seniors who are committing to military service and the district’s top academic performers. Quintaville said, “Your decision to put the needs of others before your own and to serve a greater cause greater than yourselves is truly commendable.” He named students and their plans: Gabriel Diaz plans to enlist in the Air National Guard; one senior planned to accept a direct appointment to the United States Air Force Academy; other seniors were noted for joining Army ROTC programs and the U.S. Naval Academy; Brady Walt plans to enroll in Army ROTC at the University of Tennessee. Quintaville also noted a group of 15 seniors representing the top 6% of the graduating class, including multiple International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidates and several scholars recognized for academic distinction.

Dwayne Mueller, director of science, described the district’s Newton STEM Scholar Program at Halesite Middle School and winners of science competitions. Mueller said an Earth Day poster contest winner was Tarvan Satish Kumar. He said Mahir Satish Kumar won first place in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge and will be invited to a national competition; another student won first place for a project titled “Eco Friendly Hydrogels, A sustainable solution for water consumption in warming.” A student named Nishan won third place in the same Junior Innovators Challenge. From the high school research program, Saman Karnam was recognized for a project titled “Early Detection, A Deep Learning Approach to ear disease diagnosis” and received the Saola Innovative Health Diagnostics Award and recognition at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair.

A district music staff member noted that the New York State School Music Association hosts an annual solo festival that draws more than 20,000 participants statewide; Hauppauge students selected as All-State included Alexa Olivetta (choir) and Gennady Gorasov (trumpet), who will participate in All-State ensembles in Rochester.

An athletics staff member recognized winter-season teams and individuals, naming county and Long Island honorees and state qualifiers. Among those cited were swimmer Noah Hessler (all-county, Long Island and state recognitions), Aiden Nazene and Luke Aurelolis (county championships), wrestler Trevor Patridge (Suffolk County champion and county MVP) and others who earned county or state-level honors. The transcript lists additional athletes including Gino Mineta, Jason Dempriest, Elijah Nwonde and James LaVersa.

Several students will advance to regional or national competitions or receive upcoming awards; the transcript notes invitations and pending awards but does not provide specific dates for all future events.

The recognitions were presented before the board moved on to retiree acknowledgments and other business.