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The New York State PTA honors HHS Senior Diana Musco
Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying that, “No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” There is no more noble endeavor that one can pursue in this world than to educate the next generation. There are more glamorous and lucrative paths one can follow, but none more important than being a teacher.
It is always a blessing when someone who has the talent and abilities to choose any path, chooses to be a teacher.
The PTA of New York State celebrates exceptional high school seniors who plan on becoming teachers. They recognize the very best of these students by awarding a Jenkins Memorial Scholarship.The Jenkins Memorial Scholarship was inaugurated in October, 1946, as a living memorial to the young people who lost their lives in military service during World War II and was named for one of them, Clifford N. Jenkins, Jr., son of Margaret Jenkins, New York State PTA President 1944-1947 and National PTA President 1961-1964. The purpose of the project is to assist outstanding students in preparing for the teaching profession.
Public high school seniors who plan to prepare for a teaching career, plan to attend a college of the State University of New York for a baccalaureate degree in education or plan to attend a two year community college before transferring to a baccalaureate degree program in education in a college of the State University of New York, have not accepted scholarships exceeding the monetary value of $16,000, and attend a public high school in New York State in a school district where there is a PTA/PTSA unit in good standing are eligible to be considered for this scholarship.
Students are judged on character and personality, academic achievement and potential teaching ability.
In the first week of April, 2018, when most students were spending spring break having fun and relaxing, one Hauppauge High School (HHS) Senior was rolling up her sleeves and building a house for an underprivileged family in the small town of Caño Dulce near the city of Puerto Plata on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. It was grueling work making cement and spreading it on sharp chicken wire to create walls for a home. Although she returned home with hands that were scratched up and worn, this is the kind of thing Diana Musco has done before and is anxious to do again.
Diana and her twin sister, Christina are the Co-Presidents of the Interact Club. Diana is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Youth and Community Alliance, Ethics Bowl debate club, Spanish Club and Environmental Club. She has been the Secretary of the Student Government every year since she was a Freshman and is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. In October of 2017, Diana and her sister were chosen to be Students of the Month by the Rotary Club of Hauppauge.
In the summer of 2017, Diana Musco volunteered in Thailand through Global Leadership Adventures (GLA). She spent two weeks teaching English to elementary school Thai children, volunteered at an elephant conservation, attended Thai cooking classes and Thai boxing classes, and explored temples and markets to immerse in the culture. Due to the qualities of leadership and teamwork displayed throughout the trip, Diana was nominated to be a GLA Ambassador.
Ms. Musco said, “Since I really enjoyed my volunteering experience in Thailand and the Dominican Republic, I would like to continue traveling and volunteering through Semester at Sea. For 102 days, I will be exploring 11 countries while taking college classes on a ship. When I dock in each country, I will be able to choose field programs that will allow me to volunteer in each place.”
Diana will be attending SUNY Geneseo in the fall to which she said, “I plan on going to college for a dual certification in childhood education and special education with a double minor in Spanish and teaching English as a second language. I hope to continue onto graduate school for a Masters in Literacy and Cognition. I got in contact with the principals of an elementary school and high school and was able to shadow teachers for a day to see the day-to-day aspects of the job and help the students.” Her ideal situation will be to teach either first or third graders.
Diana Musco is a truly remarkable young lady. The teaching profession will be lucky indeed to welcome her. It was an easy choice for the New York State PTA to honor her with the Jenkins Memorial Scholarship.
For more information about the Jenkins Memorial Scholarship, please, visit:
https://nyspta.org/home/pta-leaders/awards-and-recognitions/jenkins-scholarship