Riverhead High School senior Amanda Gallo, of Calverton, has been awarded a four-year college scholarship by the U.S. Navy.
The 17-year-old NJROTC lieutenant commander and executive officer of the Riverhead unit said she plans to pursue an engineering degree and a Naval career upon college graduation, when she will be commissioned as an ensign.
She is one of just six recipients of the full Naval scholarship in the metropolitan New York region. The award has an estimated value of approximately $180,000.
Amanda said at a press conference at the high school this afternoon she had to convince her parents to let her join NJROTC as a freshman. At first, they said no, she said.
But Amanda said she's known she wanted a military career since she was a small child.
"I used to love playing with the green Army men," she said, referring to the small plastic solider figurines. "I thought, 'This is what I want to do, I want to be this guy,'" she said.
Before her freshman year had ended, Amanda had become a drill team commander.
NJROTC has taught her a lot about leadership skills, the teen said. She's also learned one should "take the initiative and always be the first to volunteer," she said. "Go out and try. If you try and fail, nothing's lost, but if you never try, you don't know what you might be missing."
The goalie for Riverhead girls varsity soccer team, Amanda said she hopes to play rugby in college.
Her top college choice is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate Troy, N.Y. She awaits an admission decision.
"It has everything I'm looking for in a college: the Navy ROTC, an equestrian team, a rugby team and an excellent engineering program," Amanda said. "And it has small classes and a beautiful campus."
Amanda said she will likely study mechanical aeronautical engineering, though she's not sure what branch of the Navy she will join.
"We're looking for people who are interested in a career in the Naval service," said Navy Recruiting District- New York commanding officer John Skarin, who was in Riverhead High School principal David Wicks' office where Amanda signed a letter of intent this afternoon. Also in attendance were her father, Richard Gallo and Riverhead Superintendent of Schools Nancy Carney.
In a very competitive process, Amanda, Skarin said, was a standout.
"She was very impressive as a junior when I was in Riverhead for an inspection last January," Skarin said. "During the reveiw of ROTC applications, her resume was just unbelievable because of all the things she's involved in and her academic record," he said. "We knew she would excel in the Navy."
Amanda said she was "too excited" by the award, which was kept a secret from her until this morning, when Wicks told her about it.
"I still want to jump out of my shoes," she said, "but that would be unprofessional."
Photo captions:
Top: NRD NY commanding officer John Skarin and Amanda Gallo, with her letter of intent accepting a $180,000 Navy ROTC scholarship.
Bottom: Amanda Gallo and her father, Richard (seated) as she signs her letter of intent today in the office of Riverhead High School principal David Wicks (standing, second from left). Also present were NRD NY commanding officer John Skarin, left, Lt. Col. Peter McCarthy and Riverhead schools superintendent Nancy Carney.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl.