Mariah Messina and Tim Clement have been named recipients of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance – Suffolk Zone Award, Riverhead High School announced today. Mariah and Tim are both seniors in the graduating class of 2012.
The Suffolk Zone Award criteria demand a high level of physical fitness, strong participation in school and community activities, evidence of leadership roles, community involvement and academic excellence, the school said in a press release.
Mariah, a Calverton resident, is fourth in her graduating class with a 105 weighted average, and is a dedicated and hard working athlete, the school said.
Mariah was named an AP Scholar this fall, is president of the National Honor Society and is a member of the National Foreign Language Honor Society. She is an all-county and academic volleyball award winner, a member of the Blue Waves varsity basketball team, and also plays softball.
According to the coaches who nominated her for this award, “Mariah exhibits the qualities of a great leader. She is kind, supportive, committed, trustworthy, and always has a positive attitude. She is well respected by her teachers, coaches, peers, and family. Mariah’s memorable PE moment was playing football, scoring a touchdown, and remembering a male athlete getting very upset about letting a girl score.”
She is a member of Women in Science and Engineering (W.I.S.E.) program and is active in Interact, CAP and is vice president of the French Club. Mariah plans to study Biology/Pre-Med and is looking at Geneseo, Quinnipiac, St. John's, Dartmouth and Duke, and hopes to also continue playing volleyball in college.
Tim is a high honor roll achiever with a 106 weighted grade point average. He is president of the student government and is a member of the Riverhead Town youth bureau.
Tim was named an AP Scholar with Distinction this fall, an award that is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of three or higher on four or more of these exams. In addition, he is a member of the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society. Alex is a wide receiver on the varsity football team, is a forward on the varsity basketball team, and hopes to play Division II baseball in college.
According to his coaches, who nominated him for this award, “Tim is a bright student, a diligent worker and excellent athlete. Throughout his high school career, he has maintained an 'A' average while participating in three sports. He is a true team player, supportive of his teammates as well as competitive and determined to succeed. Tim is a compassionate individual who is always willing to go the extra mile to help his teammates out. His vibrant spirit and enthusiasm can be seen on and off the field. His physical education teachers have been a positive influence in his success and achievements in high school.”
Tim, who is from Jamesport, plans to major in biology in college with the long-term goal of becoming a surgeon.