Two Half Hollow Hills Students Named Scholar-Artists

Since 2007, the Long Island Arts Alliance’s Scholar-Artist Awards program has recognized students judged to be “the best of the best” on Long Island in both academics and in the arts. This year, Half Hollow Hills is proud to announce that High School East senior Jacob Leshnower was selected as a Scholar-Artist for his excellence in the area of music, and High School West senior Ashley Park was selected as a Scholar-Artist for her excellence in the area of visual arts. They join 18 other students selected as Scholar-Artists and 20 students selected as Award of Merit recipients for their skills and talents in the areas of music, visual arts, dance, theater or media arts.

To receive this designation, students must be graduating seniors nominated by their school for representing the highest level of artistic excellence, submit a portfolio of their work for consideration by the selection committee, and demonstrate superior academic achievement with an unweighted grade point average of 90 or above.

“We are so proud of Jacob and Ashley, and they are very deserving of this special distinction,” said Dr. Patrick Harrigan, Superintendent of Schools in Half Hollow Hills. “Both of these students represent our commitment in Half Hollow Hills to providing all of our students with opportunities to excel in academics and the arts.”

The Scholar-Artist awards, given by the Long Island Arts Alliance in conjunction with Newsday and the New York Community Bank Foundation, are presented to 20 Long Island high school seniors who are featured in Newsday over the course of the 10-month school year. The Awards of Merit are given to an additional 20 students who receive a certificate at the Long Island Arts Alliance Gala and are listed on the Newsday website.

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 7,500 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with equitable opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.