Christine Palmer Memorial Scholarship Winner Named

HUNTINGTON, NY — Mackenzie Joseph was named the recipient of the Christine Palmer Memorial Scholarship, the Huntington Union Free School District announced on Monday.

The scholarship was named in honor of Christine Amodeo Palmer, a Huntington School District librarian who passed away in 2015 at the age of 41 after a battle with breast cancer.

"Even when she found herself in the midst of unforgiving pain, [she] was able to summon enough strength to smile and laugh for her students and colleagues," the district wrote in its post.

The Associated Teachers of Huntington, the professional organization of the district’s teaching corps, vowed to present an annual scholarship to a graduating senior in honor of Palmer’s career and service to the community. The ATH intends to sponsor the $1,000 award for a 10-year period.

Joseph was the one to earn the 2019 scholarship, who is headed to the University of Virginia to study business entrepreneurship. The district referred to her as "a remarkable young woman."

She was named a Distinguished Senior last spring after she routinely registered excellent grades throughout her high school tenure. She also won more than three dozen medals with the Blue Devil track and field team, where she excelled in pole vault and triple jump. In addition, Joseph was a member of the Huntington High School National Honor Society chapter.

Joseph said the key to her success "has been remaining grateful in the face of challenges," per the district. She believes that a strong education leads to "better opportunities," and she’s determined to fulfill her potential and achieve all of her goals.

Akin to Joseph, Palmer was equally cherished by her faculty and staff colleagues. A 1991 graduate of John H. Glenn High School, she earned a BA in English at SUNY Oswego in 1995 and a Master of Library Science at SUNY Albany in 2000. She also obtained a professional certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in 2004 and engaged in substantial post-graduate studies.

Palmer started in Huntington in 1998 as a teacher aide before becoming substitute librarian in March 2001. She was appointed to a full time position at Woodhull School in September 2001. She later split time between Flower Hill and Washington Primary Schools.

The district said Palmer was commonly seen smiling, and she was regarded as a positive force around the school and consummate professional.

"Her love for literature, reading and her children were apparent when you walked into her library classes," said one longtime colleague, according to the district. "She ran a tight ship, expected a lot from her students and gave more back to each and every one of those lucky enough to have her as a teacher."

Always looking for ways to bolster the experience the library provided for students, Palmer secured a $11,400 Huntington Foundation Star grant in 2007. Science Connections provided monies to acquire two polycoms and lab sessions for fifth and sixth graders via videoconferencing with New York Hall of Science instructors. At the time, it was state-of-the-art equipment and intimidated those unfamiliar with the technology.

While faculty members knew that Palmer’s condition was extremely serious, they were nevertheless devastated to learn she had passed away. The veteran educator has a loyal group of faculty colleagues who are determined to keep her memory alive, who consider themselves blessed to have called her their close friend.

Mrs. Palmer left behind her husband, Jim, a New York City police officer, and her bright and beautiful son, RJ (short for Robert James), who she was fond of calling her “little man.” He’s currently 7 years old.