The Middle Country Central School District named four students from the District’s four secondary schools as students of the month for March. Each student was recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting, acknowledging their dedication to excellence and community involvement.
“Each month we are surrounded by four brilliant students who emulate hard work, passion, and values of the entire Middle Country student body,” said Dr. Roberta Gerold, Superintendent of Schools. “We are honored to announce our students who go above and beyond in and outside of school.”
Centereach High School student Amber McLeod is an exceptional student academically. She challenges herself by taking a rigorous schedule. Her current weighted GPA is 96.6 and she is ranked in the top 20 percent of Centereach High School’s graduating class. Amber will graduate in June with three completed AP classes and six college-level classes. She is a key member of a newly formed psychology club that raises awareness and provides support to students suffering from mental health issues. She is the leader of history club serving as the president for the group’s Black History Month activities and celebrations. Outside of school, Amber volunteers for a non-profit organization, Sessions for Hope. This organization operates out of SUNY Old Westbury and SUNY Stony Brook and is dedicated to offering mental and spiritual guidance for young men and women.
Amber is currently in the process of weighing her options for school next year. She plans to study education and attain her master’s degree in English. She hopes to travel the world and teach English at an international school and plans to continue with her own writing, hoping to publish books and write screenplays for movies.
Newfield High School student Delaney Unger is passionate about all things music and dance. She has been dancing since she was three years old. In sixth grade, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bone in her left femur. During chemotherapy treatments, she was given the option to have a surgical procedure called rotation plasty amputation. This phenomenal surgery had only been performed once before at Stony Brook University Hospital. On April 5, 2017, Delaney opted to do the surgery and was ultimately declared cancer-free in September 2017. Fast forward six years, Laney is the captain of the Newfield High School varsity kickline team and is a teacher at Chorus Line Dance Studio. Delaney is a member of the Tri-M Honor Society, the Foreign Language Honor Society, and Girl Scouts. She maintains a weighted average of 98.48 and has the potential to graduate in June with more than 35 college credits.
Delaney and her family founded The Live Like Laney Foundation which is dedicated to helping children and families dealing with childhood cancer. She is committed to the University of South Carolina for the fall and hopes to continue with kickline.
Dawnwood Middle School student Morgan Primak is a model student with a wonderful personality and an endless thirst for knowledge. Morgan’s overall average for her sixth-grade school year is 99.4 and her average for the first and second quarters of this school year is 99.3. Outside of the classroom Morgan’s main interest is swimming. She is a member of the Three Village Swim Club where she dedicates her time to swimming six days out the week for an hour to an hour and a half per day. She is also a member of the seventh-grade orchestra, National Junior Honor Society, Sign Language club, and Youth for Humanities club. Morgan hopes to become a veterinarian when she finishes college.
Selden Middle School student Laci Turner is a well-rounded student. Her grades have been very impressive since she first arrived. Her first quarterly average back in sixth grade was 96.8 and it has never dropped below that since. During the past six quarters, Laci’s quarterly average has been 99 five times.
Laci is the captain of Selden Middle School’s field hockey team and the president of the National Junior Honor Society. Laci plays lacrosse and basketball for Selden Middle School. She has been a Girl Scout since the first grade and loves dancing. Laci volunteers at the Middle Country Public Library and her church. She hopes to attend Columbia University or Yale University and pursue a career as an orthodontist.