Bellport High School junior Keshavi Shah is on her way to the top, having recently earned two impressive honors. She has been named a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar and earned the Rensselaer Medal Award.

Shah earned both honors for her excellence in academics and dedication to her education. She was one of 3,911 applicants out of a pool of 16,000 to earn the QuestBridge award. As a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal Award, she will be provided with a $40,000 merit scholarship per year if she is accepted and attends Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“Both of these awards were unexpected and very much appreciated,” said Shah, who intends to study mechanical engineering in college.

Shah is a member of her school’s National, Math and Science honor societies, as well as Key Club, and participates in Stony Brook University’s Women in Science and Engineering Program. Outside of school, she interns at a STEM-based nonprofit organization and enjoys baking, cooking and painting.

The South Country School District extends its congratulations to Keshavi Shah on her recent successes.

Date Added: 5/14/2024

The South Country School District congratulates eighth grader wrestler Camryn Howard, who recently took first place in the 68 kg freestyle tournament, outscoring his opponents 54-9US at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. The tournament serves as an age group qualifier for the right to represent the U.S. at the world-level competition. Howard finished with a 5-0 record and will be Team USA's representative in 68 kg at the UWW Pan-American Championships in June. He competed in the Greco-Roman tournament, as well, where he compiled a 4-1 record and second-place finish. Howard also holds All-County and All-State titles, which he first earned as a seventh grader.

Date Added: 5/13/2024

Bellport High School seniors Amira Hussein and Kathryn Wood have each earned $500 scholarships from Women Sharing Art Inc. Hussein won in the photography category and Wood in the painting category.

Hussein will be attending LIU Post in the fall. When not taking photos, she can be found running. She is a member of her school’s cross-country and winter and spring track teams and also participates in Art Club, Yearbook Club, National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Art Honor Society.

Wood will be attending SUNY New Paltz in the fall. She is president of her school’s Art Honor Society, vice president of Art Club and a member of the National Honor Society.

Date Added: 5/2/2024

Following a hiatus from competition due to COVID-19 and supply part shortages, the Bellport High School robotics team, Centerstage, returned to the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) this year. The commitment of team members resulted in the design and construction of their first robot since 2020, which they brought to the FTC regional competition. To celebrate their successful build, the team took a field trip to the 9/11 Memorial and Freedom Tower observatory and walked across the 141-year-old Brooklyn Bridge. The South Country School District congratulates robotics team captain Logan Edwards and team members Anthony Costanza, Robert Dostaler and Dylan Horn on a job well done.

Date Added: 4/24/2024

Bellport High School senior Dennys Cardenas has received a St. Joseph’s University Presidential Grant. The merit-based scholarship gives him a full ride to the school. Cardenas said he cried when he received the news, saying, “I was astounded and so emotional.” During the summer and after school, Cardenas has been working to save as much money as possible to pay for college while also volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport. “Now, I don’t have to worry,” he said. He plans to study biology at St. Joseph’s with the goal of going into the dental field. The South Country School District congratulates him on this impressive accomplishment.

Date Added: 4/19/2024