Riverhead Student Wins 2 Prestigious Essay Contests

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead High School sneior has made her hometown proud: Student athlete Emma Ellis recently won both the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Section XI essay contest and the NIAAA New York State essay contest.

Emma, Riverhead Central School District officials said, will now compete in the Northeast regional contest as New York’s female representative. If she wins, she will move onto the national level for the NIAAA Student Athlete Scholarship.

“This is an incredibly prestigious honor,” said Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Dr. Augustine E. Tornatore. “This accomplishment truly speaks to Emma’s academic and athletic success, and the entire District and Riverhead community are so proud of her.”

According to the NIAAA, its scholarship program recognizes the “distinguished scholastic, leadership and sportsmanship attributes of high school student-athletes."

In addition to her "incredible academic success, essay and leadership abilities, Emma displays her amazing athletic abilities on the school’s cross country and track teams, with special prowess as a pole vaulter," the district said.

The Northeast regional winners will be announced in May.