Marina Severinovsky, a senior at Island Trees High School, was honored this month, as the recipient of the Town of Hempstead's Pathfinder Award.

Highly motivated women in various fields are selected by the town each March, in recognition of Women's History Month, to be recognized for their achievements. Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino stated, "Through the years, women have successfully achieved well-deserved positions of leadership within our community, striving to reach their fullest potential as they continue to progress professionally. Their leadership role in our community and the myriad contributions they have made have not been overlooked and deserve our highest praise."

The categories in which the award recipients were honored were: Arts and Entertainment, Business, Community Affairs, Education, Government, Health Services, Humanitarian, Volunteer, Town Employee, and High School Senior. Receiver of Taxes Angie Cullin, who co-chaired the event, stated, "I am extremely proud to extend my congratulations to these exemplary women for their extraordinary efforts and contributions. They are truly outstanding individuals who are fine role models for all young women."

Severinovsky has made her mark in many different aspects of the community. At her high school, she serves as the co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, she is president of the Human Awareness Club, president of the Kiwanis Key Club, a Peer Leader, has been published in the school's literary magazine, a representative in Student Council, a member of the Foreign Language Club and a tutor.

Outside of her school, Severinovsky has also interned for Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne and New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, and was recently selected as a United States Senate Youth Delegate. Severinovsky has won several writing contests including the Kaplun Essay Contest, the 1998 Long Island Language Arts Council Student Writing Contest, the National Contest of Teachers of English Award in writing, and the 1998 Cablevision Poetry Contest and has been published in the Susquehanna University Apprentice Writer and the National Library of Poetry 1997 Anthology. She was accepted into the Alternative Literacy Program New York State Summer Writer's Institute for 1999 and was honored as one of the top 20 young writers in the state.

Attesting to her academic abilities, Severinovsky is a National Merit Semifinalist, scored 800 on the SAT I Verbal and 800 on the SAT II Writing. She is noted for going far beyond the demands of the curriculum. She was the first 10th grader to take the European History AP exam, on which she scored a "5" the highest score possible. This year Severinovsky is also taking AP exams in Spanish, Microeconomics and English. She is ranked as the first in her highly competitive class of 173 students at Island Trees High School and will be her graduating class' valedictorian in June.

In speaking of her selection as a Pathfinder recipient, Severinovsky remained humble, acknowledging an understanding for why the town has a category for high school students, but stating that she hasn't accomplished nearly as much as the other award recipients who are all established in their fields. "Mine is more of a potential thing," said Severinovsky. "A potential to be able to contribute to your community, to your society, and whatever field you end up choosing."

Severinovsky plans on pursuing a career in law and will be attending Columbia University in the fall, where she will major in political science/economics.

Also at the town's ceremony were special guests Joan Jett, a successful musician and Joan Roberts, a successful Broadway actress, both of whom are from the Town of Hempstead.

Severinovsky stated she was very honored to be cast among the women Pathfinders honored this year. "Just being around them was inspirational," said Severinovsky. "It was just amazing to see the Town recognize women in all these different walks of life and the accomplishments they've had and it was great to be among them because it's an impetus that makes you want to strive to be like them. They have already accomplished so much and I'm just looking forward to accomplishing half as much as they have."