Bellport seniors earn significant college scholarships

Bellport High School Class of 2024 members Dennys Cardenas, Samantha DeLillo, Dylan Knakal and Iesha Rodney have earned impressive college scholarships.

Cardenas received a St. Joseph’s University Presidential Grant. The merit-based scholarship gives him a full ride to the school. He spends his time working and volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club of Bellport. He plans to study biology at St. Joseph’s with the goal of going into the dental field.

DeLillo earned an academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University through the Peabody Dean’s Achievement Scholarship. The Class of 2024 valedictorian is an AP Scholar with Distinction and will be graduating with an AP Capstone designation. She is a member of her school’s National, Science, Italian, Math and Tri-M Music honor societies. As a multitalented musician, she participates in the clarinet choir, jazz band and pit orchestra. In addition to playing the clarinet, she performs on the flute and the tenor, alto and soprano saxophone. She is also the class president, a member of student council. In addition, she belongs to Interact and the Students for Environmental Quality Club and has participated in Athletes Helping Others, Special Olympics, Unified Basketball and Unified Bowling. Outside of school, she is a competitive dancer. She intends to study special education in college.

Knakal’s tuition costs at the University of Miami will be paid for through the premier Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship. Knakal is an exceptional student who is ranked in the top 10 of his class. He is an AP Scholar and was selected for the Town of Brookhaven’s Hispanic Heritage Academic Excellence Recognition Award and the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Award.  He has also earned the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness and Bellport High School’s Graduation with Distinction in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Knakal is also a member of his school’s National and Math honor societies and serves as the historian of the Science Honor Society. Outside of the classroom, he played both junior varsity and travel club soccer and ran for the varsity cross-country and varsity winter and spring track and field teams. He was awarded the Gold Key and Senior Athlete awards for his athletic achievements. He is also a musician and played viola annually in the prestigious New York State School Music Association Solo Evaluation Festival. He has been a member of student council, Athletes Helping Others and Robotics Club. Additionally, he gives back to his community. He has provided peer mentoring and tutoring in math, participates in the annual Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics, and is part of community service events with Mary Immaculate Church, CEED Farm, the South Country Library and the Brookhaven Free Library. He is interested in studying mathematical economics, finance and pre-med in the fall.

Rodney earned a full ride to Cornell University through the Cornell Grant. She 

is an AP Scholar with Honor and a member of her school’s National and Science honor societies, as well as president of the Math Honor Society. Rodney is a member of her school’s track and field team, running the 400-meter and throwing shotput. She plans to study biology in college.