Saluting The Class Of 2021: Amanda Ditaranto Of West Islip High School

WEST ISLIP, NY — The high school seniors of 2021 have had an experience like no other in a century — a year upended by a pandemic and by lockdowns that kept them from enjoying many of the activities that previous seniors have taken for granted.

Patch hopes to help make it up to those seniors by giving them a special sendoff. We asked parents and other family members to pay tribute to this year’s grads using a special submission form so we can publish those tributes one by one.

West Islip High School student Amanda Ditaranto will graduate this year.

Plans after graduation: Will be attending Fordham University in the fall

Accomplishments: National Merit Scholarship Finalist - 1 of 7,000 students nationally, Unweighted GPA 96%, International Baccalaureate (IB) program since her junior year, will graduate with IB distinction this June, Top 10 of her graduating class, Starting volleyball player on the varsity girls team, played volleyball since middle school, she also plays travel volleyball for Long Island Volleyball Club (LIVBC), 1st chair cellist in the WIHS chamber orchestra, National Honor Society Co-President, Multiple honor societies for various subjects, too many to list, Thirst project, Student Senate, Tri-M Music Program, Principal's list every quarter since middle school, She graduated in the top 2 from her middle school, Received numerous acceptance letters, from Villanova, University of Miami, University of Florida, Florida State, University of Virginia, Stonybrook, St. John's, University of Delaware, and Fordham. Amanda, selected Fordham after they offered her a full academic scholarship.

Special message: As her father I am in awe of her accomplishments. Amanda is amazing. Congrats for a job well done, I am so proud of you. Love Dad.