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Fotini Lountzis

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Finalist

Bio

My name is Tina Lountzis and I am a senior at the Wheatley School. After my graduation from Wheatley, I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life, expand my knowledge, make new friends, and begin my studies at a university as an education major with a minor in photography. As a 10th grader, I began taking photography classes in high school and realized I had a passion for it. Throughout my high school career, I’ve been lucky enough to have my photos entered into galleries and contests, as well as asked to take pictures at various sporting events at my school. Volleyball has also been a passion of mine throughout my life. I was introduced to the sport at the age of 11 and began winning many tournaments and awards with my team. Being a part of a team has taught me skills that I use throughout my life, such as teamwork and problem-solving skills, while also managing my time for my studies. Although I decided to not play in college, I wanted to put my skills to use to teach the younger generations. I am currently a coach for a travel team and volunteer at my middle school and the local church. As an active member of my community, I’ve helped at the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research walk and delivered Thanksgiving packages to those who are less fortunate. Volunteering has allowed me to give back to the community and connect with others while helping me grow as an individual. As someone with many academic achievements and leadership skills, I want the opportunity to receive scholarships to help me pursue my dreams.

Education

Wheatley School

High School
2018 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Education, General
    • Film/Video and Photographic Arts
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Education

    • Dream career goals:

    • Developmental Beach Volleyball Coach

      B&B Volleyball
      2022 – 2022
    • Assistant Coach

      B&B Volleyball
      2022 – Present2 years

    Sports

    Volleyball

    Club
    2016 – 20226 years

    Volleyball

    Varsity
    2019 – 20234 years

    Awards

    • All County
    • All County Honorable Mention
    • Top 50 Volleyball Players on Long Island
    • The Coaches Award
    • The Spirit Award
    • NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete

    Arts

    • Photography
      Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      The Archangel Michael Church Midnight Run — Volunteer Worker
      2019 – 2019
    • Volunteering

      Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation — Volunteer Worker
      2019 – 2019
    • Volunteering

      The Archangel Michael Church Thanksgiving Food Drive — Volunteer
      2018 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      The Archangel Michael Church — Volunteer Worker
      2019 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      St. Aidans CYO Volleyball — Volunteer Coach
      2022 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation Walk — Volunteer
      2021 – 2022

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    KC R. Sandidge Photography Scholarship
    The four pictures I used are from my AP 2-D Art sustained investigation, which aimed to emphasize our imagination and surreal moments in everyday life. My goal was to explore the idea of dreams and creativity while incorporating bright colors with the use of hands-on activities and photoshop. Creativity provides children with a way to express themselves, their emotions, and their thoughts in a safe and healthy way. As life comes with more responsibility and stress, I've realized it is important to maintain your inner child and stay creative for a positive mindset. Creating these pieces has bought me back to my innocent, imaginative mind I had as a child. My love for art stemmed from a young age, allowing me to express my imagination in different forms of art, like drawing and painting. As I started exploring photography, I was able to display this creativity through a different lens. Getting into photography has become an outlet for me to destress during my hectic day of school. Creating these pieces of work has helped me focus on present moments, rather than the past or future. In the two pictures that include books, my goal was to emphasize how reading can contribute to the flow of imagination. As we read, we envision what characters and settings look like, allowing us to picture things the way we want to see them. This makes reading more meaningful and personal to our own imagination. I stitched flowers into the picture using string and a needle to visually represent the path your mind takes as you read. In my next piece with the paintbrush, my goal was to paint a place you dream to be in, especially since I deal with a busy school day and work schedule throughout the week. With this being one of the first pieces in my AP 2-D Art sustained investigation, I wanted to push it to the next level. It has also taught me new photoshop skills which have benefited me for future projects. My final image, a girl blowing bubbles with fish swimming within them, was made to incorporate a magical component. Although this is unrealistic, children tend to incorporate animals into their imaginative scenarios and dreams. As I grow up, I hope to still use my imagination the way I did as a child and display them through art.