Rotary’s Senior of the Month for December, Emmanuel Kostis ‘26, has built his high school experience around a strong balance of academics, athletics, and community involvement, complemented by his experience as a varsity soccer player.
Most of Kostis’s motivation comes from his family. His Greek immigrant parents and grandparents played an important role in shaping his values. Kostis thanks his siblings, teachers, coaches, and church community for their support throughout high school, especially in earning All Division, All GMC, and All State honors in soccer. Accompanying his extracurricular focus, Kostis is a member in the National Honor Society and the Business, Math, Spanish, and English National Honor Societies. Helping younger students in the township by volunteering at Field days proved an invaluable commitment as a well-rounded athlete, student, and altruist.
Kostis’s freshman year comprises some of his most memorable moments at EHS.
“Making the varsity soccer team as a freshman alongside my twin brother, George helped me feel connected to the school right away,” said Kostis
He appreciates his teachers–Business teacher Mr. Ilias Hantsoulis, History teacher Dr. Gene Nasser, and Business teacher Mr. Michael Piccolo–as helpful mentors, especially giving a shoutout to Mrs. Diane Frey, “a supportive teacher for all things in and outside of school, sharing a love for [his] sport and everything soccer-related.” Kostis also acknowledged Principal Mr. Charles Ross as a supportive influence.
He sees himself majoring in Finance after graduation, with the long-term goal of pursuing opportunities in the financial field and working on Wall Street. Also, he plans to play soccer at the college-level and expects growth as both a student and an athlete.
Kostis reflects meaningfully on his time at EHS.
“EHS has helped me grow the most in leadership, time management, and discipline,” said Kostis. The varsity soccer captain says that managing a demanding academic schedule with soccer and commendable involvement in his community taught him to stay organized and committed.
Kostis encourages underclassmen to take initiative and challenge themselves.
“Take classes that push you, get involved in activities that you care about, and surround yourself with people who also want to succeed,” he said.