Huntington Local

Katelyn Lange got an award from Andrew Raia at the Dec. 9 event.

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Katelyn Lange, a senior at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station, coordinated a presentation on Internet safety and identity theft last month that attracted more than 100 senior citizens to the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington.

“Due to the economy being bad, identity theft is a growing issue,” said Lange, a Girl Scout who recently earned her Gold Award. “Seniors are a main target, because they are more trusting and have a lot of money saved from retirement.”

To launch her seminar idea, Lange said she first contacted Suffolk County Legis. Lou D’Amaro (D-Huntington Station), who put her in touch with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Computer Crimes Section last spring. Shortly thereafter, she coordinated her first lecture for more than 200 fifth-graders at Birchwood Intermediate School in Melville.

She followed that up by educating a group of 60 senior citizens in September through SeniorNet, a nonprofit organization providing computer and Internet education to older adults.

“It just goes to show that we are never too old to learn something new,” said Huntington Councilman Stewart Besen, who co-sponsored the most recent seminar.

Due to the lecture’s success, a second one will be planned for April, Besen said. Lange has also received a proclamation from D’Amaro for her efforts, and she received at "Good Deed" award from Assemb. Andrew Raia (R-East Northport).