Northport High School senior Chloe Stepanek has a lot of personal goals this year, starting with a second consecutive undefeated season on the Girls Varsity Swim team. But there’s already one item she can cross off her to-do list. On Oct. 8, she was selected as the first of 30 students across Long Island to receive the prestigious News 12 Scholar-Athlete award.

This award is presented annually to outstanding high school seniors who excel in athletics, academics and leadership. 

Last year, Chloe earned the title of Winter National Champion in the Women’s 200-meter freestyle and in 2017 she placed first in the 100- and 200-yard freestyles at New York State Championships held at Ithaca College and Northport High School. She even swam alongside Olympian Katie Ledecky and earned her own chance to compete in the 200-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials in June 2020. 

In addition to ultimate bragging rights, Chloe received a $1,000 scholarship check from Bethpage Federal Credit Union and was featured in a News 12 Long Island segment on Oct. 16.

“I’m somebody who’s going to go out hard every race. It’s just fun to go out there and give it your all. Yeah it hurts, but when you win, it’s a reminder as to why I woke up as 4:45 in the morning,” she said.

After high school, Chloe plans to compete as a member of the swim team at Texas A&M University, where she intends to major in pre-med.