Many of us return to our high school alma maters for 25th reunions or hall of fame award ceremonies.
Giants alum Henry Hynoski had a different reason to return to his Southern Columbia (PA) High School last summer. He was named principal earlier in the year and now is in charge of the 450-student school in Catawissa about 140 miles from Philadelphia in northeast Pennsylvania.
“A lot of people just view me as a football player, but I really am an academic,” say the 35-year old principal. “I believe that my opportunities wouldn’t have presented themselves to me if I didn’t maintain such an academic rigor.”
Hynoski joined the Giants as an undrafted rookie fullback out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. He played four seasons in New York and has a Super Bowl XLVI ring to prove it.
After being released by the Giants at the end of the 2015 training camp, he returned to college and earned a master’s degree in business education. Hynoski served as assistant principal and dean of students at the Shamokin Area (PA) School District from 2018 until last year. He also was the football coach during that time. He had the opportunity to take over his former high school when he was offered the principal’s position last spring. Hynoski and wife Laura are the parents of two young children.
“Being able to return to my home district, my alma mater, the community I love and cherish so much,” says Hynoski, “that’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often. I love being involved with all the programs, athletic games, school and academic events that we had this first semester before Christmas break. That is really my focus.”
We at NFL Alumni wish our brother Henry Hynoski and his family much success in his current position and congratulate him for earning not just one but two college degrees. He is a terrific role model for his young students, who are fortunate to have such an energetic educator as the school’s leader.
