Way to Go! Steven Hamblet, Mastic Beach

A William Floyd High School senior has made his mark academically while overcoming challenges ranging from Tourette syndrome to the effects of superstorm Sandy.

Steven Hamblet, of Mastic Beach, scored 2250 on his SAT and secured a spot as one of 4,000 students nationwide to be considered for a U.S. Presidential Scholar Award. The program recognizes some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors.

Though Hamblet was not among 800 students named last week as semifinalists, being in the running was made special because of his struggles with Tourette, a neurological disorder. In addition, his family’s home was destroyed as a result of Sandy in October 2012, and they lived in a one-bedroom apartment for 14 months.

“It kind of inspired me to look forward to the future,” said Hamblet, 17. In college, he plans to study biomedical engineering, hoping to help develop cures for Tourette and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

To be in the running for the award, he said, was “a great honor. When I first got notification, I didn’t realize just how big of a deal it was.”

Hamblet is president of his school’s Quiz Bowl Club and was captain in all of the team’s matches this season. The team placed third in the Eastern Suffolk division and 15th in a regional tournament.