The Freeport Schools Science Department conducted its eighth annual science awards ceremony and New York State Science Honor Society induction in one event that brought together the best and brightest young scientific minds in the school district.
Sixty students received monetary awards totaling $5,000. The top award winners across the ten categories were: Brittany Gardner, Jeremy Fey, Anooshqa Bazmi, Isaac Rodriguez, Harold Barnes, Ashley Martin, Elizabeth Mulé, Imani Grant, Erick Penate, Sayyid Abdullah and the team of Wilsa Albert and Lauren Workman. Eleven new members were welcomed into the New York State Science Honor Society in a traditional candlelighting and oath-taking ceremony. "I want to thank all the sponsors and judges for making this event such a success," said Schools Superintendent Dr. Kishore Kuncham.
What will the employment prospects be for these budding scientists? "The challenge that we face is just how do we create a workforce to do what needs to get done?" said guest speaker Ken White. Mr. White, the manager of Brookhaven Lab's Office of Educational Programs, detailed a new initiative designed to nurture the high-tech workforce needing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills to support economic growth on Long Island.
As part of the ceremony, retiring science teacher Sam Nepote was recognized for his years of service to the district. "[Mr. Nepote] represents the scientific rigor that is at Freeport," said District Coordinator of Science Dr. Vincent Pereira.
