Garden City Echo Summer 2023-24

Table of Contents

Editors-in-Chief

Emma Rathgeber

Elaine Wang

Cover Art

Shujin Chen

Student/Teacher Spotlight (page 6)

Elaine Wang, Editor-in-Chief

World/National News (page 14)

Emma Rathgeber, Editor-in-Chief

Community/School News (page 19)

Maria Gaztañaga, Editor

Reviews (page 29)

Hunter Maguire, Editor

Faculty Advisor

Mr. McAuley

NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles do not represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

A Note From the Editors

Dear Readers,

At last, we’ve come to the end of the 2023-24 school year. For the past ten months here at ECHO, we’ve delved into international wars, new music, scientific advancements, and everything in between. And now, we present to you our final issue. This year, we aren’t just co-editors-in-chief but are also graduating seniors. So this isn’t merely the final issue of the school year, but the final issue of our ECHO careers. Before we give an overview of the topics you’ll find in this issue, we’d like to share some parting words.

Emma: “Coming to the end of my high school career is already so difficult to comprehend, but becomes even more so when I reflect on my newspaper years. I started all the way back in sixth grade as a member of the middle school newspaper, Phoenix. Journalism quickly became a focus of mine, and my love for writing and editing only grew over those three years. When I got to high school, I naturally joined the ECHO student newspaper, and continued to perfect my skills. I was blessed enough to become co-editor-in-chief as a junior with one of my closest friends, and considering my newspaper history, it only felt right It’s been so fun and I’ll admit, sometimes stressful running the newspaper these last two years I’ve loved brainstorming the most random article ideas at meetings, reading what other writers have to say, and, of course, I love to write. I hope you are able to enjoy reading these papers just as much as we’ve enjoyed creating them.”

Elaine: “It’s hard to believe that four years of high school have already gone by and my time with the Garden City High School student newspaper is coming to an end. I’m so glad that journalism was a part of my high school experience – being co-editor-inchief has been one of my most rewarding experiences, even though it’s come with its own challenges. I’ll always be grateful to Ms. Ferraiolo for introducing me to journalism, to Ms. Skolnik for the opportunity to lead the talented ECHO staff, to writers and editors for their dedication, to Emma for friendship and unwavering reliability as a partner, and to you readers. As we step away from our positions, I know ECHO is in good hands with Hunter, whom I trust will lead the paper to greater heights. These last two years have been wonderful, and I’ll forever cherish these memories. It has truly been a pleasure and an honor.”

However, the end of our editor-in-chief careers is accompanied by the beginning of someone else’s. Hunter Maguire, a writer and editor you’ve surely seen many times in these papers, will be taking over our position next year, and we couldn’t be leaving the paper in better hands. We know that Hunter will produce the highest quality content for you all to read and put his own spin on things, as every editor-in-chief does just as he’s helped us do for years.

With that, let’s talk about what this paper entails. As usual, we start out with World News, examining wildfires in Canada and even looking beyond our world at breakthroughs on the space frontier (maybe that shouldn’t be in the “World” News section). We then look at breakthroughs made by our very own classmates, who recently won several grand awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. That includes a first-place win by Amy Xiao, who we’ve highlighted before for her many musical accomplishments.

In the Community/School News section, you’ll find recaps on class trips, projects, and sports seasons from the last few weeks. And as a staple part of the Summer Edition, we spotlight the Class of 2024 valedictorian, James Nagler, and salutatorian, ECHO’s very own Elaine Wang But in honoring our accomplished graduates, we must include retiring teachers as well, to whom we’ve dedicated an article in the new Teacher Spotlight section Finally, the paper wraps up with part three of a video game review It’s been an absolute pleasure running ECHO these past two years. We hope you can use some end-of-school downtime to relax with the latest Summer Edition!

Sincerely,

Emma Rathgeber and Elaine Wang

Valedictorian: James Nagler

By Elaine Wang

James Nagler, valedictorian of the Class of 2024, has achieved great academic success during the past four years. Following in the footsteps of his sister Emma Nagler, the valedictorian of the Class of 2022, James has left his mark on Garden City His clear passion for innovation in STEM has led him to achieve a great variety of awards and has landed him a place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he will be studying computer science, electrical engineering, and physics come fall What fuels his passion for the fields he will be studying? He answered, “[computer science] and [electrical engineering] are the driving forces behind modern technological developments, and physics is the driving force behind the laws of nature ”

In 2022, he won first place in the world at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the Embedded Systems category with his project “Project Vision – Virtual Environment Through AI Recognition ” His project, a device aimed for helping the visually impaired, also earned him a first place Grand Award Winner at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, as well as a $5,000 prize. Recently, he returned to ISEF’s Embedded Systems category with a continuation of his prior project, "Glasses for 3D Mapping, Navigation, & Positioning”, which was awarded second place and $15,000 from the Office of Naval Research. Last summer, James attended the prestigious Research Summer Institute held at MIT, one of 62 accepted to the program. Additionally, James won the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for creating wordd

“Mineola Menu”, an app for the Mineola school district James is also the president of Garden City High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society, and the founder of the Co-Pilot drone club.

Outside of STEM, James has achieved great feats as well In the realm of music, he has been named as a NYSSMA All-State Alternate, and has been named an All County Musician five times As a volunteer for KidOYO, a non-profit educational organization focused on teaching coding and computer science to K-12 students, James has racked up an impressive 500+ hours of service. He is also a member of the Garden City Varsity Tennis team

Courtesy of James Nagler

His advice to current high schoolers is to “Find a field that interests you and spend a little time each day learning more about it ” James’s favorite high school class was AP Physics C, taught by Dr Slater His favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, a classic children’s fantasy adventure novel about the values of curiosity and imagination, and his favorite film is Oppenheimer, the popular blockbuster

blockbuster of last summer. If he could meet any person or historical figure, he’d choose Steve Jobs When asked what he will miss most about high school, he replied, “the people I spend every day with” He is excited to “[be] around like-minded people in a catalyst for innovation” at MIT.

Best of luck to James, and congratulations!

Salutatorian: Elaine Wang

By Emma Rathgeber

Congratulations to Elaine Wang, the salutatorian of the Class of 2024! If that name sounds familiar to you, that’s because she’s ECHO’s very own co-editor-in-chief

Elaine has been a part of ECHO for three years and an editor-in-chief for two. During that time, she’s contributed many improvements, articles, and has even drawn a few of our covers! But ECHO is just one activity on her impressive list She’s also (take a breath for this): the Math Team president, a piano player with twelve years of experience, the vice president of Science Olympiad, the World Language Literary Magazine art director (for which she’s also drawn cover art), the Asian Cultural Club treasurer, an accomplished Speech and Debate club member, and a Varsity Badminton player.

As you can tell, one of her core interests lies in the STEM field. Elaine reports that her favorite high school class was Honors Physics with Dr. Slater. She also took and excelled in AP Physics, but says that the painful exams were enough to bump that class from the top spot. As for Honors Physics, word

she describes the class as challenging yet always interesting Her favorite part was Dr. Slater’s demonstrations, which allowed her to see how such complex equations and concepts fit into real life Slater’s extensive knowledge and teaching style were also a big help. Another of Elaine’s STEM endeavors is her participation on the Math Team. She’s been a member for all four years and has come to “genuinely enjoy the problems we solve there ” Whether it’s a monthly after-school competition or the yearly interscholastic competition at SUNY Old Westbury, she enjoys thinking through the problems, however tough they may be (bonus points if it’s a team competition). Other fond memories Elaine has of high school include launching handmade rockets in PLTWAerospace Engineering, playing Jeopardy in AP Psychology (Go Team Rama!), and constructing a Rube Goldberg machine in AP Physics which was a rollercoaster, literally and figuratively.

Elaine has received both Gold and Silver Medals at the word

Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair and has received the top score at GCHS for both the AMC 10 and AMC 12. She’s been awarded for her excellence in music as well She passed the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Grade 8 Piano Performance Exam with Distinction, and more recently received a perfect score on NYSSMA Piano Solo Performance Level VI in 2022, leading to a nomination to perform at the NYSSMA Piano Showcase

Looking at all she’s done, it’s clear that Elaine has proven excellence in STEM, art, music, leadership, community contribution nearly every category there is That’s exactly why she was recently named a US Presidential Scholar, one of the most prestigious awards for high school graduates, making her one of a mere 161 in the nation. And what’s surprising, she never thought she’d win the award, given the last Garden City US Presidential Scholar was awarded in 2011, but took a shot at it anyway Her advice? “Always try even if it seems unlikely!”

Elaine’s next chapter lies at Cornell University, where she will study engineering, likely mechanical. Her four years of PLTW as well as her experience at the Johns Hopkins Explore Engineering Innovation summer program have fostered her interest in the engineering field. In her eyes, engineering is the intersection of “physics, problem solving, finding how things work, and creativity” everything she loves At Cornell, Elaine is most excited word

to meet new people, take interesting classes, and of course, enjoy newfound freedom.

As she heads off toward this exciting future, Elaine leaves high schoolers with this piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid of failure. Try things you’re interested in. Know yourself and your limits Consider what you want to do, how much you’re willing to give to get it, remember nobody’s perfect, and give it your best shot.”

Congratulations once more to Elaine Wang! We thank her for all she’s done here at ECHO and we know she’ll continue to do great things at Cornell and beyond. Her impact can be seen at GCHS and felt among all the people she’s crossed these last four years, including me. As ECHO partners and longtime friends, I wouldn’t have wanted to write this article about anyone else

Portrait with US Presidential Scholar Medal Courtesy of Elaine Wang

Spotlight: Our Retiring Teachers

By Isabella Fuertes

This year, we have the unfortunate privilege of saying goodbye to some of our great mentors at Garden City High School. These individuals are teachers who have dedicated their professional lives for the betterment of our community's teenagers. They have held the hearts of many and brought wonder to the eyes of this school's youth, sharing priceless lessons with all who have passed under their care This article includes interviews with two of our school's marvelous retiring teachers: Mr Rebolini and Mrs. Oriani.

Mr. Rebolini has worked as an English teacher for 42 years. He received his BA at Hunter College, and his masters degree at Columbia University. Mr. Rebolini “always knew [he] wanted to be a teacher,” but he wasn’t sure which grade level he wanted to teach. However, he had the privilege of having great high school teachers during his time as a student. In the end, he ended up teaching high school, and “has never regretted it.” He has spent 27 years at GCHS

In the back of the English Department

Department room, Mr. Rebolini comfortably enjoys one of his final days, a soda and the daily crossword in hand, when a vaguely familiar student barges into his lunch period

While the beginning of the interview is both formal and cautious, Mr. Rebolini soon relaxes. The atmosphere in the room considerably warms with a few nostalgic conversations, and he seems to enjoy the process of recalling and appreciating parts of his career that resonated with him However, throughout this interview, a distinct, somber emotion is felt Mr Rebolini responds to each question with great wisdom and fondness, yet the interview is a bittersweet one.

Mr. Rebolini fondly recalls one story from his teaching career when “one of [his] students came in, and told [him] that she had a flat tire, and [he] took [his] whole class out into the parking lot and showed them how to change a tire.” Mr. Rebolini’s godfather owned a gas station, and during the time they spent together, he had taught himself how to change a tire. He then lent and imparted these

these practical skills to his students; priceless kernels of knowledge that all amazing teachers seem to convey, whether it be inside or outside of the classroom

The next couple of questions were related to literary inspirations. Mr. Rebollini immediately knew the book that sparked his interest in pursuing the English teaching field: This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald When asked about his favorite book to teach, he takes a moment to ponder in quiet deliberation He settles on Hamlet by Shakespeare as his favorite book, or in this case, play, that he has taught in school. He notes how it has “such great depth,” and “so many recognizable lines that now have come into everyday usage come from Hamlet ” The themes are ”universal and meaningful,” he explains, making it a pleasure to teach.

His plans for retirement are diverse, including becoming fluent in Italian, learning piano, and writing a book. This book will be biographical–including a section about changing tires, I’m sure–but also about his life overall, beyond his time as a teacher

teacher.

Regarding his favorite part of working with high school students, Mr. Rebolini reminisces on how much he cherished one-on-one time with his students. He finds the process of developing these relationships is always rewarding, saying that: “I think that is the most important part of teaching, developing personal relationships with students ” Mr Rebolini promises to “keep in touch with colleagues,” also, and that he “will return for wordd

graduation next year for [his] juniors this year.” It is clear that he loves his students greatly, and he wears a notably sad but grateful smile while answering questions about leaving faculty and students behind.

When prompted to give some advice to high school students, he implores students to “Read, read, read more ” “Pursue a liberal arts education in college,” he continues, in “art, music, and philosophy Be well rounded before you specialize.” His words not only inspired me, word

but will continue to live in me, as I’m sure his words will for all his juniors this year and the many students he has taught up until now

Mrs. Oriani’s interview had a completely different vibe For one, her enthusiasm makes it hard to distinguish if her interview was about retirement or the wonderful weather we were having that day Her bright smile lights up the room, and her answers are filled with buoyant energy and joy, with only a hint of sadness perceptible during hard questions

Mrs. Oriani has been a teacher for 40 years She went to SUNY Albany for both her undergraduate and master's degree in English She participated in the Smith Colleges Program, where she fortunately was able to complete her student teaching by working with people across the country She describes it as a very communal experience: “We all lived together, ate together, and worked together.” She is (disgracefully) unsure of exactly how long she has worked at GCHS. However, she estimates it to be around 24-25 years

When prompted to share a funny story from her teaching career, Mrs. Oriani quickly expresses that she has “many that fit that category,” but has one

Mr Rebolini unicycling around GCHS Courtesy of Buzzfeed

one that stands out to her. I was intrigued.

One day about twelve years ago, Mrs. Oriani was so engrossed in her Writing Center appointment that she missed the bell for the end of 6th period, ultimately missing her entire 7th period English class. Upon returning to the classroom, she found an attendance sheet, where all her students had signed Quite remarkably, among the names signed at the bottom of the attendance sheet, was Joseph Conrad, the author of the book they were reading. Slamming her hands on the desk, Mrs Oriani exclaimed, “I would have met Joseph Conrad!” She truly missed out Yet, Mrs Oriani considers this experience with great pride. The appreciation of her students who thought of her, and covered for her, is enough to make one’s heart swell To this day, she is shocked by how remarkable that class was, how responsible they were, and the fact that they had “a sense of humor on top of it.”

When Mrs Oriani was interviewed to become a teacher, she stated her favorite books were King Lear by Shakespeare and Beloved by Toni Morrison. She points out a link between the two works; they share a depth of psychological understanding that each author brings to their piece.

However, a book was not what

what inspired her to be an English teacher, but her father. He loved to quote poetry while her family was hiking. And while conversing in the tents, she and her siblings would sometimes say to him “good night, sweet prince,” a Hamlet reference.

Her family played a large role in cultivating the curiosity that inspired Mrs. Oriani to become an English teacher “What really attracted me to teaching was that I could be creative It gave me a platform to think, to work at something that is truly meaningful, and to continuously be creative,” she states.

For retirement, she and her friends have lots of plans They plan to visit the Galapagos, Japan, and Europe, among other exotic destinations. In addition, Mrs. Oriani hopes to seek her certification in mat pilates, where she’ll continue teaching, giving pilates lessons in communities where they might not have access to them otherwise She hopes to get around to writing in a more serious manner, “for [herself] and not just for everybody else around [her],” as well as to enjoy spending much more time with her husband, who’s been asking her to retire for the last four years

Mrs. Oriani wistfully expresses that one of her favorite student sayings is “my brain

brain hurts,” because then she knows that “something is happening” in the minds of her students. “It’s a clear indication that they’re really thinking,” she describes.

When prompted to state the one thing she will miss about Garden City High School, Mrs. Oriani is silent for a considerable amount of time After thinking, she gives a response touchingly similar to Mr Rebolini’s

“I will miss youthful energy. I think that youthful energy is not something that necessarily dies as one gets older, that that actually is the key in my sense of things that allows for continuous growth as one ages, but that it occurs that much more prevalently among the youth And, y’know, it’s true that when you’re around young people, that youthful energy is more available and it's a keen reminder of how alive one can be,” she elaborates.

When asked for general advice for high school students, she remembers a mantra she uses with her daughter, believing it relevant and applicable “Be brave and caring, and you will find your way,” she recalls.

“I think courage is about facing life, thinking through feeling, through allowing your whole self to be involved, to be engaged. So bravery, as Atticus said in To Kill A Mockingbird, is

is not about having a gun in one's hand. Bravery is about really believing in potential for all human beings. As far as caring is concerned, I think that sometimes we are prone to disconnecting from our own emotions But emotional intelligence is what defines us as

as different from what AI can ever be, and we better cherish it, or we are doomed ”

Both the responses of these teachers were poetic and heart wrenching, yet incredibly inspiring and beautiful Our retiring GCHS teachers are loyal

loyal staff members that have forever changed the course of the lives of their students; they deserve magnanimous, heartfelt thanks for the light they have brought to the school for all these years.

Mrs Oriani’s handwritten “attendance sheet” from twelve years ago. Note Joseph Conrad’s signature on the right and a few more facetious signatures at the bottom of the page (North West, John Hancock) Courtesy of Mrs Oriani

Third Time’s a Charm for Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft

By Emma Rathgeber

On June 6th, NASA successfully completed its mission to dock the Boeing Starliner at the International Space Station (ISS). This achievement comes one day after the spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on its first-ever crewed test flight.

The Starliner’s success did not come without its failures, however. In fact, issues began all the way back in June 2023 The target date for the launch, which was planned for July 2023, was postponed after Boeing found that the tape used on the spacecraft was flammable This issue turned into a one-year delay, and on May 6th of this year Boeing was finally ready to conduct its first official launch attempt. However, the attempt was scrubbed two hours before liftoff due to a fault in the oxygen supply of the Atlas V, which is the rocket that would send the Starliner into space. Boeing rescheduled the launch for May 17th, but had to delay once again due to a helium leak in the Starliner’s pro

propulsion system. The second official launch attempt came on June 1st, but didn’t go much differently than the first attempt. The launch was canceled, this time a mere four minutes before liftoff, due to an error with the ground launch sequencer, which is the computer system that orchestrates the launch

Success finally came on June 6th, the third official launch attempt With that, the Starliner began its day-long journey to the ISS but its troubles weren’t over yet A few hours after launch, two helium leaks were discovered on the spacecraft (in addition to a third that was known about and discussed before launch) Thankfully, Wilmore and Williams were able to fix the leaks without much trouble, but it cost them an hour of sleep in their rigid nine-hour sleep schedule.

The last hurdle appeared during docking, which was delayed by one hour after issues were found with five out of the Starliner’s 28 thrusters. Despite the last-minute docking delay and, for that matter, the countless issues leading up to docking the two astronauts successfully docked and were happily greeted by seven other astronauts and cosmonauts already on-board the ISS.

Wilmore and Williams were supposed to stay on the ISS for one week and return on June 14th, but ongoing complications with the Starliner have prolonged their stay until late June. This return trip will prove to be the Boeing Starliner’s final test: if successful, NASA may decide to use the craft more regularly to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. Considering how many troubles the Starliner has run into so far, however, things aren’t looking great for the rocket This is a shame now more than ever, since readily available transport is of utmost importance as we progress toward our goals in space travel

The Starliner capsule Courtesy of Business Insider

Blue Origin Completes 25th Mission

By Lynn Yang

Founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is a company that sends people into suborbital space. Their goal is to increase access to space and use the resources there In September of 2022, New Shepard, a rocket, burst into flames, which caused a pause in launches Before the September 2022 failure, New Shepard rockets had flown 22 consecutive successful missions including six with passengers on board. Bezos flew aboard the rocket in 2021. After a 2 year gap, Blue Origin launched their 7th passenger launch, which sent Edward Dwight, America’s first black astronaut candidate, into space After being rejected as an astronaut candidate in the 1960s, Dwight is now the oldest person to be sent to space.

Although the flights are only to the edge of space, these flights are progress toward sending more people to space. Blue Origin believes that these rockets, which launch tourists into space, should be made as safe as possible in order to ensure the safety of its riders. They hope to continue to safely send people to space into the future.

Ed Dwight celebrates after his flight with Blue Origin. Courtesy of the Houston Chronicle

New Shepard lifting off Courtesy of NBC News

Iranian President’s Death Sparks Conflicting Responses

By Hunter Maguire

On May 20th, the world was stunned to learn of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a fatal helicopter crash. The crash, which occurred the previous day in a mountainous region near the Azerbaijani border, left no survivors, also claiming the lives of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others onboard.

Raisi was a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s head of state, in Tehran’s political establishment, and his death comes at a time when Iran’s stature on the world stage is shaky at best Mass protests struck the country after Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of morality police in 2022, which the Iranian authorities quelled with a series of summary executions. Iranian-sponsored proxy conflicts culminated in a strike in Israel in April, and the nation has weathered Western sanctions for decades.

Public reaction in Iran was generally somber and mournful. Public gatherings in Tehran saw large groups of regime supporters gathering, praying, and wailing over the news, and the affected officials’ funerals saw significant crowds as well However, not all Iranians reacted with sorrow to this seemingly tragic news.

Many Iranians appeared indifferent or paid little notice to the accident Although Raisi was a well-known figure, in Iran’s theocratic political system, the president is subordinate to the Supreme Leader and the country’s most influential clerics, Shia Muslim religious leaders with entrenched institutional power Schools and businesses across the nation remained open on Monday, May 20th, and as of writing, daily life across Iran has resumed as usual

Furthermore, some Iranians, particularly members of the Persian-American community, celebrated the death of Raisi, a conservative known for his hardline stance on issues and opposition to protests against the regime Although Iranian officials warned that anyone celebrating Raisi’s death would be prosecuted, fireworks were lit by some in Tehran, and Iranian social media was abuzz with sarcastic jokes, discussion of the crash as “good news,” and pictures of protestors murdered by the regime. Persian Americans also voiced pleasure through online platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, many of whom fled Iran’s Islamic Republic after the Shah was deposed in 1979

Extreme Weather Afflicts Central US

By Lynn Yang

The central U S has been experiencing extreme storms and tornadoes and is expecting more as time goes on. The high winds, hail, and possible tornadoes will cause more damage in the region, which is still recovering from severe weather from the past weeks So far, there have been over 30 deaths and 25 million people endangered from southern Texas and New Mexico all the way to Kansas and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. There were strong word

wind gusts, hail larger than 2 inches in diameter, and tornadoes Many large cities such as San Antonio, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Pueblo, Colorado have been affected by the harsh weather. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed from the tornadoes and hail and even more have lost electricity due to flash floods and strong winds. Storms are expected to continue and worsen in the Great Plains for several more days as of the writing of this article.

Another tornado near Hawley, Texas, which was accompanied by baseball-sized hail. Courtesy of reporternews.com.

A tornado in the Texas Panhandle on June 2nd Courtesy of weather.gov.

Canada Still Ablaze After Record Wildfire Season

By Lynn Yang

Last year, Canada experienced 7,100 wildfires, causing massive amounts of air pollution and turning the sky orange as far south as Florida With increased climate change, forests in Canada have been catching fire with lightning strikes Wildfires are expected to be more prevalent in the southern region of the Northwest Territories, eastern parts of British Columbia, and across the central and northern Prairies all areas that have been in a drought for

for three years and show no signs of stopping. So far in 2024, 90 wildfires have already been reported. Once again, smoke from the Canadian wildfires has spread all the way to Minnesota, causing an air quality alert. Summers have become drier and warmer due to climate change, and with summer just starting, experts expect the burning to get worse with lightning strikes starting more fires.

Map showing all currently active wildfires in Canada Courtesy of arcgis com

Firefighters fight a wildfire in Alberta, Canada, which started in 2023 and continues to rage underground even among snow Courtesy of ctif org

Billows of smoke rise from another Alberta fire on May 10, 2024. Courtesy of abcnews.go.com.

AP Biology and Environmental Science Take a Trip

By Hunter Maguire

This month, students in Garden City High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science and Biology courses enjoyed an excursion to Jones Beach, exploring the area’s rich biodiversity and various marine ecosystems while applying their knowledge in an extracurricular setting

While at Jones Beach, students observed various littoral habitats, traversing the preserve and identifying unique flora and fauna, most notably the iconic horseshoe crab. Students also had the chance to visit the “beach” side of the barrier island briefly before departing that afternoon. In sum, the trip was a day to remember for its mostly senior attendees as they close the chapter on their high school years

Jones Beach Water Tower Courtesy of Adobe Stock

Horseshoe crabs in their natural habitat Courtesy of the Boston Globe

Girls Varsity Badminton Season Ends in Nerve-Wracking Finish

By Emma Rathgeber

This year, Girls Varsity Badminton was coming off one of its strongest seasons in recent history: they won the conference last year and made it to the playoffs The team hoped to repeat their success, but this season would prove to be a new challenge

Thanks to last season’s success, the team moved up in the rankings for this season. They played in Conference III out of V, meaning tougher competition and closer matches. Nonetheless, the girls held strong under the leadership of Coach Cutter and captains Ava Venezia (1st singles), Josephine Yin (3rd singles), and Emma Rathgeber (1st doubles) It was a 5-2 defeat against Herricks High School, making the two teams tied for first in the conference at one loss each Because of this situation, the girls’ second match against Herricks turned out to be the most important of the season A team must win their conference to qualify for the playoffs, so this match would decide who would take that top spot

GCHS had the home-court advantage for this decisive game which seemed to help, as the game started off better than the last with wins on the 1st singles, 3rd singles, and 1st doubles courts. However, 2nd singles, as well as 2nd and 3rd doubles, lost their matchups This meant that 4th doubles would decide the match. As for any matchup, the doubles teams would face off in a best-of-three scenario, with each game played to 21 points. The first game was a narrow win for Herricks The second was a narrow win for GCHS. So, with both home and away players on the edge of their seats, the third game began. The teams stayed neck-and-neck for the first half

half, but Herricks managed to pull away near the midpoint and clinched the win, 21-17 (I scored this game and was so nervous that I had to look away at times) Sadly, this meant that GCHS would not advance to the playoffs, but the girls did not let that ruin their spirits. After playing their last few games, the girls finished the season strong with a 12-2 record. Every player in the starting eleven received AllConference honors, and singles players Venezia and Yin represented the school at the Nassau County Individual Badminton Championship. Many of the team’s starting players including all three captains are graduating this June, meaning there will be plenty of room for players to move up the ranks and for fresh talent to join the team next season. Congratulations to the girls on a great season, and we’ll see what they have in store for next.

The team poses after crushing their final game of the season, an away game at Lynbrook High School Courtesy of @gctrojannation on instagram.com.

The score sheet for the first game of the season, showing the names of the starting lineup and their decisive 7-0 win against

East Meadow. Courtesy of Coach Cutter.

Josephine Yin, Coach Cutter, and Ava Venezia pose at the Nassau County Individual Badminton Championship Courtesy of @gctrojannation on instagram com

Books, Balloons, and Bullseye: AP Physics Rube Goldberg Machines

By Elaine Wang

After AP exams and a long year of suffering, AP Physics C students participated in the annual tradition of building Rube Goldberg machines. These machines, named after an American cartoonist and inventor known for drawing overcomplicated gadgets, aim to perform very simple tasks in creative, convoluted ways The students, randomly divided into three teams of eleven or twelve each, worked together to design these structures, posed precariously on the lab tables in the back of Room 207 for multiple weeks. Each machine, containing twenty-or-so steps total, must run autonomously after being started by a human at the very beginning The teams were named Groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively based on location, with Group 1 taking the lab tables nearest the window and Group 3 taking the space nearest the door.

Each year, the students choose a simple goal for all three machines to achieve. This year, the aim of the projects was to shoot and hit a target Each team got creative with the freedom the prompt allowed, making unique final steps. Group

Group 1 designed a catapult to launch a basketball into a hoop, Group 2 aimed to launch a tennis ball across the room at a target of a face, drawn by a robot, and Group 3 hoped to use a hanging dinosaur toy, released by a pulley, to hit a round target featuring a cutout of Dr. Slater’s face (funny steps are always highly encouraged) As a member of Group 3 (the best group), I can attest to the challenges we all faced creating these machines, from finding equipment and unique ways to design steps to reliably connecting twenty steps in a row

Each team, under the guidance of Dr. Slater, aimed to outdo the other two teams by making the most entertaining machine possible. Group 1 started their project with a fanfavorite element, fire! After a VEX robotic motor wound up a thread attached to a spring, a separate motor rotated a match through a flame to burn the thread, which launched the wound-up spring into a marble. From there, the machine went through funnels, pulleys, zip lines, and even included a step that turned on the A/C a fanword

favorite for all the spectators on that hot June day. Group 2’s machine started (and ended) with a tennis ball shot. The ball hit cabinets on the other side of the room, triggering a sensor which released marbles down a track The machine featured marbles later as well, in a contraption called a “Marbulous”: a “marvelous” slide for marbles to roll down. Then came multiple series of collisions and even a small robot, which drew a Team 1 member’s face as the target on a large roll of paper Group 3 (the best group obviously) included tons of pulleys, a toy helicopter, two sets of Gauss rifles (aka magnetic linear accelerators, which use strong magnets to rapidly propel metal spheres), and a large jug attached to a pulley, which slowly drained of lemonade to lower a block pressing a button, activating a laser to pop a balloon and release marbles.

During period 7 on June 7, a small crowd, composed of students, teachers, and administrators alike, assembled in the front of the physics classroom to watch these machines perform. Each team took

took turns testing, with Group 3 being the first to test.

Unfortunately, after many runs and a long, intense period of testing, none of the groups were able

able to make their machines fully work, with each team suffering multiple hiccups and the occasional accidental start. Nevertheless, making these structures

structures was a fun, unforgettable way to end the year If you didn’t watch this year’s machines, make sure to catch them next year!

A match burns the thread in Group 1's first step, as described above Courtesy of Emma Rathgeber

A marble spirals down a funnel in Group 1's second step. Other parts of the machine can be seen in the background. Courtesy of Yuchen Fan.

Amidst all the chaos, Group 3 managed to snap a group photo with Dr. Slater. Courtesy of Elaine Wang.

Group 2's machine in action Courtesy of Josephine Yin

Interview With ISEF Winner Amy Xiao

By Elaine Wang

We had the chance to talk with junior Amy Xiao about her first appearance at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and her first place win Read the interview here:

Q: How did you come up with your research idea? Did you grab inspiration from anywhere?

A: I first became interested in oncometabolism, or the metabolic rewiring of cancer cells, when I studied mutant proteins associated with cancer in a wet lab as part of Memorial sloan kettering’s HOPP program I mostly did staple wet lab experiments like growth curves and enzyme assays there. I really wanted to study oncometabolism in a more computational manner. I was also interested in using the recent groundbreaking technology of Alphafold, and AI-based protein fold software; there’s billions of known proteins, yet only about 100,000 crystal structures in the PDB I first encountered Citrin when I was reading about aspartate, an amino acid essential for nucleotide synthesis in cancers, and was surprised to find that despite its involvement in multiple pathways contributing to tumorigenesis, it was relatively understudied in a cancer context

Q: Where did your interest in biochemistry originate and how did it develop to where it is now? Does your interest extend beyond the competition? Is it something you aspire to pursue in the future, and if so, why?

A: My interest was mainly in oncometabolism as mentioned earlier, but most exciting research word

in the field like isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors fall into the biochemistry category. ISEF categories are sort of funny because a lot of projects can fall into multiple categories, so a tough part is deciding which category will provide the best judging for your project. I actually started in the translational medicine category at first for LISEF, but switched to biochem for NYSSEF because of the structural subcategory; it was a great decision, and I was able to meet and have exciting conversations with many judges actually working with Alphafold themselves! Yes, my interest extends beyond the competition. I’m currently working on continuing my project with wet lab experiments this summer. I’m interested in continuing research in college.

Q: What was your biggest take away from the competition and your journey in getting there as a whole?

A: Don’t underestimate yourself! I worked on this project on my own without any institutional affiliation and was able to get first in biochemistry in the world. Read lots, and you’ll find you’re more creative than you think.

Q: What was the biggest roadblock you faced while working?

A: There’s a surprising amount of gatekeeping in scientific literature, at least for independent researchers. After creating a model of my protein I wanted to perform a large-scale docking of FDA-approved small molecule drugs from the ZINC20 database to identify potential inhibitors. You’d think in this day and age with so

so much emphasis on accelerated drug discovery a simple large-scale docking couldn’t be that hard I spent 2 weeks siphoning through articles and resources only to be locked out by softwares requiring institutional affiliation I then tried writing the code myself and often found myself at the end of multiple dead Researchgate threads I did successfully dock all 1615 of the small molecules but it was just surprising how non-transparent certain resources are.

Q: What was your favorite part about working on this project?

A: Definitely the thrill of finally getting back data from experiments like the docking (albeit at 3 AM) and knowing it might help a patient someday! Also the serendipitous funny moments like searching up metabolites like citrulline for their molecular structures only to get pictures of bodybuilders and healthline endorsements in why you should take it

Q: Favorite non-academic part of ISEF?

A: The people! Go team NYSSEF! I’m so glad I got to meet all these amazing people And we still keep in touch!

Q: Were there any mentors that guided you with your research? If so, in what ways did they help?

A: Definitely! I couldn’t have made it here without Dr. Foley’s lunch-period guidance and support Dr Foley has helped me from the very beginning, from when I didn’t know what .pdb and pdbqt files were, to helping me secure access to Stonybrook’s high computing cluster, a state resource, for the large-scale docking. I am forever indebted to her generosity and support. Dr. Gordon has also helped me stay afloat by making sure I submit things on time (very important) I’m also grateful for Julia Cherchever’s (she was an ISEF champion last year!) critique and support-- her feedback really prepared me for the competition

Q: How did it feel to compete against teenagers from all around the world? Were there any other projects at the competition that stood out to you?

A: It was really exciting (and nerve-wracking)! It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many amazing projects In particular, I was awed by a project that engineered a new GFP protein. It’s hard to choose which non-academic part was my favorite because we did so much. My favorites were the pin exchange (someone from South Korea made a cucurucho pin!), playing hard at Universal Studios (the whole park was closed to just ISEF and the food was free!), and meeting other finalists during the category mixer (I played mini-uno with the GFP person). ISEF was truly an unforgettable experience

Amy next to her project board Courtesy of Amy Xiao

Q: Now that you have won, what are your plans for the future?

A: I’m currently working on continuing my research in a wet lab this summer! I’d also be interested in publishing my work

All images courtesy of Amy Xiao

Amy on the way to the awards ceremony

Visit to Nintendo World in Universal Studios Hollywood with members of Team NYSSEF after judging

Another shot at Universal Studios with Team NYSSEF

Student Wins Second Place at ISEF: An Inter-“view”

By Emma Rathgeber

We had the chance to talk with James Nagler about his second place win and return to ISEF. Read the interview here:

Q: We know you’ve been featured in ECHO before for this project, but give us an update on what’s new with it this year.

A: I scrapped last year’s design and decided to make a pair of glasses that could fit inside of a normal frame, while adding novel technology. Specifically, it uses LIDAR to create a 3D map of an environment, and through custom algorithms can navigate a user through the room and around obstacles with a variety of sensors, allowing for safe and efficient navigation through an environment.

Q: How did the idea for this improvement(s) come to you?

A: I saw a new sensor (small, low-powered LIDAR) was being released by a company, and from there I built the new prototype

Q: What was the biggest roadblock you faced while working?

A: The glasses are made up of 5 custom circuit boards, so getting each of them to communicate with each other was extremely difficult

Q: What was your favorite part about working on this project?

A: Seeing the prototype work for the first time almost exactly how I envisioned it was very rewarding.

Q: Did any mentors in or out of the high school help you out?

A: Mr. Esposito was a great source to bounce ideas off of, and Dr Slater was a great source to tweak complex algorithms with. All code, algorithms, circuits, and frames were designed by myself without the help of a mentor

Q: Tell us your favorite non-academic part of ISEF.

A: Meeting like-minded people in STEM who are just as passionate about their field as I am

James wins second in the Embedded Systems category

Q: Now that you’re graduating high school, what’s next with science research? Do you plan on continuing this project?

A: I plan to continuously create new projects to benefit others, and I have many ideas for improving this project in the future. Depending on how my other projects go, I may patent and create a product from the project I created this year.

Team LISEF, the group James traveled with

James wins the Naval Award

All photos courtesy of James Nagler.

Two Worlds Aflame: Genshin Part 3

By “Saber”

The release of Genshin Impact update 4.6 on April 24, 2024 marked the first release of Arlecchino, the fourth of the Fatui Harbingers and father of the House of Hearth in Fontaine Along with the new character came the release of the new Nostoi Region of Fontaine, which finally connected the previously existing areas of Liyue and Sumeru, and much more. Although the Chronicled Wish Banner was not released in this patch, the new 4.6 banner featured Arlecchino and Lyney in the first patch and Wanderer and Baizhu reruns in the second. Arlecchino’s play style is truly unique, with her skill granting pyro infusions into her weapon. Her attacks release a scythe blade from her polearm, creating a magnificent weapon. I love to use her as an on-field pyro dps and admire her ultimate skill animation, which displays dark red fiery wings blooming off the character. With Arlecchino came new stories and adventures which did not disappoint. The in-game events were closely related to the previously released animation regarding Arlecchino’s childhood and--wwww-

and sealed up all the fine details. All in all, character-wise, it’s an amazing update for sure! I personally also loved all that the update had to offer in terms of new exploration, weapons, chests, and artifact level-up materials. The world quest was interesting and the new underwater game mechanics were phenomenal, introducing to the game a whale-induced-watercurrent system of travel that made underwater exploration that much easier Within 4 hours, I had fully explored the area, and needless to say, I loved it From new puzzles to literal layers of new map, there was a near-infinite amount of new things to do that I definitely could have taken my time with, but it was all too tempting for me to wait.

All in all, the 4.6 update was a huge hit, with more to expect in the 4 7 update and release of Clorinde into the game.

The Tortured Poets Department: A Review

By Maria Gaztañaga

On April 19 of this year, Taylor Swift released her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD). Fans had been anticipating this occasion ever since she announced “TTPD” during the Grammy Awards back in February After her six year relationship with Joe Alwyn ended last year and Swift entered and exited new romances, it was clear that her upcoming work would be a “breakup album,” so to speak. Accordingly, many of the songs deal with heartbreak and working through emotional pain while on her infamous Eras Tour. In contrast, however, some of her new songs touch upon her new relationship with football player Travis Kelce

Overall, the entire album was a rollercoaster of emotions, including songs like “So Long, London,” centered around having to say goodbye to someone she thought she would spend the rest of her life with, and “So High School” about her exciting relationship with Kelce

After being on break from touring for a few months, Swift released footage of herself practicing for the start of her European leg with new choreography, leaving some speculating that she may add a new segment to the recently released album During Paris Night 1, she debuted her updated TTPD set, with new choreography, new costumes, and five new songs, many now beloved by Swifties like “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” and “Who's Afraid of Little Old Me ”

Her new and improved performance captivated audiences worldwide, encouraging many to travel across continents just to see her w

onstage In fact, her Paris shows had a high number of American fans who had traveled to France to see Swift at a cheaper price than seeing her in the states

TTPD, being the fastest album to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, was a huge success. One factor in this achievement, I believe, was the marketing and anticipation surrounding the album. Like I previously mentioned, Swift announced TTPD on live television in front of millions of viewers and even redesigned all her social media for the album All her new posts were in black and white, setting the tone for her new album. She also released a single with famed rapper Post Malone, titled “Fortnight,” along with a music video featuring Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles from the critically acclaimed movie Dead Poets Society Many believe they were included as a nod to the confusion between the titles, The Tortured Poets Department and Dead Poets Society.

In sum, TTPD was a huge accomplishment for Swift I think it’s guaranteed that fans will be enjoying it for many years to come.

Class of 2024 College List

JOYA ACHKAR Marist College

SEBASTIAN ALISSE The University of Tampa

JACK ALKIN University of Richmond

SYDNEY ALPER Providence College

ANGEL ALVARADO Le Moyne College

MAUREEN ARENDT University of Florida

RYAN ARLOTTA University of Pittsburgh

OLIVIA BAILEY William & Mary

CASSIDY BAKER College of the Holy Cross

CAROLINE BAMBINO SUNY Binghamton

ALEX BEDARD Providence College

JOHN BEDEIAN Virginia Tech

GABRIEL BESCHLOSS East Carolina University

BRENDAN BOHN Syracuse University

GIANNA BOMMARITO Fairfield University

JOSEPH BONOMI SUNY Binghamton

EVA BRANDEWIEDE University of Richmond

EVAN BREEN Saint Michael's College

WILLIAM BRENNAN Boston College

MIA BRITA University of South Carolina

JOHN BROCK Clemson University

MICHAEL BUCCELLA SUNY Delhi

JOSEPH BUDIN University of South Carolina

ALEXANDRA BURKE University of Michigan

BRYNN BURKE University of South Carolina

OLIVIA BURKE University of California, Los Angeles

COLLIN BUSHART SUNY Oneonta

MATTHEW BUTT Sacred Heart University

KEVIN BYRNES Providence College

MATTHEW CABANA Bucknell University

DIEGO CADAVID Georgia Institute of Technology

JACK CALDARA University of Notre Dame

GRACE CARR Pennsylvania State University

EMERY CARRILLO The University of Alabama

ALLISON CARUTHERS Lehigh University

JACQUELINE CARUTHERS Lehigh University

PERRY CASANO Villanova University

KAYLA CASTELLANO SUNY Binghamton

ANDREW CHARON Virginia Tech

SHUJIN CHEN University of Rochester

KIERAN CHENG Cooper Union

JULIA CHERCHEVER Massachusetts Institute of Technology

GEORGE CHERPELIS SUNY Binghamton

ISABELLA CICCONE Fairfield University

CHARLOTTE CLARKE Marist College

JOSHUA COHEN Texas Christian University

KELLY CONNOLLY University of Delaware

RYAN CONROY Sacred Heart University

AIDAN CONSIDINE College of the Holy Cross

OWEN CONWAY University of Notre Dame

ANNA COOKE Wake Forest University

DYLAN COONERTY Loyola University Maryland

ALEXANDRA COOPER High Point University

JOSEPH COSENZA The University of Tampa

STEPHEN COWIE Saint Joseph's University

COLIN CRANE Lehigh University

ANTHONY CREACO JR Fairfield University

CAROLINE CROUCHLEY Cornell University

ELIZABETH CURTH University of South Carolina

JAMES CUZZO SUNY Stony Brook University

LUCIA DALIA The University of Tennessee

CONNOR DAVAN Hofstra University

VICTORIA DAVI Pennsylvania State University

ALESSANDRA DEALBUQUERQUE SUNY Binghamton

SAM DEALBUQUERQUE Hofstra University

KAITLIN DEBUSSCHERE Southern Methodist University

KAYLEE DERKASCH

The University of Tennessee

SYLVIA DIAZ Johns Hopkins University

GERALDINE DICHIARA St. John's University

DAVID DIGAN Fairfield University

YUCHENG DING SUNY Stony Brook University

ALESSANDRA DIPAOLO Marist College

RILEY DONAHUE Clemson University

OLIVIA DONOHUE Boston College

EMMET DUFFY Fordham University

JAMES EGAN Purdue University

CALOGERO EHRIG SUNY University at Buffalo

SOPHIA ERIGO University of Pittsburgh

KATHERINE ESCHER College of Charleston

CONNOR ESCOFFERY University of Wisconsin

THOMAS ESPOSITO Fairfield University

YUCHEN FAN Pennsylvania State University

JACK FANNING Hofstra University

DENIS FARGIONE Villanova University

EVELYNPAIGE FERON SUNY University at Buffalo

TARA FILOMENA Fairfield University

ANASTASIA FOLLENDER University of Connecticut

JOSEPH FONTANETTA Purdue University

JAKE FRANKEL Providence College

OLIVIA FRANKEL Fairfield University

BIANCA FRASCOGNA Fordham University

ANDREW FUOCO Providence College

WILLIAM GABERLAVAGE SUNY Binghamton

DYLAN GALANTI Marist College

HILLARY GARCIA-CASTILLO Adelphi University

NATALIA GARGIULO University of Delaware

ERIN GATELY Northeastern University

ANA GAZTANAGA University of Notre Dame

MARIA GAZTANAGA Clemson University

JILLIAN GENUSSA Fairfield University

JOHN GIBBONS SUNY College at Plattsburgh

MAEVE GILLESPIE University of Cincinnati

JUSTIN GISOLFI

University of Georgia

PAUL GLOSMAN Indiana University

TYLER GORMAN High Point University

ANTHONY GOTTLIEB St. John's University

MARGARET GRANEY American University

ABIGAIL HALLORAN University of Mississippi

EMMA HARTY Wesleyan University

ANTON HASKEVYCH University of California, Irvine

CELIA HEARON West Chester University

BRIGID HEGARTY Southern Methodist University

DYLAN HENRY The George Washington University

DAVID HERNANDEZ-ARROYO Purdue University

HOLDEN HERRERA Clemson University

JULIAN HINCK SUNY University at Buffalo

KAIRI HO Northeastern University

LAUREN HOHENBERGER University of Maryland

TARA HOLLIS Boston College

OWEN HOLTZMAN Trinity College

LAURYN HOLZKAMP The University of Alabama

JAMES IMPERIAL University of Vermont

TASMIAH ISHTIAQUE

New York University

EMMA YUKO ISOBE-RUSSELL Washington and Lee University

SAMANTHA KACZYNSKI Emerson College

KATHRYN KADE Texas Christian University

SKYE KADEN Northeastern University

BRADY KAROL Indiana University

BRETT KARR Villanova University

GRACE KAVAL Pennsylvania State University

KYRA KAVOURIDIS University of Kansas

JENNA KELLY The University of Alabama

JOHN KELLY Hofstra University

MAGGIE KENNA Sacred Heart University

MATTHEW KEPHART Princeton University

ALI KHAN

The University of Texas at Austin

LIYANA KHAN Fordham University

CARA KINNEY

Sacred Heart University

CARSON KRAUS Hamilton College

COOPER KRAUS Prep School

LIA LABATE The University of Tampa

MICHAEL LAROCCA Providence College

AUDREY LAW Indiana University

RYAN LAWSON University of Michigan

SEAN LEONARDO Providence College

MATTHEW LIBEROPOULOS University of Wisconsin

DEBBIE LIEU New York University

MAYSA LIHAZ Fordham University

ERIN LLOYD University of Connecticut

PRESTON LONGO Marist College

VICTORIA LOPEZ SUNY Stony Brook University

ANDREW LOUGHLIN Miami University of Ohio

MIRANDA LUDRICKS The George Washington University

BRENDAN LUDWIG Purdue University

HANNAH MAGNOTTA Pennsylvania State University

STAMATI MAKRINOS Syracuse University

ELIZABETH MARSHALL Siena College

MOLLY MARTIN University of Vermont

TYLER MCALEA Purdue University

CAROLINE MCAULEY Sacred Heart University

PATRICK MCCORMACK Wake Forest University

KATHRYN MCCOY Loyola University Maryland

PATRICK MCDONALD Employment

JOHN MCGINLEY University of Mississippi

REESE MCGOWAN Rhode Island School of Design

KEIRA MCGUINESS SUNY Cortland

SARAH MCLAUGHLIN Bentley University

CLAIRE MCNALLY Villanova University

CHARLES MERINGOLO Southern Methodist University

EMILY METZ University of Wisconsin

MOLLY METZ College of Charleston

NICHOLAS MIERZEJEWSKI SUNY Binghamton

AUGUSTIN MINGOIA MURPHY SUNY Stony Brook University

ANNA MITCHELL Providence College

MOHAMED MOHAMED

New York Institute of Technology

AIDAN MOLLOY University of Mississippi

ELIZABETH MORGAN SUNY Binghamton

STEPHANIE MORGAN Lehigh University

WILLIAM MORGAN JR Sacred Heart University

SIENNA MORISI University of Florida

KENDAL MORRIS Arizona State University

DANIEL MURPHY SUNY Binghamton

LOGAN MURPHY Clemson University

TARA MURPHY Dartmouth University

JAMES NAGLER Massachusetts Institute of Technology

NICOLE NALLAN Purdue University

WILSON NAPPI Syracuse University

MOLLY NICHOLAS University of Scranton

BRADY NOLL University of Michigan

EMILY NORI Adelphi University

JAMES NUGENT Marist College

JACINTA O'BRIEN Midway University

MICHAEL O'HANLON Iona University

JOHN O'NEILL University of Notre Dame

OLIVER OBECK Rochester Institute of Technology

PHINEAS OLCOTT Dartmouth University

GABRIELLA OLSHEFSKY Simmons University

MATHEW OSIPINSKI St John's University

ANDREW OTTOMANELLI College of the Holy Cross

MABEL OVERBECK Duke University

ALEXANDER PALMER Purdue University

ELLIE PAMATAT Hofstra University

ARMEEN PANTHAKI Georgetown University

CHRISTINA PAPACHRISTOS Georgetown University

CHRISTOPHER PAPE Nassau Community College

DANIELLE PARRELLA Marywood University

KAYLA PASQUALINA University of Colorado Boulder

NIAMH PFAFF Yale University

EMMA PHILLIPS Adelphi University

JACKSON PHILLIPS SUNY Oneonta

REBECCA PHINNEY Long Island University

JOSEPH PINO St. John's University

KATE POGOZELSKI Clemson University

KATHLYN POMEROY Union College

MICHAEL POWER Clemson University

THOMAS POZ The ProProject

DANIEL PSAKI Providence College

STEPHEN RAGOLIA Marist College

EMMA RATHGEBER Rice University

MATTHEW REILLY University of Mississippi

NICHOLAS REMICK Syracuse University

PATRICK RIFFLE The University of Tampa

EMILY ROMEO SUNY Binghamton

ELIZABETH ROSADO Georgetown University

JENNIFER ROSADO The University of Texas at Austin

JOHN RYNN Pennsylvania State University

THOMAS SALVATO University of South Carolina

JONATHAN SANASIE Purdue University

MARGUERITE SANTOS University of Virginia

SILVANA SCALISE Providence College

ANDREW SCHLIPF Endicott College

ROSE SCHREIER SUNY Binghamton

ISABELLA SCIANABLO University of Maryland

ROBERT SEAMAN University of Florida

ANA SEEBRATH SUNY Cortland

SOPHIA SETHI Fordham University

NATALIE SIRICO Adelphi University

LAILA SMITH University of Notre Dame

STEPHANIE SMITH University of Maryland

AVA SMOLANICK Sacred Heart University

VIKRAMJEET SOHAL Rutgers University

BRADEN SOUTAR Providence College

JULIA STELMOKAS Iona University

CHLOE SULLIVAN Nassau Community College

MICHAEL SULLIVAN Providence College

MARY KATE SWEENEY Fordham University

JOANNA TAVOULAREAS Hofstra University

TRAVIS THOMPSON University of Maryland

CHRISTIE TRABOLD SUNY Binghamton

ISABELLA TRUNFIO SUNY Binghamton

JOHN UHODA Fairfield University

JAMES ULLRICH Bryant University

MADELINE VAN DYKE Fordham University

CHRISTINA VASILAKIS Pennsylvania State University

AVA VENEZIA Villanova University

JULIANNA VINCI Fairfield University

ARTEMIS VLOGIANITIS University of Maryland

ISABELLA VONA Villanova University

SUSAN VONWERNE Long Island University

PETER VORILLAS CUNY Baruch College

LEO VOTRUBA Southern Methodist University

ALEXANDRA WALSH Salve Regina University

ELAINE WANG Cornell University

KYLE WATSON Virginia Tech

NINA WIESE University of Nebraska at Omaha

RYAN WINTER The University of Tampa

XINMI XIE Pennsylvania State University

GIANLUCA YEPES SUNY Albany

JOSEPHINE YIN Hofstra University

KEVIN YOUNG Wake Forest University

YOUYUAN ZHANG University of Pennsylvania