MAY 28, 2015 • THE VILLAGE TIMES HERALD • PAGE A11
PEOPLE North Shore graduates celebrate
Graduation season is upon us. Poquott resident and Ward Melville alumni, Alex Stubberfield, graduated from Virginia Tech with a master’s in both philosophy and public and international affairs. In the fall, he will continue his academic career at Virginia Tech to pursue a doctorate of philosophy in the Department of Political Science’s “ASPECT” program — Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical and Cultural Thought. Al DeStefano, another graduate of Ward Melville High School, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2015 at West Point over the weekend. He was an avid leader of the WMHS lacrosse team and continued that success throughout his academic years and is off to Fort Benning in Georgia now that he has capped off his higher education pursuit.
Niyati Desai
Photo from Three Village school district
International award for WMHS scientist
Ward Melville High School senior Niyati Desai was named a second-place finalist in the physics category of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held May 10-15 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Desai, a member of Ward Melville’s InSTAR® science research program, presented her work alongside over 1,700 student scientists from 75 countries, regions and territories. Her project used graphene to develop a new type of transistor that can be a hundred times smaller than current silicon-based versions. This pioneering work is expected to lead to a new generation of super-small electronic devices that are far more sophisticated and efficient than our current technology allows. ISEF is a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP) and the world’s largest international precollege science competition. High school students showcase their independent research as they compete for approximately $4 million in prizes. The Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12.
Three Village appoints new assistant principals The Three Village school district has appointed Tanya Hurowitz and Merrilleen Heidrich as assistant principal of Arrowhead and W.S. Mount Elementary Schools, respectively. Both professionals will begin their work in the district on July 1. Hurowitz, a nearly 20-year veteran educator, is a familiar face in the district, having worked at the elementary level from September 2000 through June 2008. She is currently the assistant principal of Woodhull Elementary School in the William Floyd School District. During her previous work in Three Village, Hurowitz worked as a
summer reading teacher, third-grade teacher and assistant principal at Nassakeag Elementary School. Heidrich has worked in the educational field since 1996 and is currently working at Sunrise Drive Elementary School in the Sayville school district as AIS math teacher and special education summer school principal.
Photo from Three Village school district
The Three Village school district has appointed Tanya Hurowitz (left) and Merrilleen Heidrich as assistant principal of Arrowhead and W.S. Mount Elementary Schools, respectively.
Top photo by Bruce Larrabees; bottom photo from Peter Stubberfield
Top, Alex Stubberfield; above, Al DeStefano
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