“Keep your head up high” and “Be hopeful, you will be fine” are some of the messages that fourth graders inscribed on their individual rocks, decorated in bright paint colors. The project was part of an initiative to spread hope and kindness throughout the community. 

“We talked about people needing to have hope and resilience during times of struggle and how one little unexpected gesture of kindness could impact someone in a big way and even turn a bad day into an awesome one,” said teacher Derrick DiRienzo, who initiated the project after being inspired by a national viral trend called “The Kindness Rocks Project.”

Once completed, the students placed their rocks in various spots around the community for others to find and get inspired by. 

“I hope the students took away the knowledge that words and actions are meaningful, no matter how small,” DiRienzo said. “They have the power to bring joy to people’s lives in ways they never thought.” 

 

Photo caption: Bronxville Elementary School fourth graders decorated rocks in bright paint colors and inscribed them with positive messages. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Bronxville Union Free School District 

 

Merrick Avenue Middle School was recently the fortunate recipient of a former student’s Eagle Scout Project. 

Kyle Berberich, a current senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, selected MAMS as the beneficiary for his scout project. 

“We also thank his supportive family, fellow scout members and Rachel Ginsburg (a parent of a former student) for donating her time to assist Kyle with the beautiful landscaping design that will continue to bloom and be enjoyed at MAMS for years to come,” said Principal Katelyn Dunn.

Photo caption:

1. Rachel Ginsburg, former MAMS parent, and Kyle Berberich.
2. Fellow scouts assisted Kyle with his beautification project.
3. The newly spruced up garden at MAMS.

 

Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

 

Admittedly, as a high school senior, she doesn’t have much time or money. But there’s one thing she definitely has: passion. Smithtown High School West senior Shannon Alptekin took that passion and created her own nonprofit organization to help those in need.

Alptekin is the founder and executive director of International Innovative Solutions Project. I2SP’s mission is to utilize innovative technology to provide humanitarian aid to underprivileged communities that lack access to the resources required to provide essential health and human services. “I am passionate about healthcare, and I aspire to become a surgeon,” Alptekin said. “So I took a look at the global water crisis, especially what is happening with the pandemic, and knew it was a mission that deeply impassioned me.”

Alptekin did some research and learned about the impoverished villagers  of Turkana County, Kenya. I2SP’s pilot project is to alleviate water scarcity through the deployment of a self-sustaining solar microgrid that will power an atmospheric water generator. The technology extracts water vapor from the ambient atmosphere and condenses it into clean drinking water. The microgrid will be installed on the grounds of the Turkana Basin Institute Turkwel Research Facility in Turkana County as part of their hub for innovation. 

Turkana Basin Institute is one of the partners that will execute the project locally. SOSAED, an organization led by former director of Brookhaven National Laboratory Dr. Samuel Aronson, is another partner based in Turkana that will assist with the project. 

The organization’s fundraising goal for the project is $200,000. Donations are being accepted through GoFundMe and the website, www.i2sp.org. “By improving the villagers’ access to a safe source of drinking water, this project will be absolutely transformative,” Alptekin said. “In fact, this project could be replicated in different penurious communities around the globe, making a profound impact in the mitigation of the global water crisis.”

While helping to aid in the village’s drinking water, the project will have even more benefits to the community. It would improve healthcare, education, economics and productivity. Alptekin began this project at the end of 2019 and is focused on spreading  the word about the organization’s mission. “I am still in the early stages of fundraising,” she said. “And I realize $200,000 seems like a lot of money. But if we can just get the word out, every dollar will help make a difference in meeting our goal.”

 

Photo caption: Smithtown High School West senior Shannon Alptekin is the founder and executive director of International Innovative Solutions Project. She’s currently working to raise $200,000 to install a solar grid in Turkana County, Kenya, to provide drinking water for the villagers. 

 

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District

 

Westhampton Beach Elementary School students recently raised $14,000 for their school through their fifth annual Hurricane Fun Run. 

As part of the PTA-sponsored event, students obtained pledges to run laps at their school. All of the funds raised will go directly toward new outdoor learning spaces and yoga mats at the elementary school.     

 

Photo caption: Westhampton Beach Elementary School students raised funds for school programs by participating in the annual Hurricane Fun Run.

 

Photo courtesy of the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District

 

Wantagh Elementary School students and staff donned gold on Sept. 25 to support National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day, which is sponsored by Go 4 the Goal and the American Childhood Cancer Organization. The students wore their school colors, black and gold, to raise awareness of children battling cancer. 

 

Photo caption: The students are pictured with (back, l-r) assistant principal Briana James and Principal Dr. Randee Bonagura.

 

Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District