Achievements Of Half Hollow Hills' Students Celebrated

From Suffolk County: Suffolk County Legislator Susan A. Berland (D-Dix Hills) joined State Senator Jim Gaughran and Assemblyman Steve Stern in recognizing several remarkable students at this month’s Half Hollow Hills Board of Education meeting.

Poojan Pandya, a senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West, was recognized for earning one of the European Union’s top prizes for young scientists at the 31st E.U. Contest for Young Scientists in Sofia, Bulgaria, where his research project on HIV proteins, which could potentially be used as part of anti-HIV therapies, was presented. Nicholas Likos, a student at Half Hollow Hills High School East, was honored for earning the National Speech and Debate Association Academic All American Award, a designation granted to less than 1% of the 141,000 student members of the National Speech and Debate Association each year. Peyton Hall, a junior at Half Hollow Hills High School West and the President of her high school’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative was recognized for her role in the development of the Youth Council for the Women’s Diversity Network and its programming. Peyton connected with approximately 30 young women to discuss the use of racist language at school and used this valuable platform to guide other young women into further conversation about leadership and issues facing young teen girls today.

The attendees at the meeting also heard from Sunquam Elementary School Youth Council President Paxton Hazel and Vice President Justin Tibaldi about how Sunquam encourages them to challenge themselves, learn and grow every day. “These young men and women are exemplary of the excellence that the Half Hollow Hills School District fosters and promotes in our students,” said Suffolk County Legislator Susan A. Berland. “Our community is immensely proud of these remarkable students and wish them every continued success in their future.”

This press released was produced by Suffolk County. The views are the author's own.