Winter 2024 vol. 4
Dear Harrison Families,
Our latest accomplishments of our students, varied and unique, are shared in our latest Highlights edition.
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Harrison High School seniors Lucia Lammers and Stella Perini were named Regeneron Science Scholars.
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Seven Science Research students advanced to the Upstate Competition of the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium at the University of Albany from the Regional Competition; this was Harrison's best showing ever.
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The DECA Business Club made a strong showing at regionals and will send an unprecedented 63 students to the state competition in March.
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Two of our digital arts students earned top recognition from the School of Visual Arts, and the HHS literary magazine was named among the best in the country.
We celebrate our remarkable students and are proud of their drive, determination, and accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Louis N. Wool, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
HHS Seniors Named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars
Harrison High School seniors, Lucia Lammers and Stella Perini, were named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars. They were selected from 2,162 applications received from 712 high schools across 46 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and ten other countries. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists from 196 American and international high schools and homeschools in 36 states and China. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists. Lucia (Colorimetric and Spectroscopic Analysis of Textiles Dyed with Local Invasive Plant Species and Waste-derived Mordants) and Stella (Protective Effects of Resveratrol Following Repetitive Head Injury in Wild Type and Amyloid β42 Drosophila melanogaster) conducted their research as part of Harrison High School’s Science Research Program. To be considered for the Regeneron competition, students conduct an original research project, collect and analyze comprehensive data and present their work for evaluation by a panel of judges. Students also complete and submit an application which explains the reasoning behind their study, academic background and interest in science. Meet our science scholars.
HHS Students Earn Top Awards at Regional Science Symposium
Harrison Science Research students earned multiple awards at the regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium in January. The symposium is an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to present original research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics as they pursue the opportunity to advance to state and national level competitions. The following Harrison High School Students earned awards and will advance to the upstate competition later this month: Lucia Lammers, 1st Environmental Sciences; Stella Perini, 1st Medicine and Health; Alec Udell, 1st Environmental Sciences; Galle Blaustein, 2nd Cellular and Molecular Biology; Emma Jonisch, 2nd Medicine and Health; Filippa Rasmussen, 2nd Behavioral Sciences; Stella O’Connell, 4th Cellular and Molecular Biology. Congratulations to the following students who won in the local division: Ben Gold, 1st Bioinformatics; Katie McCann, 1st Medicine and Health; Mason Danzig, 3rd Behavioral Sciences.
DECA Business Team Makes Strong Showing a Regional Competition
The Harrison High School DECA Team performed at a high level at the Regional DECA competition. Students took a multiple-choice test to demonstrate their business knowledge in the areas of marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, and business administration, and participated in a series of role plays where they demonstrated their communication skills, problem-solving techniques, and ability to apply the business curriculum to various case studies and business situations. Six Harrison students placed first and 15 placed in the top 5 in their categories. 1st place: Christian Donofrio, Chase Ende, Jeremy Xhayet, Kylie Maurer, Jonah Pelgri, Addison Valente; 2nd place: Sydney Friedman, Jessie Kritzman; 3rd place: Marissa Ludardi; 4th place: Jonathan Lewis, Matthew Marsh, Emily Salemo, Matthew Carrera, Eva Popescu. In addition, students who wrote manuals/research papers will compete at the NYS level. In total, Harrison High School will send an unbelievable 63 students to Rochester for the New York State competition in March.
HHS Students Earn Awards; Work Exhibited at School of Visual Arts
Harrison High School digital arts students, senior Justin Suozzo and junior Michael Brandt, work was featured in the School of Visual Art's Photography and Video exhibit "We the Present: Today Begins the Future." The contest invited students to submit original work as a way to demonstrate how photography explores "what it means to exist in the current moment as we look ahead...how might [it] inform our collective future.” Judges selected “impressive and compelling” work from 49 students from across the globe. Justin created a series of original digital composites responding to the way technology plays a critical role in our lives, and Michael submitted his photo titled, "Inflated" taken at Rye Playland last summer. Their work is included in a print publication of the best work from participating high schools. Examples of Michael's (left) and Justin's (right) submissions appear above.
HHS Literary Magazine Recognized for Excellence
The Harrison High School literary magazine, Imagine, received the rank of Excellent in the 2023 National Council of Teachers of English Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to submit work that is evaluated and selected for publication in Imagine by student editors. Imagine is consistently recognized among the top student literary publications in the country. The REALM program publicly recognizes excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers and encourages schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing.
Astronomy Club Hosts Planetarium Show for Harrison Community
The Harrison High School Astronomy Club hosted the annual Winter Planetarium Show on January 19th. More than 120 parents, students and community members attended the guided exploration of celestial bodies in our solar system and explored constellations in the night sky. The feature presentation was "Birth of Planet Earth" which highlighted the beginning of our planet and development of living organisms on Earth. Many thanks to the mmembers of the high school Astronomy Club welcomed community members and facilitated the show: Matthew Basso, Siobhan Rice, Stella O'Connell, Julianna Blackman, Noelie Boquet Couderc, Aleshanee Sari Melendez, Brendany Gomez Portillo.