2 Manhasset seniors win Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Ryan Thorpe, second from left, and Rachel Chang, center, were awarded more than $15,000. Credit: Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Two Manhasset High School seniors were honored in Sweden as winners of the grand prize in a prestigious international competition that explores water and environmental issues.
Rachel Chang and Ryan Thorpe took the top honor at the 2017 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, a weeklong contest open to students ages 15 to 20 who have conducted water-related projects of environmental, scientific, social or technological significance. It is administered by the Stockholm International Water Institute.
Chang and Thorpe, both 17, who represented the United States and vied against entrants from 32 other countries, were awarded $15,000 as well as $5,000 for their school by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. They also received $10,000 for winning first place at the national level during the summer in North Carolina.
The competition was held in conjunction with World Water Week in Stockholm, a global water conference.
“This is definitely a validation of the work we’ve been doing over the past two years,” Chang said. “Water scarcity is such a huge issue.”
The duo created a system to detect and purify bacteria-contaminated water through use of graphene biosensors. They worked on the project in a lab at their high school under the guidance of research teacher Alison Huenger.
To reach the international level, they first won at the regional, state and national levels — the latter of which, in June, included top projects from 48 states and Puerto Rico.
“Being able to interact with people from all over the world was a victory in itself,” Thorpe said. “Each round was the prize for us.”
ELWOOD
New principal
Christina Sapienza has been appointed principal of Elwood Middle School. She replaced Hugh Gigante, who now is executive director of personnel for Western Suffolk BOCES.
Sapienza most recently served nine years as middle school assistant principal in the Commack and Oceanside school districts. She began her educational career as a special educator in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District.
“I continue to be so impressed with the student-centered approach, innovative instructional practices, as well as the focus on community engagement,” Sapienza said of Elwood. “I look forward to the great work happening at the middle school, where we will continue to focus on academic excellence, developmental responsiveness and social equity.”
SOUTHAMPTON
New superintendent
Leonard Skuggevik has been appointed superintendent of Tuckahoe Common School District. He replaced Allan Gerstenlauer, who held the position on an interim basis.
Skuggevik most recently was superintendent and principal of the Shelter Island school district since 2014, and before that was principal of Greenport High School and assistant principal of Longwood High School in Middle Island. He also has been a social studies teacher at several schools and an acting assistant principal and dean of students at Long Beach High School.
“I am excited to be joining the Tuckahoe family,” Skuggevik said. “I look forward to working with the entire community to give students every opportunity to not only succeed academically, but to grow into fine young men and women with a true sense of pride, respect and responsibility.”
WEST ISLIP
Interim principal
Biagio Arpino is the interim principal of St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School.
Arpino, who has 45 years of experience in Catholic education, replaced Nan Doherty, who retired. Among his previous positions, he was a teacher and principal at St. Mary School in East Islip, and assistant superintendent of personnel and director of religious education for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
“I am delighted to be assisting in the administrative educational leadership at St. John’s,” Arpino said.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
