Way to Go! Christina Capobianco of West Bablyon
Senior Christina Capobianco raised fund for this greenhous at West Babylon High School. Credit: West Babylon School District
A West Babylon student is hoping to give her peers a taste of the environment with the installation of a school greenhouse.
Christina Capobianco, a senior at West Babylon High School, raised $2,000 through a series of fundraisers to cover the cost of a 10-foot-by-12-foot greenhouse located across from the school’s courtyard. It was completed in August with the help of student volunteers and Capobianco’s family.
Capobianco, 17, now is preparing the greenhouse’s interior with plans to have it operational by spring. Ultimately, she hopes the school cafeteria will serve its yield.
“This will expose students to something they’re not usually exposed to,” Capobianco said. The effort is part of the community service component for her Gold Award, the top honor for a Girl Scout.
To launch the project, Capobianco first passed the idea by school administrators. To raise funds, she held two car washes and a pasta night, for which four local restaurants donated food. She also sold “sprout pencils,” which feature seed capsules in place of erasers for planting after use.
Capobianco is treasurer of the Class of 2017 and a member of the National Math & Science Honor Society, National Honor Society, Art Club and Science Olympiad.
She also is involved in mural and set painting and plays violin in the symphonic orchestra.
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.
