Valley Stream student wins Hofstra essay contest
Jia Ru Yang, second from right, of Valley Stream South High School, was the first-place winner of Hofstra University’s “Celebration of Suburban Diversity” Essay Contest. With her are, from left, Hofstra officials Lawrence Levy, Deborah Tinnirello and Christopher Niedt. Credit: Hofstra University
A Valley Stream student’s essay won first place in a local contest that challenged teens to explore diversity-related issues and how those issues impact them on Long Island.
Jia Ru Yang, a junior at Valley Stream South High School, took the top spot in this year’s “Celebration of Suburban Diversity” essay contest coordinated by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University in Hempstead. She received a $3,000 scholarship.
Yang’s winning essay, titled “My Own Voice: The Silent Burdens Accented Speakers Carry,” focused on “various insensitivities and implicit biases bilingual students face in their daily lives” while also celebrating the “strength and richness that multilingual students bring to the community,” according to the Valley Stream Central High School District.
“Having an accent is a powerful thing,” Yang wrote in her winning essay. “It represents bilingual ability, adaptability and carrying the weight of two cultures at once. If anything, that gives me more perspective than many monolingual people and shouldn’t be a deterrent from future opportunities.”
Valley Stream South Principal Matthew Swinson said in a statement: “We are incredibly proud of Jia Ru for this astonishing accomplishment. Her success in this important contest is a testament to her talent, hard work and insightful perspective.”
The second-place winner was Uniondale High School senior Destini Barrow, and the third-place winner was New Hyde Park Memorial High School sophomore Shahzadi Zenab Chaudry. They won $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively.
This year’s contest attracted more than 100 entries, university officials said.
CENTEREACH
Sensory hallway
North Coleman Road Elementary School recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a new sensory hallway to help students reset their emotions before returning to learning.
The hallway, called “Sensory Way,” was designed to provide a “calming, engaging environment” for kids who feel anxious, overwhelmed or “simply full of energy,” school officials said. Items include a bubble tube, wall-mounted fidget boards and colorful floor designs for hopscotch, jumping and crab crawling.
“This hallway represents our continued commitment to supporting the whole child — academically, socially and emotionally,” Principal Kim Pelan said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our school community.”
EAST SETAUKET
Yearbook excellence
Ward Melville High School senior Greta Anselm placed third in the people spread category of the 2025 Yearbook Excellence Contest coordinated by Quill and Scroll, a journalism honor society recognizing “student initiative and achievement in scholastic journalism,” according to its website. She placed in the category’s Class A, which includes high schools with 1,000 students or more.
Anselm was selected for an “exceptional people spread design” in her school’s 2024-25 yearbook, according to Ward Melville.
“Greta’s thoughtful layout, strong visual storytelling and exceptional design skills distinguished her among a highly competitive field,” Ward Melville’s yearbook adviser Camryn Caggiano said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment.”
HEMPSTEAD
New superintendent
Gary Rush has been appointed superintendent of the Hempstead Union Free School District. He had held the position on an interim basis since the summer.
Rush’s previous positions with Hempstead include serving as the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, principal of David Paterson Elementary School and as interim assistant principal at Alverta B. Gray Middle School, where he started his career as a physical education teacher in 1996.
“Hempstead has always been home to me,” Rush said. “Having spent my entire career here, I’m excited to continue working alongside our educators, families and community to strengthen instruction, support our staff and create the best possible opportunities for our students.”
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.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
'We have to do better' Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.
