Westbury students in summer science mode

Gretshaida Guelee, 17, and Jordan Guyton and Sumbul Yousafi, both 16, had not given much thought to the environmental sciences -- not until this summer anyway.

The three Westbury High School students will graduate Thursday from a four-week summer course organized by the Westbury arm of Project Grad, a national college-access nonprofit aimed at enriching education in low-income areas. National Grid Foundation kicked in $18,000 for the program, which was held at Molloy College in Rockville Centre.

Guyton said he is now "passionate" about environmental science. "I want to learn how to make a difference," he said. Guelee said she enjoyed the field trip to an organic farm, and now wants to be a nurse practitioner. Yousafi said it was invigorating to study during summer break from school. "It's a lot better than waking up late every day," she said.