Jericho students win 'unsung heroes' contest, and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School in Islip unveils new outdoor classroom

Three current and former Jericho students are among the top winners of an international competition that asked them to research the impact of "unsung" heroes.

Sisters Kaitlyn and Madison Choi won the $2,500 Outstanding High School Project Award, while Jay Patel won the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project Award, in the 2024 International Discovery Award competition coordinated by Kansas-based nonprofit Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Kaitlyn Choi has graduated since entering the competition and is now a freshman at Harvard University, while Jayl is a student at the high school.

The annual competition inspires students to develop research projects that share the historical impact of heroes whose stories are little-known, the center said.

“Real heroes tower and guide, but their stories need to be discovered and heard,” said the center’s founder, Lowell Milken. Of the importance of sharing those stories, he noted: "We have the opportunity to motivate new generations to aspire to values that are essential during the challenging times we face individually, as a nation, and as a world community."

The Chois’ project was a website about the late activist Judy Heumann's determination to represent the rights of disabled people in the United States, while Patel’s project was a documentary about surgeon Charles Drew's establishment of blood banks that saved millions of lives during World War II.

Three Jericho middle schoolers — siblings Rayan Hasan and Rumaisa Hasan and Ananya Kavi — were among nine recipients of Certificates of Excellence, while the school district received the competition's Outstanding School Award.

"Participating in the competition was particularly meaningful this year, as I learned the center would be creating an exhibit on the disability rights movement, which is related to the unsung hero of my project," Madison Choi said. "It's incredibly special knowing the research for this competition may continue to contribute to sharing Judy Heumann’s legacy."

EAST SETAUKET

New principal

John Holownia is the new principal of Ward Melville High School. He replaced Paul Gold, who was the school's acting principal following the administrative reassignment of William Bernhard.

Holownia was previously an assistant principal at Shoreham-Wading River High School since 2019. Before that, he was a special education teacher at the Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station.

“I look forward to building relationships with the students, families and professionals of Ward Melville," Holownia said.

HUNTINGTON

New principal

Rochelle Brown has been appointed principal of Huntington High School. She replaced Brenden Cusack, who is now assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Huntington school district.

Brown served the past three years as assistant principal of Uniondale High School, and before that was an assistant principal at Roosevelt High School.

"This has truly been a dream come true," Brown said. "As a first-year principal, I intend to take my time to learn about the rich history of Huntington High School and identify opportunities for   growth."

ISLIP

Outdoor classroom

Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School has unveiled a new outdoor classroom that was the result of a three-year Boosterthon project spearheaded by the school’s PTA.

The classroom includes items such as chalkboard workstations, magnifying stations and a little free library in which students can deposit or take books. Five sitting stumps were donated by Alec’s Affordable Arbor Services in Islip, while the district’s director of fine and performing arts, Michael Hershkowitz, added instruments including tubular chimes and samba drums.

“This new learning space opens up a world of exciting learning opportunities which foster curiosity, collaboration and creativity," said the school’s principal, Briana James.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

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.