More than 160 students from 16 local high schools attended Vision Long Island’s annual Youth Summit last month at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Long Island Campus.
An event that brings high school students together for a day of interactive workshops, the summit offers students an opportunity to represent their high school, and interact with fellow students from across Long Island while exploring important current socio-medical, environmental and socio-economic issues.
This year’s workshop topics included bullying and cyber-bullying; teens and substance abuse; teen mental health; climate change; renewable energy; economic development; diversity and equality; teens and criminal justice; and science and technology.
A number of the workshops were led by SJNY instructors, including Adrianna Silva, Jo Anne Durovich, Ph.D., Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., Tom Petriano, Ph.D., Barbara Morrell, Ph.D., and Corrine Donavan, Ph.D.
In addition, St. Joseph’s President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., delivered a keynote address about his formative years and what it means to be successful.
“One of the real keys is, whatever it is that you do in life, if you bring that spirit of excellence with you, you’re going to be successful,” Dr. Boomgaarden said. “I remember having a lot of anxiety when I was your age about being successful. But the reality is, you’re going to be successful. And that spirit of personal excellence is what will make you succeed in whatever it is that you do.
“Push yourself, put yourself at risk and take chances,” he continued. “I always felt like if I’m not scared, if I’m not in an uncomfortable position, I’m probably not developing, I’m probably not moving forward. I’m probably just kind of sitting on my laurels. So that desire to put yourself out there and take risks, along with the sense of excellence are real keys to success in life.”
The Summit is a partnership among public and private high schools, SJNY, National Grid, Northwell Health, Vision Long Island, and a number of other businesses and organizations who contribute to the Summit. The top prizes for students’ research and creative projects included Southwest Airlines tickets, and cash prizes of $500 and $1,000. Winners included students from Sacred Heart Academy, General Douglas MacArthur, Eastport-South Manor, Hicksville, Division Avenue, Westbury, Amityville, East Rockaway, John F. Kennedy and Rocky Point high schools.
