Rep. Steve Israel Inspired Project GRAD Students, Three Eligible for Scholarships to Farmingdale State College

Rep. Steve Israel Inspired Project GRAD Students, Three Eligible for Scholarships to Farmingdale State College

Congressman Steve Israel, NY-02, saw first-hand what 9th grade students from Westbury Union Free School District learned this summer about sustainable energy, science, math, and English when they displayed their Project GRAD Summer Institute projects.

Congressman Israel spoke to the students about the important role they will play in making our nation less dependent on other countries for energy, According to Executive Director of Project GRAD Long Island Daryl Ogden, “The Green Building Institute is a four-week program for 60 Project GRAD students (rising 9th graders) who are taking advantage of the tremendous leadership Congressman Israel has demonstrated vis a vis Farmingdale State; our students are taking advantage of the Green Building Institute that the Congressman brought to Farmingdale with federal support.”

This year’s Summer Institute, supported by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the National Grid Foundation, culminated in a “Green Energy” design competition, where teams of Westbury students presented their concepts for the most energy efficient designs for homes.

A panel of distinguished judges including Robert B. Catell, chairman, Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC), Kirk Kordeleski, CEO and president of Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Chair of Project GRAD Long Island’s Board and Farmingdale State Architecture and Construction Professor Edward Davis selected the winning team.

The three student winners of the design competition, Danielle Kelly, Halaa Menasy and Temoria Mughal, are each eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend Farmingdale State College, provided they qualify for admission. Farmingdale President W. Hubert Keen is an active member of the Project GRAD board and this summer marks the second year that Farmingdale State has collaborated with Project GRAD.

Farmingdale State College President W. Hubert Keen said. “Collaborating with Project GRAD is a natural because Farmingdale State helps change lives for the better through its legacy in efforts related to sustainability. I am so pleased to be able to award $1,000 scholarships to the three winners of the energy competition.”

“The Project GRAD Summer Institute students who participated in the green energy design competition presented impressive home design concepts. I want to thank Congressman Israel for his incredible support of Project GRAD Long Island, as well his and Bob Catell’s leadership on green energy technology and development. They are both leaders who make a difference on Long Island,” said Kirk Kordeleski, Bethpage Federal Credit Union President and CEO and Chair of Project GRAD Long Island’s Board. “I also want to thank Farmingdale State College for their continued support of Project GRAD and for creating the generous scholarships for the winning Westbury students.”

Bob Catell said, “Project GRAD’s Summer Institute at Farmingdale State was a wonderful opportunity to introduce students to green building concepts. The home designs produced by these gifted teens from Westbury High School clearly demonstrate that Long Island has the talent pool to become a world leader in developing a new generation of green technologies.”

At the Summer Institute Closing Ceremony on July 29, students were joined by family members to hear from Dr. Constance Clark-Snead, superintendent of Westbury School District, who also offered her congratulations and told the students to be prepared to work extremely hard in the fall to show what they have learned this summer.

Project GRAD Long Island, an independent 501(c)3 organization with a local board of directors, has partnered with the Westbury Union Free School District since 2007. Beginning with the Westbury High School Class of 2013, Project GRAD will provide a maximum $6,000 college scholarship ($1,500 per year for four years) to every student who successfully completes the program. This includes graduating in four years with a New York State Regents Diploma, maintaining a cumulative numerical average of 81 or above, and completing two summer institutes with partner colleges and universities. Project GRAD students and Westbury staff will work together to secure additional state, federal, and private scholarship support to help make college affordable. More information is also available at www.projectgradli.org.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to position itself as a strong alternative to banks. Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is among the nation’s largest credit unions with 23 branches and more than 60 shared service centers across Long Island. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers better rates, lower fees and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit www.lovebethpage.com. Bethpage can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lovebethpage

The National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life in areas where National Grid provides services. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation has provided more than $15 million in grants to hundreds of organizations.

Farmingdale State College prepares students with the education, skills, and critical thinking needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (with about 7,000 students), Farmingdale equips its students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. At Farmingdale, students also have abundant opportunities in experiential learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. Small, personalized classes, a new residence hall with suite-style living, a lush 380-acre campus undergoing major renovation, and a highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program with modern facilities make Farmingdale State College one of the fastest-growing colleges in the region. Farmingdale State College is a Kioli Founding Member.