HHS to Participate in STEM Composite Tech Initiative
Six Huntington High School students are set to participate in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics program offered through a partnership between Composite Prototyping Center and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology located in Queens.
The program will kick-off next week. A select group of 18 students from Huntington, Syosset and Bethpage high schools have been invited to participate in the initiative. The STEM course focuses on composite technology. CPC is hosting the program at its Express Street, Plainview facility. Vaughn College professors and instructors are delivering the curriculum content.
“This is an exciting venture for participating students and staff from the three high schools,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “This type of authentic and advanced experience in the field is not commonplace for high school students. It will give them a hands-on glimpse into composite materials science and technology, as well as a true sense of what STEM is really all about. It has been and will continue to be a pleasure for us to collaborate with our counterparts in Bethpage and Syosset in this regard.”
Huntington, Syosset and Bethpage are the first Long Island districts to participate in the program. Once the pilot wraps up, CPC intends to make it available to all Nassau and Suffolk districts.
The program, which runs for 20 hours over six sessions, is designed for high school students enrolled in Regents level math and science. Each of the three participating districts was invited to send six students. Each student that successfully completes the program will receive college credit from Vaughn College.
“The program provides an introduction to composite technology designed to give high school students an appreciation for the field of composite design, engineering and manufacturing,” according to an overview shared with Huntington School District officials. “The use of composites in 21st century manufacturing is infiltrating all major market segments, such as aerospace, transportation, alternative energy and consumer goods. The program exposes students to state-of-the-art technology that only a few engineering schools in the country currently offer courses in.”
Huntington’s participants include Dawson Wallace, Evan Aguirre, Diego Rodriquez, Jahi Douglas, Miranda Nykolyn and Sebastian Stamatatos. Huntington’s alternates are Zachary McGinniss, Kenny Charles, Lauren McGlone, Jonathan Shechter, Nick Lanzisero, Christian Verfenstein and Chris Burton. A Title I school improvement grant will cover any expenses related to the Huntington School District’s participation in the program.
“The Composite Prototyping Center is a highly specialized visionary entryway into the future,” states its website. “Staffed by leading experts in the field of composites, the state of the art facility enables organizations to cross boundaries, expand manufacturing scope and to effectively compete in dynamic expanding marketplaces ranging from aerospace, automotive and energy to infrastructure, transportation and consumer products. At CPC, the full gamut of composite services and resources unites, so organizations can design, prototype, test and train, all under a single roof. CPC’s collaboration with institutions of higher learning defines the route to multilevel certificate programs and is at the core of developing a highly skilled workforce for today and tomorrow as well.”
Located adjacent to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology offers undergraduate and graduates degrees in engineering, technology, management and aviation to its 1,750 students. Certificate programs in air traffic control, aircraft maintenance and aircraft dispatch are also available.