During the summer months, students in the science research program continued working hard on their projects. Their achievements have earned both national recognition and published success.
West Islip graduates Eva Crosley and Abby Lam — two members of a larger student research team — were featured in a video that has been nominated for a New York Emmy Award. The film highlights microplastics research conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory and was created as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Planet vs. Plastics” campaign.
At the same time, West Islip science research teacher Mary Kroll, serving as Principal Investigator for BNL’s High School Spectroscopy group, was published in the journal “Chemistry” for her collaborative work with Shoreham-Wading River High School students. Their study used advanced x-ray spectroscopy and diffraction techniques to analyze pond sediment following a local water main break.
In addition, West Islip students joined peers from across Long Island through BNL’s SPARK program, where they collaborated on mineral database projects and future research initiatives:
•    Nicole Podolska worked with students from Bethpage, East Hampton, Newfield, Shoreham-Wading River and Westhampton Beach to explore new project opportunities and resources.
•    Alyssa Barbieri, Jared Bharat, Chris Gee, Jillian Olfano and Dana Shi partnered with Smithtown High School East and Shoreham-Wading River students to continue building a state-of-the-art x-ray diffraction mineral database.
From Emmy nominations to published papers, West Islip continues to shine as a hub of innovation, collaboration and discovery — showcasing the power of student achievement and teacher expertise.