White Plains honors student programs: Incubator EDU award, student science research and spring scholar athletes

The White Plains City School District Board of Education used its April 7 meeting to recognize student programs and achievements, presenting an award to the high school's Incubator EDU program, hearing student testimony from the science research course and honoring winter-season scholar athletes across sports.

NISPA (Area 10) director Dr. Cheryl Brady presented the New York State School Boards Association's Champions of Change recognition to the district for Incubator EDU, a project-based entrepreneurship course at White Plains High School that partners with the Westchester Innovation Network. "White Plains High School has implemented Uncharted Learnings, experiential, entrepreneurship year-long course ... an exemplar of project based learning," Brady said while reading the citation. School staff and board members thanked coordinator Rocco Verulo, teacher Ashley LeBlanc and Assistant Superintendent Debbie Hand; the program's final pitch night was announced for May 13.

The meeting next featured a student-led portion from the science research program, taught by Ms. Fleming. Three students addressed the board about their projects and the program's learning structure. Sophomore Haley Brick said the class became "my favorite class" because the teacher "breaks everything down into manageable steps" and provides one-on-one feedback. Junior Olivia Tuzell described her project to design a sustainable menstrual pad using fibers from the invasive plant Japanese knotweed and said the program has opened doors to work with researchers at the New York Botanical Garden and summer collaborations with university engineers. Junior Carys (Karis) Choi described computational work on ambient heat effects on brain temperature and said the mixed-grade structure of the class creates mentorship opportunities. Ms. Fleming invited the public to the science research and engineering symposium on June 2, when all students in the program will present posters or presentations.

Board members also recognized scholar athletes from the winter season. The superintendent reported 129 scholar athletes at White Plains High School for the winter season; coaches and program leaders brought rosters and called individual honorees across sports, including 27 swimmers among the scholar athletes the administration listed. The district also announced other student recognitions including an ECO award for five Mamaroneck Avenue students whose plastic collection project was recycled into a Trex bench.

Why it matters: officials and presenters framed both Incubator EDU and science research as experiential programs that give students real-world skills and postsecondary preparation. The Incubator program was described as involving community mentors and business volunteers, while the science research program connects students with professional mentors and regional science fairs. Board members and the superintendent highlighted the breadth of co-curricular opportunities in the district as part of broader budget and program discussions at the meeting.