Brooklyn Heights
Three cheers to Packer Collegiate Institute teen, Hawthorne Ripley, who was presented with a $2,000 scholarship and awarded the Rising Scientist Award, by the Child Mind Institute.
The prestigious organization recognized Hawthorne along with four other outstanding high school students who have demonstrated exceptional promise in science and a specific interest in the fields of child and adolescent mental health or pediatric neuroscience. Heather received the accolades at the On the Shoulders of Giants symposium.
“This is a particularly exciting year as we recognize a group of all female Rising Scientists,” said Dr. Harold Koplewicz, founding president of the Child Mind Institute. “Their commitment, drive, and vision for the future of mental health and neuroscience, especially at such a young age, is inspiring.”
“These five young women have created workshops, founded STEM clubs, started community gardens, and launched mental health awareness initiatives, all while maintaining stellar GPAs and conducting research,” said Dr. Patrizia Casaccia, founding director of the ASRC’s Neuroscience Initiative and Einstein Professor of Biology at Hunter College.
In addition to receiving the award the winners, their parents and faculty sponsors were invited to attend a breakfast with special guest Dr. Kenneth Dodge, Pritzker Professor of Public Policy, Founder of the Center for Child and Family Policy, The Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University and the 2017 Child Mind Institute Distinguished Scientist.
The Packer Collegiate Institute 170 Joralemon St., between Court and Clinton streets in Brooklyn Heights; (718) 250–0281]
Gerritsen Beach
Honors away
Standing O sends kudos to borough daughter Erin Freeburn. The cogent co-ed was inducted into the State University at New Paltz Honor’s Program for fall 2017.
The program seeks to develop and intensify skills from a conceptual point of view in a diverse multidisciplinary analytical environment that nurtures independent thinking, creativity, respect and social responsibility.
In order to maintain membership in the Honors Program, students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher; to complete at least 40 hours of community service; and to present a thesis reflecting the skills and relationships they built over the course of their college career.
Keep up the good work.
Bushwick
Snip, snip
City Arts cut the ribbon and celebrated the completion of City Arts’ mural, StoryVine, on Oct. 12. City Arts’ 318th mural at Garden Playground, celebrates nature, raises awareness of the speed of climate change, and celebrates overcoming personal challenges in a positive way. “The community created their story in flowers and whether rain, snow, or shine they will always be in full bloom, keeping their spirits high!” said, Tsipi Ben-Haim executive and creative director at City Arts.
City Arts worked in collaboration with lead artist Haley Gewandter, local youth, volunteers, community residents, and students from Williamsburg Charter High School, Young Women’s Leadership School in Brooklyn, PS 120, and PS 368, as well as the Parks Department and many volunteers from Disney.
Thank you City Arts for green thumbing the garden with blooming beauty.
Garden Playground, [40 Beaver St. in Bushwick]
East New York
Welcome!
The Brooklyn Hospital Center has opened a new WIC Program Center in East New York to provide food assistance to needy families as of Sept. 19.
The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) provides low-income families with nutrition education and checks to purchase healthy foods at no cost to promote good health through a balanced diet, said Egondu Onuoha, WIC Director at the hospital.
Gary G. Terrinoni, president and chief executive officer at the hospital said, “The WIC program improves the health of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children.” He added, “Studies show that the WIC program enables low-income families to properly feed their children during critical periods of growth and development.”
“Expectant mothers who take part in WIC have better pregnancies outcomes leading to fewer premature births, low birth weight babies, and fetal and infant deaths,” Onuoha explained. “They are also more likely to seek prenatal care earlier in pregnancy.”
WIC Program Center [1079-1081 Liberty Ave. at Hemlock Street in East New York; (718) 250–8012; www.tbh.org].
