Two students in the Kennedy High School & Community Leadership program recently won Best Project awards at this year’s Long Island Youth Summit.
Haniyyah Myricks and Jayda Levine attended the summit along with 17 fellow Kennedy students who were also finalists.
The Youth Summit is an educational collaboration among various organizations, including Northwell Health and St. Joseph’s College, encourages high school students across Long Island to tackle pressing local socio-medical, environmental and social issues.
Levine, whose work addressed the impact of climate change on her generation, secured the award in the Impact of Climate Change category.
In her paper, she expressed the stress experienced by her peers, exacerbated by the stark realities of climate change and increased societal violence.
“By the time we had outgrown childhood, climate change was no longer a distant threat but a present reality, with greenhouse gases at peak levels and natural disasters more frequent and severe,” Levine stated in her paper.
Her project proposed practical measures to reduce environmental impact, including water conservation and energy efficiency, which she argued could be implemented immediately to mitigate these effects.
Myricks won in the Leadership category with a paper delving into leadership's nature amid modern challenges. She explored historical and contemporary figures who exemplified strong leadership, influencing positive change amidst adversity.
“Leadership is not about authority or titles,” Myricks wrote in her paper. “It's about making a positive impact and inspiring others to join in collective action, regardless of the challenges we face.”
Her paper highlighted the importance of empathy, resilience and community engagement in fostering effective leadership.
Both students received accolades for their insightful analysis and practical solutions to the challenges posed at the summit.
Brad Seidman, their Leadership teacher noted how proud he is of the students.
“Their projects demonstrate their deep understanding of the issues and their commitment to actively seeking solutions,” he said. “They truly embody the spirit of leadership and service we encourage at Kennedy.”