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Press Releases | |
December 7, 2001
Southampton College Honored for Civic Involvement with Queens High School'Stand Up For Your Schools' Benefit Celebrates Exemplary Private Sector/Public School Partnership
Contact:
Patricia Conway
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081Southampton College of Long Island University was honored by New York City’s PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning) Organization for its comprehensive partnership with Beach Channel High School in Queens at a star-studded ceremony this past week.
Guests and award presenters included former President Bill Clinton, “Today Show” anchor Katie Couric, television actor Jesse L. Martin, New York Knick Allan Houston, rap artist Ice-T, recording artists Boyz II Men and New York City Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy. Southampton received a PENCIL Award along with The New York Knicks and several other private organizations for efforts to promote and support public education in New York City.
“The ‘Stand Up For Your Schools’ benefit at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan was a way to celebrate our public schools and the extraordinary commitment citizens and corporations make to them each day,” said PENCIL President Ruth Cohen. “Currently there are hundreds of long-term, meaningful partnerships that work to improve the learning environment of New York City’s public school students. The event acknowledged and built new capacity for public school involvement in this critical time for our city.”
Attending the awards ceremony and hobnobbing with the famed crowd were Southampton College Provost Tim Bishop, Admissions Director Bernetta McCall and Associate Provost Michael Brophy, who played a crucial role in organizing the collaborative program between Southampton College and Beach Channel High School in 1999.
Since the program’s beginnings the two schools have worked together to forge a mutually beneficial partnership through faculty/student exchange programs, mentorships, diversity retreats, summer workshops in web design, writing, photography and marine science and the creation of two Accelerated College Enrichment courses at the high school. The partnership helps the College to learn more about the living and learning needs of urban students while opening new doors for the high school students’ college preparation.
The collaboration has broadened to include initiatives and exchanges with other Queens high schools. This past summer the College hosted a training conference and retreat for 35 Assistant High School Principals from Queens schools and held a week-long college preparatory program for Bucharian-Jewish immigrant students from Forest Hills High School.
PENCIL, founded in 1995, is dedicated to improving the public schools and public school system in New York City by developing, supporting and promoting meaningful and sustainable involvement by the private sector. Its programs, including Principal For A Day, PEAK (Partners In Education Advance Knowledge), District Partners, the PENCIL Box, seminars and public awareness efforts respond to both the immediate and long-term needs of New York City’s 1.1 million public school students.
