County Prep's Mazzy Eckel Awarded Title: First Runner-Up Miss NJ Teen USA

(Parsippany, NJ) County Prep's Mazzy Eckel was recently awarded the title "First Runner-up Miss NJ Teen USA" at the statewide competition. If the Miss NJ Teen USA cannot fulfill her responsibilities, it will be Mazzy's place to do so. Mazzy is not new to the excitement of the event; this is her fourth competition since 9th grade. "This has been my most exhilarating experience -- stressful but very fun. I want to keep going back for more." The County Prep community congratulates her on her achievement.

County Prep High School Building Engineer Leads Clean-Up of Nearby Property

During the month of October 2017, a major restoration of the Conrail railroad property next to the new wing at County Prep was completed. Mr. Nick Fargo, business administrator, had suggested cleaning up the site for security reasons. Anthony D’Alessandro, building engineer of County Prep High school, was the driving force behind the clean-up. The railroad property under the trestle was in dire need of an overhaul for the safety of County Prep students and staff. The property spans from Montgomery Street to Bright Street adjacent to the new wing. After decades of accumulated railroad debris littering the entire area, the clean-up was nothing short of a culture change. A new 10 foot fence will separate the school property from the railroad trestle. Also, new trees and grass will be planted to further beautify the area. This project will ensure the safety of our school.

High Tech’s Environmental Club Holds Fundraiser to Support Infrastructure for Hurricane Maria Victims

(North Bergen, NJ—October 24, 2017) Students in High Tech’s Environmental Club held a fundraiser that raised $720 for solar panels to support Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico, the majority of whom have no electricity, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The Environmental Club’s moderator, Catherine Yuhas, in association with Walter Meyer, co-founder of the Brooklyn-based Local Office Landscape Architecture, have ensured that High Tech’s donations go to Resilient Power Puerto Rico via the Coastal Marine Resource Center in Brooklyn.  High Tech’s donations will help improve Puerto Rico’s depleted and damaged electrical infrastructure.

“High Tech’s donation will provide power to 140 people per week by way of the Tesla Powerwall,” says Meyer, who recently returned from a week on the ground in Puerto Rico.  “Things will get worse before they get better, though.”

Meyer’s group worked with New Energy Solar of Puerto Rico at a recent installation of a Tesla Powerwall at a community center in Caño Martin Peña in Puerto Rico.

“New Energy of Puerto Rico is one of the largest solar companies on the island,” adds Meyer, “and have collaborated with us in this project, donating materials and labor for this humanitarian solar lift."

County Prep Interact Club Participates in Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

The Interact Club joined thousands of participants this past Sunday for the annual Breast Cancer Walk in Jersey City. Over twenty students joined their adviser, Mr. Schwamberger, for this event. The club managed to raise several hundred dollars to donate to the cause. Over three hundred thousand dollars were raised overall to raise awareness and further research in an effort to eradicate this pervasive form of cancer. The Interact Club thanks all those that contributed to our fundraiser. 

High Tech’s Butterfly Effect Club Holds Fundraiser and Participates in American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk

(Jersey City, NJ—October 22, 2017) Students in High Tech’s Butterfly Effect Club, along with advisor Jamie Velazquez, Vice-Principal Allyson Krone, and friends and family, participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer two-mile walk, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The American Cancer Society raises money to fund innovative research, provides free information and support on breast cancer, and promotes early screenings and mammograms.

Throughout the week, High Tech students in the Butterfly Effect Club sold homemade baked goods and collected donations from the High Tech community. Through their efforts and those of their supporters, the Butterfly Effect Club donated $600 to the American Cancer Society. 

High Tech Class Attends Lecture by Famous Author

(Bronx, NY—October 16, 2017) Robert Dillon’s High Tech senior class toured Fordham University, where his students inquired about majors and financial aid, but a lecture by Professor Mary Bly, a New York Times bestselling author and Shakespeare expert, proved the highlight of the tour, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Bly, who holds a BA from Harvard, an MPhil from Oxford University, and a PhD from Yale, writes under the pen name Eloisa James.  She has written 26 romance novels, all published in 28 languages in 30 countries. 

“It was a chance of a lifetime to hear from someone with such incredible credentials,” says Dillon.  “Professor Bly gave my students a new appreciation for Hamlet.”

Dillon’s class studies Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and students had an opportunity to sit in on a college-like lecture and direct questions to a Shakespearean expert.

“I was surprised to learn how gender roles were perceived during Shakespeare’s time,” student Georgiana Blenkey-Tchassova says. “They didn’t seem as controversial as they are today.”

Bly’s writing has been featured in such illustrious periodicals as The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and Good Housekeeping.  Bly has also been interviewed on TV and just so happens to be married to an Italian knight.

“I really enjoyed talking to the students of High Tech,” Bly raves.

High Tech Shines at Poster Session Organized by North Jersey Section of American Chemical Society

(South Orange, NJ—September 25, 2017) Five High Tech High School students, along with Dr. Dmitri Lavlinski, attended a poster session at Seton Hall University, organized by the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

These students, members of the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED summer research program, gained valuable hands-on experience on the frontlines in top research laboratories.

High Tech senior Umar Mohammed, a resident of Bayonne, became a top winner for his research on “The Effect of Shear Stress on the Proliferation of Human Osteoblast Cells” while under the mentorship of Dr. Woo Lee at Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Project SEED program also recognized a High Tech junior, Reika Hayashi, also from Bayonne, with second place for her research on the “Examination of Pathogenic Bacteria Biofilm Attachment on Soft Contact Lenses” under the mentorship of Dr. Meriem Bendaoud at New Jersey City University.

Another High Tech senior, Anna Rezk, also from Bayonne, continued her work under the supervision of Dr. Woo Lee at Stevens Institute, producing “Identifying CD138+ Multiple Myeloma Cells Adhered to Endosteal Osteoblasts.” Rezk’s brother, John, also a senior and under the mentorship of Dr. Simon Podkolzin, performed research at Stevens as well on “Conversion of Acetic Acid into Gaseous Products.” Both Rezk siblings earned third place awards.

Senior Shelina Chotrani, a SEED scholar from Secaucus who placed first in the poster competition, secured a research mentor, Dr. Tianning Diao, by herself.  She worked at New York University over the summer on “Synthesis of Alpha Diimine Ligands Towards the Goal of Ni-mediated Asymmetric Catalysis.”

The American Chemical Society’s Project SEED summer research program allows those students from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to experience the intriguing, highly dedicated routines of a chemist.  Students entering their junior or senior year in high school work alongside scientist-mentors on special research projects in industrial, academic, and federal laboratories, where the students can discover chemistry firsthand as a career path as their graduation approaches. 

Shelina Chotrani

Umar Mohammed

Anna Rezk

John Rezk

County Prep Hydroponics/Aquaculture Class Visits Forest Resource Education Center

Students from the Hydroponics/Aquaculture class at County Prep visited the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, N.J. accompanied by their teachers Mr. Nicholas LaVolpe and Dr. Stephanie Szymanski. The students were introduced to the various products that come from trees.

The foresters demonstrated the use of a saw mill to cut a longitudinal section of a tree trunk and allowed the students to analyze the tree structure. The students then proceeded on a guided tour of the forest where they learned about maple syrup extraction procedures and honey production from bees. Students were invited to taste the products to enhance their sensory experience.

County Prep's Qu'Raun Scott McKoy to Premiere Film at Golden Door Film Festival

The film, A Very Bad Day, created by County Prep senior, Qu’Raun Scott-McKoy, will have its premiere on Friday, October 6 at the Golden Door Film Festival in Jersey City. Qu’Raun’s film was one of only a handful of movies selected in the Young Filmmakers category for this prestigious festival. Qu’Raun is an Audio Visual Production student at County Prep studying under Mrs. Nicole Martinez. The film will be shown at 4 pm at the landmark Loew’s Theater in Journal Square. The festival which will showcase the works of many accomplished and emerging filmmakers will continue through Sunday, October 8.