Elmont Memorial High School Has Quietly Built an Extraordinary Science Research Program

Written by Karl Valere

Two years ago, Elmont Memorial High School Class of 2015 Salutatorian, Harold Ekeh, made national and global news headlines after being accepted into all eight of the country’s prestigious Ivy League universities — for starters.

Just one year later, Class of 2016 Valedictorian, Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, too, achieved the elusive Ivy League sweep — and then some.

Today, Harold is a sophomore at Yale University, while Augusta is finishing up her freshman year at Harvard.

Harold-Ekeh-Elmont-Newsday — *Harold Ekeh, Elmont Memorial Memorial High School Class of 2015* Salutatorian, was accepted into all eight Ivy League schools before selecting Yale University with an interest in neuroscience. [Photo Courtesy of Newsday/Source: The Island Now]

Besides being Ivy League aces and Elmont scholars of Nigerian descent, Harold and Augusta share at least one other thing common — both students participated in Elmont Memorial High School’s Science Research Program.

Over the years, the Elmont Science Research initiative has earned a reputation as a truly exceptional, albeit resourceful, initiative — capable of achieving a lot with very little.

Yet, for all its limited capacity and resources, Elmont’s Science Research Program has produced a handful of Intel Science Research semi-finalists, STEM scholars, and passionate students interested in pursuing careers in science beyond high school.

augusta-science-intel-finalist-washington-david-gaines-elmont — *Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, Elmont Class of 2016 Valedictorian and Intel Science Talent Search Finalist, is pictured here with two future scientists!* *[Photo courtesy of David Gaines for NajwaGaines.com]*

Science instructor, Michelle Flannory, has led the Science Research Program for several years and was recently nominated by Augusta to receive a “Distinguished Teachers of 2017” Award from the Harvard Club of Long Island.

“I owe it to Mrs. Flannory for shaping me into the young woman that I am today,” Augusta said proudly, declaring that today she is “willing to take any barrier to success head on.”

Ashley Simon Elmont Memorial High School MIT The Island Now Valedictorian 2015 — Ashley Simon, Elmont Memorial High School Class of 2015 Valedictorian, also earned a clean sweep of all 10 universities she applied to, before ultimately selecting MIT with an interest in biomedical engineering. [Photo courtesy of The Island Now]

This summer, Mrs. Flannory and Elmont’s Science Research Program plans to send two students to the iResearch Science Summer Institute to train with two Ph.D. Science Research professors. A Go Fund Me page has been created in an effort to support these students and Elmont’s Science Research Program as it continues to grow and excel.

18011010_1885043965100918_4140230702093508899_n — Elmont Memorial senior Joel Lima placed first in the Intel Division at the New York State Science & Engineering Fair at the New York Hall of Science on April 3. Joel will represent the State of New York at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in California, from May 13-20. [Source: Sewanhaka Central High School District]

Please consider a generous donation to the Go Fund Me fundraising campaign launched by Elmont alumna, Catrina Bowen, in support of Elmont’s Science Research Program. You can also support by sharing the campaign link with your network on Facebook!

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