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Lawrence H.S. trio earn the highest honors from my teachers, family and friends throughout the years.” Bansi challenged herself Lawrence High School has with an extensive course load named its top academic honor- of Advanced Placement classes, ees for the class of 2026, recog- including calculus, physics, nizing three seniors whose chemistry, literature and govachievements reflect a blend of ernment, while maintaining a place on the high academic excelhonor roll each lence, leadership marking period. and service to the She is an active school community. member of Science Valedictorian Bowl, Model ConPoonam Bansi, gress and the Asian Salutatorian Ava American Club, and Abramov and serves as the senior Honor Speaker class treasurer. Meredith MaldonaHer academic do will take center pursuits extended stage at graduation beyond Lawrence in June, each earnHigh School. Bansi ing one of the participated in the school’s highest disNational Oceanic tinctions through and Atmospheric years of dedication PooNAM BANSI Administration both inside and out- Valedictorian, side the classroom. Lawrence High School Youth Ambassador Program, SumFor Bansi, the mer@Brown and top-ranked student in the class, the honor repre- Cornell’s pre-college program, sents the culmination of a rigor- all of which helped shape her ous academic journey marked interest in pursuing computer science, with a focus on artifiby curiosity and persistence. “Being named valedictorian cial intelligence or cyber secuis incredibly meaningful to me,” rity, and potentially a second Bansi said. “It’s a reflection of major in biology. “I’ve always tried to take all the hard work I’ve put in, but also the support I’ve received ConTInUEd on pAgE 12
By MELISSA BERMAN
mberman@liherald.com
W
Melissa Berman/Herald
Students from Hewlett High School attended ERASE Racism’s 2026 Long Island Leaders of Tomorrow Conference at Hofstra University on March 18.
Welcoming new perspectives at a conference on racism By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Ten Hewlett High School students stepped outside their classrooms and into a broader conversation about race, leadership and equity last week, joining peers from across Long Island at Hofstra University for ERASE Racism’s 2026 Long Island Leaders of Tomorrow Conference. The daylong event on March 18, hosted by the Long Island–based civil rights organization, brought together students in grades nine through 12 from Nassau and Suffolk counties for interactive workshops and dis-
cussions centered on leadership development and social change. For the Hewlett students, the experience offered an opportunity to engage directly with others their age from different communities and backgrounds — something organizers say is critical on Long Island, one of the most segregated regions of the country. “Long Island is the 10th most segregated metro region even according to the 2020 Census,” Nicole Grennan, program associate for ERASE Racism, said. “We have this long history of structural racism even in the form of racial covenants and red-lining that was ConTInUEd on pAgE 17
hether it was a program, a club or a class, I wanted to learn as much as I could and push myself to grow.