North Bergen Science
Issue #12 June 2019
NORTH BERGEN SCIENCE ISSUE #12: 6-15-19 _____________________ CONTENTS
Dr. Keshishian’s Message
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I want to begin by congratulating our first graduating class from our STEM Academy. We have all learned so much and I hope you carry all the experiences and knowledge taught to you in your future endeavors. I also must add the great things occurring throughout the district in STEM from adding more hands on lab activities in the departmentalized classes to some amazing projects from our faculty and students. It is because of everyone's dedication to North Bergen students and the sciences that this is our largest newsletter yet. Keep up the great work.
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Cohort I Graduates! Congratulations Class of 2019 Our STEM students went through a rigorous curriculum, had many exceptional experiences, interned, and now have decided what college or University to attend. We are excited about all the Colleges/Universities to which our students were accepted, such as Fordham, Wesleyan, Boston University, etc. but we teach our students at the STEM Academy to do what is best for them and their families and we could not be prouder of them. Andrew Fuentes: Rutgers - Economics/Finance Christine Adewale: Howard University Cristina Morocho: Montclair - Computer Science Eliel Esquivel: NJIT - Electrical Engineering Marianna Said: FDU - Nursing Nidhi Parekh: Stevens - Computer Science ● Riyakumari Jain: Seton Hall - 3+3 PT Doctoral ● Sebastian Tapia: Rutgers - Pre-Dental ● Wayne Bertrand: Rutgers ● Yahira Herrera: The College of New Jersey
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Cohort I Graduates! Congratulations Class of 2019! Summer Programs 2019 Congrats to STEM Senior Cristina Morocho Noches de Ciensias eSport Team Forms and Wins Battle of Hudson County! Environmental Club: Lights Out/ Clean Up STEM Experiential Learning FDU City of Science Cohort IV at Buehler All Cohorts at Teterboro Airport HUMC Palisades Hospital Career Day W.E.B. Princeton Graduates Spring GEE Ladies Graduate FDU High School Graduations Rutgers SMART Graduation NJIT NASA CASIS Update Hudson County Science Showcase More Than STEM Aisha Roman: Alien, the Play Jeremy Espinoza: State Choir Competition NASA Art Contest Honors Congratulations to Our Teachers! Dr. Welz Mrs. Ramadan
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WELCOME STEM COHORT V Lab Coat Ceremony
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Highlight of Accepted Schools
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Summer Experiences Congratulations to all of the STEM Academy and STEM Program student summer experience acceptances. We had an outstanding result of summer learning this year. Programs include:
ALSO International Travel Volunteering North Bergen Summer Fun Summer Camp Working!! $$$
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Congratulations Cristina!
STEM Academy and North Bergen High School congratulate STEM Senior Cristina Morocho for winning the APA Award for Psychological Science at the Jersey City Medical Center/ RWJ Barnabas Health STEM Showcase. Congratulations also to Mrs. Dana Hojnowski for leading the first-ever honors research class that challenged our seniors to come up with original and unique research projects to place into the showcase this year. What a great way to start the course!
Noches De Ciensia On April 6th, Science, STEM and curious students came out to participate in Noches de Ciencia as part of the North Bergen Society for Hispanic Professional Engineering (SHPE). Faculty advisor Mrs. Yaniris Maldonado and Chapter President Ammar Eltigani led a fantastic evening of Science, Engineering, Innovation and FUN. Activities included working on innovating prosthetics with limited supplies, so students have an idea of what it’s like to work in countries without full medical system, presentations by the STEM Academy students from Science Showcase, and experiential learning from representatives from SHPE chapters at Stevens Institute of Technology (our sponsor university) and New Jersey Institute of Technology, where Cruz Donato came as a North Bergen High School alumnus. Everyone had a great time, and we hope for many more SHPE events and participation in the future!
Students Caitlyn and Nicholas Hernandez winning the prosthetic innovation contest at Noches de Ciencia.
About SHPE (from https://shpe.org/mission-and-strategy/) Mission: SHPE changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development Vision: SHPE’s vision is a world where Hispanics are highly valued and influential as the leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.
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Noches de Ciensia (Cont.)
Dr. Keshishian with NBHS graduate Cruz Donato from NJIT SHPE NBHS high school students work on engineering solutions. Mrs. Maldonado making it all happen!
Everyone happy to greet visitors to the event!
Representatives from Stevens Institute of Technology SHPE Chapter help out at Noches de Ciencia
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North Bergen e-Sport Team Prevails! From North Bergen School District Facebook Post May 2019: On Friday, May 17th, The North Bergen eSports teams competed in the first ever eSport tournament held at the Helix facility. NBHS entered two teams fourth in both Overwatch and League of Legends. Our teams competed against High Tech High School, Memorial, and Weehawken in bracket competition. In Overwatch one of our Bruins teams went undefeated to claim 1st place and the second Bruins team claimed to third place after a defeat to High Tech twice. In League of Legends again the first Bruins team went undefeated taking first place and the other team took third after two losses. During the competition which was cast live on twitch, colleges such as Rutgers and NYIT were present scouting a few of our players and allowing the coaches, Mr. Ensman, Mr. Enrico, Mr. Estela, and Dr. Keshishian some opportunity to network. We were even offered the opportunity to scrimmage the NYIT team and hopefully, we can get the opportunity to do the same with Rutgers, who just won the collegiate championship in Houston.
Overwatch Players: Rupert Reeves, Gabe Rodriguez, Noraida Diaz, Helder, Jason Quintana, Irvin Acevedo, Emmanuel Manchego, Danny Loja, Alexis Bourbon, AJ Pierson, James Contreras, Kevin Garrido.
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eSport Team Regional Battle “Beyond the Hudson”
League Players: Alex Enriquez, Paul Minchi, Katherine Espinoza, Ernie Rodrigues, Michael Alfonso, Sophia Chaparo, Justin Diaz, Eric Soliz, Paul Alvarado, Cameron Thomas, Roberto Perez, Efren Martinez, Eby Rodriguez.
On Friday, June 13th, the North Bergen eSport team had their last eSport tournament at the Helix in North Bergen. This tournament was dubbed the Battle Beyond the Hudson, in which two new schools Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical School, and Rutherford High School were added to the existing roster of High Tech, Weehawken, and Memorial. In League of Legends, North Bergen took 1st and 2nd place. In Overwatch, however, our school was defeated by the Bronx and Brooklyn Schools, who have competed in national tournaments and took second, along with three of their players being semi-professional. “North Bergen was still able to win a round against this accomplished team, so we are very proud of our teams.” - Dr. Keshishian
Winning Team Cameron Thomas, Eric Soliz, Katherine EspinozaErnie Rodrigues, Paul Alvarado,
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Lights Out, Clean Up The North Bergen Environmental Club made sure that over April/Spring Break, North Bergen High School was not burning unnecessary electricity with its “Lights Out/Clean Up Project. Mrs. Checchio and Mrs. Hojnowski taught the school community that it's more important to our overall well-being to waste less and save more. It’s better for our building and everyone who enters here. Thank you Mrs. Hojnowski and Mrs. Checchio!
Mrs. Hojnowski and Mrs. Checchio
NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY!
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON HOSTS CITY OF SCIENCE Fairleigh Dickinson University hosted World Science Forum’s City of Science at their Teaneck campus. STEM students Zoubair Belfki and Jennifer Salguero attended and had a terrific time looking at different facets of scientific study, and what makes STEM interesting at the high school level.
Buehler Space Center Teterboro Airport National Honor Society Inductions W.E.B. DuBois Graduation FDU Graduations Spring GEE Graduation Rutgers SMART Graduation Janize Canela - NBHS Graduate and Med Student NASA CASIS Update (Later on…) COHORT V Lab Coat Ceremony
Students participate in a variety of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computer and Engineering Science Activities at “City of Science” 2019 at FDU.
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BUEHLER SPACE CENTER
North Bergen STEM Academy has made the freshmen team-building trip to Buehler Space Center an annual tradition and this year was one for the records. Our newest cohort had a great time in space and on the ground. Each year, the teams are challenged to work together in order for a mechanism to work perfectly and stay within the constraints. With superb communication skills, listening skills and enthusiasm, the Cohort IV team finished the challenge successfully on the very
first attempt! As a reward, the students got to travel to the Moon and back, and touched down safely as the tradition of Buehler’s excellent space programs for students. Mrs. Abulaban and Mrs. Stern-Protz at Command Center with Cohort VI - Class of 2022. Above right: STEM freshmen succeeding at their physics challenge of creating a moving ramp so that a ping-pong ball could be taken from shoulder height to fall into a bucket standing only 10� off the ground.
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BATTLE OF THE SCIENCES AT LINCOLN SCHOOL By Alejandra Vasquez Our Lincoln School 5th-grade students have been creating race car balloons: A STEM project incorporating Newtons 3 Laws. Students have been engineering, gathering data, creating tables & graphs, and writing reports. The best car designed in class was by Norah Cerna and Brianna Martinez followed by Keila Rodriguez and Jasmin Curruchich. I am so proud of all my students for their efforts to create/ engineer and apply their knowledge.
NJ STEM FAIR Mrs. Heather Ricco, from Robert Fulton School, presented a STEM project she did with her 2nd graders to legislators at the NJ STEM fair. This year, Governor Murphy changed STEM week in March to STEM month, and this is how they kicked it off. Wonderful job by Mrs. Ricco and her students.
Ramapo College Students Teach at Lincoln
Students testing their ballon car designs.
Ramapo College students participated in a community service opportunity, in which students would go out and teach about the field of genetics. The four studnets, Risonedide Zegarra Solano an North Bergen graduate along with Jeffery Foster, Bella Buono, and Carissa Bahadur completed a lesson pertaining to DNA’s structure and function. It was a wonderful experience not only for our sixth grade students at Lincoln School, but for the Ramapo Students as well.
STEM Seniors Get Internships As the Academy has grown over the four years, it has always been a guiding principle of the committee members to ensure that the students leave this program having the most exposure and certainty about their choice of career. This year we did our first round of internships and due to the overwhelming support from the community we were able to place all students into their desired career, at that moment. Thus, I want to take the time out to thank all the community members and businesses that took on our students and gave them a lasting experience. Special thanks to Commissioner Julio Marenco, Tawil Physical Therapy, and Ms. Aimee Focaraccio (NB C.A.R.E.S).
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STEM Showcase 2019 This year, eleven STEM students, two seniors and two seventh grade Franklin School students, competed in the 2019 Jersey City Medical Center/RWJ Barnabas Health STEM Showcase! Our STEM students presented their independent research that they developed from scratch and the two Franklin school students, under the supervision of Mr. Guzman, presented their project. Even though this year's entrants unfortunately did not place, we are still so proud of them. A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Stern-Protz, Dr. Welz, and Mr. Estela for helping us prepare and to Mrs. Hojnowski for all her hard work teaching the independent research class.
STEM Showcase group pic: Marianna Said, Yahira Herrera, Riyakumari Jain, Eliel Esquivel, Simi Patel, Misael Antigua, Nidhi Parekh, Kristen Ontal, Cristina Morocho, Christine Adewale, Wayne Bertrand, Sebastian Tapia, and Kelle Quijije.
Ms. Yahira Herrera presents her board to the judges
Ms. Riyakumari Jain and her poster
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TETERBORO AIRPORT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING STEM Academy students from all Cohorts visited Teterboro Airport - one of the busiest
airports in the region. In fact, Teterboro Airport is the oldest airport in the NY/NJ region, opening in 1919 to house and service planes from World War I. Students met Rick Vander Wende and Jonathan Siebert, executives that manage and operate the airport. STEM students learned about STEM skills it takes to run an international airport with worldclass service. The students were treated to hear from aviation managers, staff and administrators with many responsibilities. They learned that airplane mechanics and engineers are dealing with the same technology as the space-age, and that the dated image of mechanical engineering is very different than even 30 years ago, let alone during the First World War. A highlight of the trip was a presentation and demonstration from Fire Captain Lathey Wirkers, who is in charge of the force at Teterboro. Although smaller in size and scope, the standards that the airport are maintained to the same degree (in scale) as John F. Kennedy International Airport. We would like to thank Teterboro and we look forward to returning again!
Vimbisai, Zoubair, Sarai, Jared, Daniella and Petra standing in the hanger at Meridian with Vice President John Langschultz and (center) CEO Kenneth C. Forester.
TETERBORO (continued‌)
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STEM Academy students with Captain Wirkus, Mr. Siebert Vander Wende, and one of the many talented firefighters in front of a new airport fire engine built with 21st Century technology.
Students with Mrs. Stern-Protz in one of the equipment hangers that house the massive snow-removal and transportation machines used at the airport. “These are not your average plows and shovels used in the driveway of a home. They are state-of-the-art equipment that engineers maintain and skilled drivers need to keep the runways and roads safe for the thousands of passengers each year. Special thanks to the airport for hosting our students and thanks to Mrs. Stakiwicz and Mrs. Caraballo for traveling with Mrs. Stern-Protz to chaperone this inaugural airport trip!
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HUMC PALISADES CAREER DAY 2019 HUMC Palisades Medical Center is an outstanding medical care facility and luckily for North Bergen High School and North Bergen STEM Academy, is located right on River Road here in North Bergen. Each year, STEM Academy students visit the hospital to meet with professionals in internal medicine, nursing, pediatrics, surgery, administration and staffing of the hospital and its facilities. This year was a wonderful experience as students talked to the professionals and toured the facilities to see the workings of the hospital. This year was a bit unique as students were able to “perform surgery” on pieces of chicken to have a real hands-on experience in a simulated operating room (OR) with the then-head of Anesthesiology, Dr. Schatz.
STEM Academy students with Dr. Schatz, Technical Specialist Carlos Sanchez, and visiting nurse
Students visited HUMC’s exceptional Sleep/Wake Center and spoke with Patricia Carroll, Chief Operating Officer, who took care and time to tell her incredible story of grit and determination to be a part of the medical world and to see her dreams fulfilled. We thank her for meeting with our students.
Students “scrub-up” for surgery
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PROGRAM GRADUATIONS! W.E.B. DUBOIS STEM Academy congratulates Mariam Kamerji and Vimbisai Basvi on their graduation in May from the W.E.B. DuBois program at Princeton University. The program emboldens high-performing high school students to stretch their skills in math and science. Vimbisai (pictured here) was chosen to give the graduation speech at the ceremony, and spoke so eloquently about her experiences at the program, North Bergen High School, and other programs in which she is a treasured participant. Mariam completed her second year at W.E.B. DuBois and we applaud her ever-present willpower to succeed. We expect to see great things from these young ladies.
GEE SPRING GRADUATES Fairleigh Dickinson University and North Bergen STEM Academy partnered up in the Spring and produced eight fantastic young female engineers through their GEE program (Girls Exploring Engineering). Like the fall crew, our young ladies were immersed in electrical, civil, materials, computer and robotic engineering and, of course, went through a battery of competitions to bolster their ambition to perform at their best.
Dr. Tan looks on as professors and students from FDU GEE celebrate eight weeks of engineering excellence. Thanks to Fairleigh Dickinson, Mayor Sacco, Dr. Solter and the Board of Education for making this all possible for our students.
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FDU SPRING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS CSEOP, TEOP AND META RECEIVE CERTIFICATES AND ACCOLADES
Our Fairleigh Dickinson Spring graduates were a very dedicated group of students from STEM and other North Bergen High School students. By the gracious donations of many organizations, Fairleigh Dickinson was able to offer Math (META), Engineering (TEOP) and Cybersecurity (CSEOP) outreach programs to our students. Students go through an eight or 10-week Saturday program that includes lectures, hands-on activities and of course, delicious lunches in the dining hall. The students participate in a real college experience while working with their peers in high schools. Thanks to Mayor Sacco, Dr. Solter and the North Bergen Board of Education, and all those who make this program so successful. CSEOP
Vimbisai B. and Angifer R.
Ariel C. and Michael C.
Kayla F.
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FDU (continued…) TEOP
From top left: Zoubair, Jennifer, and Kayla, Beatrice, and all of our graduates with Dr. Keshishian and Mrs. Stern-Protz
“Some of the best days of the year are graduation days at the FDU Saturday Programs. It’s a chance for educators and parents to meet and celebrate our students outside of school. These students sacrificed sleeping in on Saturdays and came to college to learn, collaborate and socialize with their peers from Hudson and Bergen counties. We are very proud of them all.” - Dr. Keshishian
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FDU (continued…) META
Dr. Keshishian with Petra, Daniella and Alberto, along with Mrs. Stern-Protz
“When students learn to apply mathematics in real-life scenarios, they build appreciation for the subject in academics, college and careers.” - Mrs. Stern-Protz RUTGERS S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Medicine and Related Topics North Bergen sent five very talented students to Rutgers Medical School to study various topics in medicine, focusing on communicable and community health issues. They presented their findings to over 400 peers and families on March 30th, and we applaud their work. Congratulations to our graduates!
(Left to right): Elliana Gruillon, Deysha Marie Carmona, Julissa Henriquez, Marianna Said, and Michael Said
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__NASA CASIS UPDATE__
Our CASIS satellite team visited Dr. Khusid and his team again this spring to talk about the project to send an experiment to the International Space Station for 2020. We were treated to presentations by faculty of the Chemical Engineering Department, and the students were fascinated to learn about their research and the real applications of Chemical Engineering and Fluid Dynamics. Two Chemical Engineering undergraduate student members of the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) led our NB STEM students in some basic chemical and physics exercises, and the students had a terrific time, and have been enthusiastically searching for the first component of our cube!
Special thanks to all of the scientists, John McCarthy and Dr. Khusid for being so dedicated to our students’ success!
Dr. Lisa Axe, Chair of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Dr. Angelo Tafuni, Fluid Dynamics of the Titan Submarine
Two members of the student chapter of AIChE (left) with our CASIS students successfully completing Chemical Engineering Activities!
Mrs. Stern-Protz and the CASIS Team- one of whom will be starting at NJIT this fall as a freshman!
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MORE THAN S.T.E.M. Our Academy Students at Work in the Arts Congratulations to Aisha Roman (left middle row) and her amazing crewmates, the cast, directors, volunteers and administration on the world-wide phenomenon that was “Alien - the Play� at North Bergen High School this past Spring. Staging, lights, sound and atmosphere were front and center with the incredible cast. Pictured here with our special guest celebrity Sigourney Weaver are Mayor Sacco, Commissioner Julio Marenco, Freeholder Vanieri and the cast and crew of the show. Congrats also goes to the North Bergen Advanced Chorus including our super STEM kids Bryan Gramajo, Jeremy Espinoza and Kevin Gallarraga on their first place win at Hershey, Esprit de Corps Award, and Top Honors at the Hudson County Teen Arts Program this Spring. Students who use their creativity and artsy side enhance their analytical thinking and creative problem solving skills. Pictured here is the chorus with super-choral director Jennifer Penton.
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NASA Langley Art Contest - Honors
Congratulations to Kimberly Madera (10th grade), Christian Grant (11th grade) and Pedro Sarmiento (12th grade) for their beautiful artwork honored at the 2019 NASA Langley Art Contest. Hundreds of students from all over the United States entered pieces into the contest and to be recognized is a very high achievement. Kimberly placed third for her grade, and Christian and Pedro received honorable mentions for their wonderful artwork. Special thanks to Mrs. DiGiulio for her dedication and guidance, and all of the NB students who participated in the contest.
Pedro Sarmiento
Christian Grade
Kimberly Madera
Students with Mrs. DiGiulio and Mrs. Stern-Protz
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CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. WELZ AND MRS. RAMADAN! DR. KRISTA WELZ Congratulations to Dr. Krista Welz on attaining her doctoral degree from New Jersey City University named School Librarians’ Participatory Practices and Development of Professional Identities in a Twitter Professional Learning Network (PLN). Dr. Welz holds a Bachelor’s from NJCU in Biology and a Masters of Library Science from Rutgers University. Starting in the 20192020 school year, Dr. Welz will be the lead teacher for our STEM Senior Honors Research Class with Mrs. Stern-Protz.
MRS. SUSAN RAMADAN Congratulations to Mrs. Susan Ramadan on her promotion to Vice Principal at North Bergen High School. Mrs. Ramadan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Rutgers University, Master of Science in Science Education from CUNY and a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from NJCU
SPECIALTHANKS TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS A Special thanks to The North Bergen Alumni Association headed by Mr. Ira Wolfe for their generous donation of $1000 dollars to our STEM Academy. Also, a speical thanks to Exxon/Mobile Educational Alliance Program for a $500 dollar grant.
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COMING THIS FALL‌. COHORT V! As STEM Academy celebrates the fifth year of our school, we congratulate all of our entering freshmen. More to come on our largest incoming class to date!
Pictured with Cohort V are (bottom row) Thomas and Dayna Sessa, Community Advocates; Mrs. Theresa Rabelo, Director of Student Personnel; Dr. Keshishian, Principal Locricchio, and Heather Carline. (Top Row) Ms. Shareen Shibli, Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics and Mrs. Stephanie Stern-Protz, Coordinator of Experiential Learning.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR!
Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco Dr. George Solter, Jr. The North Bergen Board of Education Mr. Richard Locricchio, Principal of North Bergen High School
Buehler Challenger Space Center Columbia University Dr. Boris Khusid, CASIS recipient Duke University Fairleigh Dickinson University Hamilton College Howard University HUMC Palisades Medical Center iFly, Paramus Indiana University Lebanon Valley College Lindsey Meter Teen Institute Montclair State University Nancy Hovan NASA GISS New Jersey Institute of Technology North Bergen Summer Fun Princeton University Rutgers University Saint Peter’s University Seton Hall University The STEM Academy Committee Stevens Institute of Technology Teterboro Airport The College of New Jersey The US Naval Academy University of Pennsylvania W.E.B. DuBois Program William Paterson University
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“One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.”
John Green
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