Islip High School’s Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian are Jaci Narducci and Erica De Lapi, respectively.  

Narducci, who earned a 105.08 weighted GPA, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, treasurer of the National Honor Society, president of the Interact Club, a Keep Islip Clean Club Junior Commissioner, and a participant in the Women in Science and Engineering, Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge, and American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State programs. She will graduate with an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Narducci will attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, majoring in wildlife biology.

“I’m very excited,” Narducci said. “I am really happy because I feel like my parents supported me a lot and I’m glad that I’m able to make them proud.”

De Lapi, who earned a 103.31 weighted GPA, is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society, National World Language Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Business Academy and varsity tennis team. She will attend the University of South Carolina, majoring in business marketing.

“It’s really surreal,” De Lapi said. “Honestly, I never really envisioned myself achieving this, but now that it’s here, I just can’t believe it.”

Date Added: 4/19/2024

Islip High School students participating in the Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge (SPARK) program at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) recently visited the lab to work on a beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLSII). SPARK provides high schoolers with an opportunity to become visiting researchers at the lab’s scientific facilities.

The young Islip scientists, in conjunction with fellow high schoolers from Eastport-South Manor High School, are working to determine the structure of a protein that has never been resolved before: a Beta-lactamase that plays a role in antibiotic resistance.  After trying to grow the crystals themselves without success, they worked collaboratively with Dr. Scott Lovell at Kansas University. He grew the crystals with his far superior lab equipment, then shared the images with the students remotely. They selected the crystals most likely to produce good data, and Dr. Lovell shipped them to Long Island. With the help of NYX beamline scientist Dr. Kevin Battaile, students gathered data on a total of eight samples. The next step will be to use the imaging software Phenix and COOT to determine the protein structure. Islip students will be presenting their work at both the NSLSII Users Meeting and the OSSP Symposium at BNL later this spring.

Date Added: 4/9/2024

Islip High School Virtual Enterprise students recently visited a new local store, Redefine Meals, a healthy meal prep business. Students met with the owners and management team to learn about their business plan, target market, supply chain and logistics of the business.

“It was a great way for our entrepreneurial students to connect what they’ve learned in the classroom with real world businesses,” teacher Renee Clock said. “Students experienced a firsthand account of how two college students looking for a healthy, well-balanced meal turned that ‘want’ into a business idea. Our students were able to relate to the business plan idea, and asked about break-even configurations and customer and employee retention, among other topics.”

Date Added: 4/4/2024

The Islip High School PTSA’s recent Fashion Show was a huge success. The annual event acts as a fundraiser for scholarships and student events. For this year’s show, student Lucas Bohr served as the dapper master of ceremonies and Suffolk County Legislator Samuel Gonzalez was the guest announcer. Dresses were provided by the Town of Islip Youth Bureau, Sweet Simplicity of Islip and Nalu Dry Goods in Bay Shore.

“As always, the students who modeled and those who helped set up, organize and run the show did a fantastic job,” PTSA President Stacey Zurbaran said.

Date Added: 4/2/2024

Continuing a fundamental annual event in Islip’s secondary schools, World Language Immersion Day took place at Islip Middle School on March 15. Juniors and seniors in Islip High School’s World Language Honor Society modeled usage, comprehensibility and proficiency of Italian and Spanish through various student-created activities for seventh-grade Islip Middle School language learners.

“Immersion Day is always a fun opportunity to encourage and engage students while promoting global citizenship through immersive collaboration,” World Language Honor Society adviser Megan Schierhorst said.

Date Added: 4/1/2024