Intel honors Townsend Harris HS

There’s no longer any doubt that Queens has a place in the pantheon of elite New York City schools, now that Intel Corporation has named Townsend Harris High School at Queens College a School of Distinction for Science Excellence.
The technology giant designates only six excellent schools each year - three for mathematics and three for science - selected from among public and private, urban and suburban schools across the country.
What is all the more remarkable about the accomplishment, newly-appointed principal Kenneth Bonamo pointed out, is that the school is “humanities-focused.”
“This national honor is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers,” he said.
On Friday, November 21, students, faculty and intellectually humbled officials and sponsor’s representatives gathered in the library of Flushing’s own genius hatchery, for the presentation of the $10,000 prize, and numerous accolades.
Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott conveyed his own high praise and a letter from Mayor Michael Bloomberg which read in part, “Townsend Harris stands as a true example of everything our schools can and should be.”
Queens College Professor Emeritus Marvin Leiner, class of 1944 from the first version of modern-day Townsend Harris, related some of the legacy of the old school, including a conversation with an old classmate who won the Nobel Prize.
Assistant Principal for Science and Technology Susan Brustein acknowledged the “generous and sizeable help we get from mentors and sponsors,” with a nod to the other grantors to the school, including Con Ed, Microsoft and Dell Computer.
She then called up members of the science staff for recognition, and looking toward the dozen corporate benefactors in attendance said, “Your gifts will enable us to take our work to the next level.”
No such event would be complete without recognition from elected officials and former teacher, now Senator, Toby Stavisky delivered accolades, as did Assemblymembers Ellen Young, Mark Weprin, Rory Lancman and representatives for Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza and City Councilmember John Liu.
Notable throughout the event was the contribution of the true stars of the day, the students.
Although the budding scientists got most of the attention, for their work on such mind-numbing projects as “Determination of Optimal Parameters for Polymer Nanocomposites Monofilm Peak Absorbance,” the school’s tradition in the humanities was evident in the virtuosity of the students providing chamber music in the lobby and library.
For a finale, the robotics club got to show off the fruits of their education - some of their prize-worthy contraptions - much to everyone’s delight.
As club member Renaldo Lopez (author of “A Statistical Study of the Masses of Supermassive Black Holes and their Host Galaxies”) pointed out with brilliant simplicity, “We were able to advance in the robotics competition… because out robot worked.”