The New York State Department of Labor has repeatedly called on the urgency and high-demand of various STEM fields, particularly those surrounding engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, research, and design.
“It is our belief at Iona Preparatory School that when expectations are higher, our young men will elevate to excel,” said Brother Thomas R. Leto, Ed.D., president of Iona Preparatory. “That’s why we continue to raise the bar, and in this case, why we have launched an ambitious Science Research program. This course will give students hands-on skills that can be applied in laboratories, internships, college and beyond.
"But it also runs deeper. At Iona Preparatory, we are called to Christ. We are called to serve. Many of today’s most pressing and perplexing problems – affecting our health, safety, communities and environment – will require visionary thinkers with a solid STEM foundation.”
The three-year program starts in the student’s sophomore year and involves working in a variety of classroom, group, and independent settings. Additionally, each student in the program will be assigned a professional research mentor to assist them with their chosen field of study.
Stefano Cascapera, the head of the Research program and chair of the Science department, noted that the program will benefit students throughout the college application process as well as scholarships, internships, and other future academic endeavors.
“This is such an inspiring program,” said Cascapera. “It allows students to study and work hard on what they really enjoy. It helps them improve their confidence in scientific material and it offers a chance to work in professional laboratories. I’m excited to see what kind of breakthroughs the students discover.”
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