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St. Luke's 2019 Scholars Symposium
On April 11, St. Luke’s held one of its signature annual academic events: the Scholars Symposium. Director of Studies Jim Yavenditti welcomed parents to the Scholars Symposium and kicked off the evening of presentations.
The fourteen St. Luke’s seniors who were selected as scholars spent the year on an independent study that culminated in a public presentation of their findings. Students studied either a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) or global (analysis of a global issue and extensive language study) topic.
Faculty advisors work one-on-one with scholars throughout the year and help the students prepare for their final presentations. Director of Studies Jim Yavenditti said, "I’m always impressed with our scholars’ work. They are able to take their incredibly detailed, scholarly research and present it at a level that is understandable to a general audience. That’s no easy task and reflects well on them as scholars and on our Upper School curriculum as a whole."
Student scholars and their topics included:
Hannah Amendola-STEM Scholar
Developing Time Management Software Using Several Platforms
Chris Ayoub-Global Scholar
The Problematic Relationship Over Intellectual Property Between the United States & the People’s Republic of China
Anna Camp-STEM Scholar
Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices to Investigate Blood Coagulation
Hunter Conetta-Global Scholar
Contemporary European Populism
Andres Falcon Gimenez-STEM Scholar
Optimization of Biodiesel Synthesis Through Transesterification of Waste Oils
Jewels Finley-Global Scholar
Contemporary Forms of Discrimination: Race in the United States and Brazil
Ellie Haljun-STEM Scholar
Ocean Acidification and Its Effect on Coral Growth
Jack Maguire-STEM Scholar
The Language of Champions: An Analysis of Confidence vs. Performance
Sydney Napolitano-Global Scholar
The Implications of Essential Medication Shortages
Clara Pakman-STEM Scholar
Creating a Video Game to Strengthen Critical Thinking Skills
Georgia Rosenberg-Global Scholar
Genetically Modified Food: The Quest for Successful Crop Cultivation With a Global Food Crisis on the Horizon
Lynden Steele-Global Scholar
Male Bodies as Weapons: Intractable Sexual Violence in South Sudan
Mary Grace Thomas-Global Scholar
The Dangers of an Antiquated System: The Modern Rights & Trials of Refugees
Carolina Warneryd-STEM Scholar
Engineering a Sanitation Solution for the Guatemala City Dump
A special thanks to this year’s Scholar Advisors: Jason Haynes (Global), Alec LeBris (STEM), Jason Warner (STEM), and Beth Yavenditti (Global).
Photo: Back Row—L to R: Clara Pakman, Hannah Amendola, Ellie Haljun, Mary Grace Thomas, Lynden Steele, Anna Camp
Front Row—L to R: Jewels Finley, Sydney Napolitano, Christopher Ayoub, Jack Maguire, Georgia Rosenberg
(not in photo: Hunter Conetta, Andres Falcon Gimenez, and Carolina Warneryd)
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
