Students with 90 and higher GPAs had the opportunity to visit the SUNY Stony Brook campus on Long Island alongside college and career advisor Aye Bah and teacher Kandee Brummer. Students participated in a STEM workshop where they got to learn about circuits and even create a night light that they were allowed to bring home. They were also given a tour around campus by 2025 Bronx River grad, Alexis Santos.
As the first semester draws to a close, Alex reflected on his freshman year so far. “My overall experience in college has been great, meeting new people, living away from my parents and the independence it brings, classes and the social events have helped more about the college and myself,” he said.
Alexis says one the most challenging parts of college has been scheduling his day. “The difficulty I found was just making a daily schedule and routine that works for me,” he said. “A schedule that tries to balance my school and social life.”
He recommends the school to anyone that is interested in steam and wants to experience that classic college experience.
Daniella Padagas, a junior, enjoyed walking around the spacious campus. “There were lots of things for the students there to do, and places like the library, dining hall, and the campus bus seemed to be very practical,” she said. “The staff and students were also welcoming.”
She especially liked the STEM lab. “I really enjoyed the STEM lab because it was hands on and the guidance provided by the staff was very helpful,” she said. ” I had a lot of fun doing it because I learned a lot and it was really cool to have my device actually work.
For anyone who wishes to pursue engineering, Daniella recommends Stony Brook as a possible choice and wishes to go on more college trips in the future.
“I hope they got a sense of whether they might enjoy a career in the STEM field,” Ms. Brummer says. She hopes that through this trip, students may have been able to find a clearer answer as to what they want to pursue in their future. “I think it was also valuable for them to see a Bronx River alumni doing well there. It was great to have Alexis showing us around the campus.”
