Friday, November 6, 2026
Students at John F. Kennedy High School are proving that classroom projects can lead to meaningful change beyond school walls.
Two student-led initiatives developed during last year's Leadership II course continue to make an impact this school year, promoting public safety across Nassau County and raising awareness about breast health and early detection.
Students Ava Robinson and Ethan Robinson partnered with Nassau County Legislators Seth Koslow and Michael Giangregorio to advocate for Robbie's Law, proposed legislation that would require automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, to be installed and maintained at public athletic fields.
Working with Giangregorio, Jill Levine and Forever 9: The Robbie Levine Foundation, the students helped encourage the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums to develop and install informational signs and park maps identifying AED locations throughout county facilities.
The initiative aims to make the lifesaving devices easier to locate during emergencies and improve safety for athletes and visitors at public parks.
Meanwhile, Leadership II students Madeline Weiner and Hannah Yoselowitz focused their efforts on breast health education and access to preventive screenings.
As part of their project, the students contacted federal representatives to advocate for the Find It Early Act, bipartisan legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover essential breast imaging screenings without out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Weiner and Yoselowitz also partnered with the Maurer Foundation last school year to bring breast health education and early detection workshops to Kennedy High School.
Their efforts earned them recognition at the Maurer Foundation's annual Pink Diamond Gala on Oct. 2, where they were honored for their leadership and advocacy.
“Our objective in the leadership program is to move students from discussion to action,” said Brad Seidman, a leadership teacher at Kennedy. “Ava, Ethan, Madeline and Hannah exemplify what it means for students to find their voice. Rather than treating their work as a one-semester assignment, they have maintained their commitments into this school year, leaving a mark on our school community and the region.”
