By Dana Klosner-Wehner
"We tried to pick a cross-section of the school," said Principal John Capozzi. "We chose kids from [Future Business Leaders of America], the Key Club, the Model U.N. and an All-American soccer player."
Since its inception, the program, now in its 10th year, has hosted more than 6,000 students. It was designed to develop leadership skills, mentoring initiatives, community service and character education. The program runs in Elmont, North Valley Stream, Franklin Square, Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose Village, Bellerose Terrace, West Hempstead and Malverne, according to Alfano's chief of staff, Scott Cushing.
The students toured the New York State Museum, Cushing said. "They got to see a World Trade Center recovery exhibit, which is the only one in existence," he said. The exhibit features a fire truck that was destroyed when the towers came down, along with other pieces from the site.
"This year, the museum has recovered landing gear from one of the planes that rammed the twin towers on September 11th," Cushing said in a statement. "In addition, new displays and interactive computers have been added to tell the individual stories of firefighters, police officers and emergency responders."
"You could really see the depth of the damage in that exhibit," said Xavier Roberts, a senior at Elmont. "There were fire trucks and steel girders."
"I got to learn a lot about what happened that day," said Ahkeel Rodney, another senior. "I learned how many blocks were covered in dust. And the fact that some of the firefighters came from Franklin Square and other areas close to us."
The students also saw a display of art by painter Robin Kent. "We added the arts into the program because of some moving artwork and displays centered around rhythm and movement in celebration of diversity and Black History Month," Alfano said.
"I liked the African-American-themed [paintings]," Roberts said. "I liked the images of Dr. Martin Luther King that were in the walkway to the Assembly that were drawn by elementary school students. I liked their impressions of Martin Luther King and civil rights."
The students toured a Holocaust exhibit, which is a new facet of the program. They walked through a timeline of the period where displays outlined Nazi plans for the Final Solution and concentration camps, and their crimes against humanity, Cushing said.
The students also got to see the state Assembly. After the tour, they had lunch with Alfano, and asked him questions about Elmont and how he got to be an assemblyman. "We talked about [the redevelopment] at Belmont and the misconception about a casino being brought there," Roberts said. "We learned a lot about what's going on at Belmont."
"Students strongly supported an outdoor mall facility in the Belmont south lot and added that they would like to see an emphasis on sustainable jobs," Cushing said.
"Assemblyman Alfano told us that he got to where he is by going to law school," Rodney said. "He said if you try hard, anything is possible."
The students described the trip as very educational. "I gained a lot more knowledge of how the government runs," Rodney said. "It was a good experience. Since we're living here, we might as well know what's going on."
"I always wanted to go [to the Capitol] since elementary school," Roberts said. "It gave me a broader view on politics."
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