PHS Program Supports Asian American Students

Over the past four years two Princeton High School teachers have run a program for Asian American students, helping them to manage cultural differences and navigate the system.

Nipurna Shah, PHS college and career counselor, and Paul Song, a PHS guidance counselor, started the program in response to requests from students, and modeled it after Boston University’s AWARE (Asian Women’s Action for Resilience and Empowerment) program.  Shah and Song have adapted AWARE to be both gender neutral and appropriate for high school students.

Song, who is a Korean American man, described the students in the program, usually juniors and seniors who have been recommended by their guidance counselors, as “traversing two different cultural backgrounds, their home background and being at an American high school.” The program’s discussions give them a safe space to talk about a wide spectrum of topics, including cultural differences, family life, identity formation, and more.

Shah, an Indian American woman, described the program as a “psycho-educational counseling group,” with about ten students participating each year.

Recently their normal curriculum was temporarily modified in order to address current events.  “We have had to pause to help students process what has been happening in our country,” said Song. “It has been very emotional, not only for the students but for us as adults. We have been fortunate to have this group and the space to share our true inner feelings and thoughts. It provides a sense of empowerment.”

Pennington Grad Wins New Business Challenge

Rachel Domb, a 2019 Pennington School graduate, recently won first prize in Northeastern University’s Husky Startup Challenge for her business Rooted Living, an eco-friendly, plant-based snack company. 

A sophomore psychology major at Northeastern, Domb spoke to students in the Pennington School’s applied science program in a recent Zoom event. She described Rooted Living and its creation out of her commitments to health and sustainability.  Rooted Living’s healthy snacks are free from refined ingredients and are wrapped in compostable packaging.

“My passion for personal health came from a long period of really struggling with my health,” she said.  After transitioning to a plant-based diet, Domb realized how much of an impact her food choices made on her physical and mental health and also on the earth. 

Domb shared with the Pennington students the process she went through for researching the snack market, crafting her business plan, winning the startup competition, joining a women’s entrepreneurship group on campus, crowdfunding, and manufacturing and soft-launching her products. She plans to officially launch Rooted Living online and in Boston stores in May.

PHS Alumna Named Presidential Scholar at Cornell

Alexa Podolsky, 2017 Princeton High School graduate, has been named a Merrill Presidential Scholar at Cornell University, one of a handful of seniors in the top one percent of their class who display exceptional intellectual drive and leadership abilities.

Given the opportunity to recognize an inspiring high school teacher who significantly contributed to her college experience, Podolsky cited PHS biological science and chemistry teacher Robert Corell.

“Dr. Corell treated us like college students,” she said. “He had high expectations of us because he respected us. He worked us hard because he wanted to prepare us for what we would soon face in college. I am forever grateful to Dr. Corell. Because of him I learned to stay on top of ever-flowing course material.”

Recalling Podolsky’s focus on learning and the “pursuit of knowledge and understanding,” Corell noted her “selfless attitude” and willingness to help her fellow students. 

Podolsky, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering next month, has worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Cornell’s Lammerding Lab and a research assistant/volunteer at NYU Langone Health. She has a particular interest in biomaterials, precision medicine, and cancer technology, and she plans to apply to medical school.

PJS Odyssey of the Mind Winners

Princeton Junior School (PJS) students won two victories on April 17 at the Odyssey of the Mind New Jersey State Finals, and they have qualified for the World Finals.            

In the “Technical Problem” division the Virtual Odyssey group of Eden Barber, Madison Ferrante, Naman Parekh, and Oscar Anton won second place. In the “Classics Problem” division Eli Holler, Eli Pashman, Marco Duran, and Nate Oesterle finished third in the state competition.

The eight fifth graders, along with their leader, PJS math coordinator Zach Floyd, will be moving on to the World Finals held virtually and in person later this spring.