Levittown HS Students Weigh In On Gun Violence At Conference

LEVITTOWN, NY — General Douglas MacArthur High School students were recently tasked with developing a solution to the nation’s gun violence problem during Northwell Health’s Medical Marvels Conference, school district officials announced in a news release.

During the virtual conference, the six students were given the assignment of providing innovative technological and health-based solutions, as well as a public policy strategy, to solve the nation’s gun violence problems, district officials said.

The students heard from presenters like former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head by a man in 2011, as well as U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a former federal agent. Other speakers included Director of Center for Gun Violence Prevention at Northwell Health Dr. Chethan Sathya, Provost of Research at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Dr. Bettie Steinberg and Assistant Vice President at Northwell Health Dr. Sandeep Kapoor.

The students — Valerie Bonavita, Michael Cassano, Ana Compton, Rylie Lubliner, Natalia Pszeniczny and Grace Ryan — wrote papers, presented findings engaged in a question and answer session, the students participated in workshops and lectures, according to district officials.

The students also learned about International Women’s Day and careers in research, district officials said.