Northeast STEM Starter Academy Gets Visit from County Executive and BCW

Fourth graders in the Northeast STEM Starter Academy’s (NSSA) afterschool program at the Benjamin Turner Middle School in Mount Vernon on Tuesday got a surprise visit from Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas and a host of other dignitaries including BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon interested in seeing the workings of this special science program.

Visitors were impressed with the students’ math explorations, part of an enhanced learning program which also includes science and robotics. NSSA, a BCW member, received a grant from the Westchester County Youth Board to use enhanced math, science, computer coding, robotics instruction and mentoring to drive meaningful, educational change for underserved, at-risk students in Mount Vernon and throughout the county.

“Seeing these children so engaged and excited to learn (about ratios!) was an uplifting start to the New Year,’’ said Gordon, who attended the tour. “NSSA gets to the heart of two very important BCW initiatives – cultivating tomorrow’s talent and revitalizing our urban areas. Congratulations to Gerald Dennis on his leadership, and Board members and supporters (and BCW members) Jennifer Flowers and Karen Spencer. This is a great partnership with government, including County Executive Rob Astorino, Youth Bureau Commissioner Iris Pagan, and Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas. Kudos are also in order for Acorda Therapeutics and Tierney Scavino for their contributions to this program.”