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Schools

Today: Inspire Nyack Takes on Science, Math

Inspire Nyack—an organization created to encourage interest in science, technology and math—takes over local schools today

The vision of three education-minded community members determined to foster interest in the sciences has turned into an organization that inspires curiosity, creativity and academic achievement.

In 2006, Michael Leifer, Michael Lagana and Dan Juechter created the Foundation to Inspire Excellence in Nyack, or simply Inspire Nyack, a not-for-profit organization designed to create educational opportunities for area students.

Juechter, who serves as a member of both the Nyack School Board and the Inspire Nyack Board of Directors, said his organization was created as a means of helping schools within the Nyack district place a greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

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“We thought that we could assist the district by helping to fund innovative curriculum choices not possible within the existing budget,” he said.

Michael Lagana, president of the Nyack School Board and vice president of Inspire Nyack’s Executive Board, said STEM subjects do not always garner interest amongst students and the Inspire Nyack founders believed making a commitment to doing so can be an investment in our schools and the lives of young people.

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Since its inception, Juechter said Inspire Nyack has assisted the Nyack School District in establishing a and robotics club in its elementary schools and middle school respectively; increasing the middle school technology program and sponsoring high school robotics competitions.

“We are reaching over 1,000 students,” Juechter said. “This will have a very positive impact on the entire school district. Like all of the other volunteer organizations in the district, we are showing the students and staff how much we believe in them and how much we support them.”

In celebration of what Inspire Nyack has accomplished thus far, the organization, in cooperation with the school district, will be holding Inspire Nyack Day today. (Friday, Feb. 11.)

February 11 has great significance in history: it was on that day in 1847, Thomas A. Edison—one of the nation’s, if not world’s greatest inventors—was born.

Events commemorating this occasion are scheduled to include a Thomas Edison Student Expo at Valley Cottage Elementary School; a Liberty Science Center assembly on electricity and gas at Upper Nyack Elementary School and a Super Science program exploring gravity and sound at Liberty Elementary School.

Juechter said he is hoping Inspire Nyack Day serves as a positive way of reinforcing that learning about STEM can be exciting and rewarding.

“We hope the students make a connection between having a dream or idea and realizing that dream or idea,”he added. “Quite simply, we hope they they’re inspired.”

Lagana said he hopes those participating in Inspire Nyack Day events continue to develop an interest in STEM and that some of these young people one day pursue careers in such fields.

“We are excited to be able to celebrate Inspire Nyack Day within the elementary schools in the district,” said Inspire Nyack Board member Annie Hekker.

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