Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C,I,Ref-Medford) attended the honors ceremony for the Long Island Pine Barrens Society program, “Middle School Kids Go to College”, on July 31 at the Suffolk County Water Authority’s Education Center in Hauppauge. The program allowed middle school students to create water quality awareness projects and exhibit their work at Stony Brook University. In addition, the students were able to attend lectures by the prominent professor of marine science, Dr. Christopher Gobler.

“I met with the winners of the competition who were all from Patchogue Medford Middle Schools and discussed with these intelligent students how we can better protect our waters. These amazing students are our future. With them at the wheel, I know our environment is in capable hands. I loved the opportunity to meet with students from my alma mater,” DeStefano said. “Congratulations to all the winners! A job well done by all.”

Congratulations to Alexa Schiller, Ryan O'Sullivan, Kyla O'Sullivan, Ella McCann, Gabriella APoirier, Julia Dreyhaupt, Kevin Hidalgo, Luke Loewe, Raymond Velez, Liam Halpin, Alexander Enriquez, Issac Varghese, Aidan Stroub, Alexa Ashby, Olivia Hanley, Paige McGowan, Talan Clements, James Minnella and Marco Mazzella.