Featured Story
St. Luke’s 2018 Scholars Symposium
St. Luke's Senior Scholars presented their yearlong findings at the Scholars Symposium. The three fields of scholarship represented were Classical, Global, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
St. Luke’s held one of its signature academic events: the annual Scholars Symposium. Twenty St. Luke’s seniors were selected to be scholars spending the year on an independent study culminating in a public presentation of their findings. Students represented the three fields of scholarship: Classical Scholars (an enriched study of Latin and Greek), Global Scholars (analysis of a global issue and extensive language study), and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
“St. Luke’s Scholars are the School’s mission come to life,” said Head of School Mark Davis. In a post after the 2017 symposium he wrote: “These students develop a topic, execute a research plan, put forth a thesis, draft an extensive research paper and present their findings in public. They become experts and that’s learning that lasts.”
Faculty advisors work one-on-one with scholars throughout the year and as they prepare for their final presentations. Director of Studies Jim Yavenditti said, "Our St. Luke’s Scholars take stratospheric-level research and make it discernible to the audience members which is no easy task."
On April 19, Yavenditti welcomed parents to the Scholars Symposium and kicked off the evening of presentations. Student Scholars and their topics included:
Ajit Akole, STEM Scholar
Mining Novel RNA Sequences: An Effort to Further Map the Human Transcriptome*
Kristen Beaumonte, Global Scholar
Keeping Calm and Fighting Back: How Britain is Modeling Successful Recovery from Terror
Dominic DeMarco, STEM Scholar
Traffic Flow and Intersections: Using Microscopic Computer Simulation to Analyze Road Connections
Sophia Feldman, STEM Scholar
Exploring the Link Between Learned Emotional Intelligence and Academic Success
Hannah Haden, Global Scholar
A Balancing Act: An Exploration of Pharmaceutical Drug Testing in Developing Nations
Jack Halsey, STEM Scholar
Macroscopic Modeling of Bohmian Mechanics Using a Vibrating Oil Bath
Hope Jackson, Global Scholar
Brexit at Work: The Effects of Departing the European Union on Scottish Jobs
Chloe Kekedjian, STEM Scholar
Assessing The Biodegradation of High Density Polyethylene by the Greater Wax Worm
Andrew Kurth, STEM Scholar
Carbon Nanomaterials for the Future: Optimizing Synthesis Efficiency
Elizabeth Laub, Global Scholar
Call 911: The State of Emergency Medical Services in Low Income Countries
Dennis Polyakov, STEM Scholar
Zippy Chow: Using Traveling Salesman Technology to Optimize Food Delivery
Sarah Powless, Global Scholar
Secret Weapons: The Role of Women in the Islamic State
Alexandra Schwartz, Classical Scholar
The Art of Translation: Exploring Translation Theory in Catullus’ Carmen 36
Thaise Sudano, Global Scholar
How a Harmful Tradition Persists in the Twenty-First Century: The Implications of Female Genital Mutilation on Women with a Focus on Senegal
Jack Thies, Global Scholar
The Broken Wheel of Recidivism: A Comparative Analysis of India and the United States
Alexandra Truwit, STEM Scholar
Exploring the Link Between Learned Emotional Intelligence and Academic Success
Cooper Truwit, Classical Scholar
Augustus’ Ascent and Acclimation to Power
Claire Wilson, Global Scholar
Eye On The Ball: How Sports Affect Nation Branding in Brazil, New Zealand, and Canada
Amelia Wyckoff, Classical Scholar
Villain or Victim: Sexuality, Gender, and Female Agency
in Medea*
in Medea*
A special thanks to our Scholar Advisors: Jason Warner and Alec LeBris (STEM); Beth Yavenditti and Jason Haynes (Global); Leo Mahler, Matt Bavone, and Jim Yavenditti (Classical).
*Ajit and Amelia will deliver their presentations on May 8th from 11:30am-12:45pm in room 370. Everyone in the St. Luke’s community is invited to attend.
In Photo: Back Row—L to R: Sophia Feldman, Claire Wilson, Thaise Sudano, Alexandra Truwit, Hope Jackson, Hannah Haden, Elizabeth Laub, Kristen Beaumonte, Sarah Powless, Chloe Kekedjian, Alexandra Schwartz
Front Row—L to R: Jack Theis, Andrew Kurth, Dennis Polyakov, Chase Zammit, Jack Halsey, Cooper Truwit, Dominic DeMarco
(missing from photo: Ajit Akole, Amelia Wyckoff)
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
