Woodhull Students Graduate from Bridge Class
It might come as a surprise that 20 Woodhull Intermediate School students displayed a real interest in bridge this past school year. The youngsters were recognized with certificates of excellence during a ceremony marking their graduation from 25 weeks of after-school instruction in duplicate bridge.
The bridge club and its weekly one-hour classes had the enthusiastic support of Woodhull Principal Mary Stokkers, who saw the initiative as a way to enhance students' mathematics skills, as well as their overall academic prowess.
Receiving certificates of excellence were students Alexis Archer, Dawson Wallace, Shanyia North, Mateo Alzate-Rodrigo, Levi Leach, Jack Vaccaro, Morgan Mitchell, Naomi Ponce, Peter Ciccone, Patrick Hannon, Finn Tucker, Joe Dammers, Connor Towers, William Fallon, Lauren Sage, Natalie Flores, Cloe Stevens, Marissa Gaal, Ursula DeRosa and Mardnie Mentor.
Working with the club members were teacher-coaches Jack and Chris Sage, Jennifer Villager and Alice Kessler. The program was sponsored by Long Island Bridge for Youth, a 501 (c) (3), nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing teachers and other support to youthful bridge students in public schools, libraries and recreation centers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
During the recent "graduation" ceremony students were able to meet Dr. Reza Khatib of Garden City, whose generosity makes him the largest single contributor in the history of teaching bridge to youth on Long Island. This year Dr. Khatib's philanthropic foundation presented the first of what will be perpetual annual grants to LIBFY to fund its work. The non-profit also receives support from the American Contract Bridge League's Education Foundation and local bridge clubs on Long Island.