YPIE Scholars Recognized as Finalists!

It has been a record-breaking year for YPIE Scholars in Yonkers and Jersey City.

For the FIRST time:

• Ian, YPIE Regeneron Science Research Scholar, was selected as a finalist at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

• Amrita, YPIE Entrepreneurship Scholar, was selected as a finalist at the NFTE Regional Youth Competition

We’re grateful to all the partners who make YPIE Majors possible:

• Science Research: Regeneron:

• Robotics: NASA

• Finance: Webster Bank

• Debate: NYC Urban Debate League

• Film: Jacob Burns Film Center

• Envirothon: Con Edison

• Design: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Read more highlights below!

Science Research (Yonkers and Jersey City)

• Six YPIE Regeneron Science Research students received impressive awards at WESEF, including Ian, who also won the GRAND PRIZE, selected as one of only 20 students who will compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May!

• WESEF Award winners include:

  • Ian: IBM Visionary Engineering Award, 1st Place Computer Science, and WESEF Finalist for Regeneron ISEF!

  • Jayce and Kium: Leason Ellis Best Team Project Award

  • Kaylie and Stephanie: Creative Approach to Research Award

  • Maryam: 4th place in Biochemistry Award

Robotics (Yonkers)

• 28 YPIE Robotics Scholars brought their creativity, teamwork, and engineering talent to the NYC FIRST Robotics Competition.

• This year’s challenge, Reefscape, pushed teams to engineer solutions that support one of the ocean’s most diverse ecosystems. 

Entrepreneurship (Yonkers)

• 16 YPIE 9th-grade students submitted their business plans to the NFTE Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (RYEC), a record number for YPIE

• 4 YPIE Scholars (Charity, Ramses, Chris, and Amrita) were selected as NFTE RYEC Semi-Finalists

• YPIE Scholar Amrita was selected as a Finalist for her standout pitch deck on OilMist, a hair oil brand designed to be accessible for all ages, genders, and hair types. 

Finance (Yonkers)

• 4 students submitted their work to the Young Investors Society Stock Pitch Competition (for the first time!)

• Each submission included presentation slides, a video, and a comprehensive report. 

• Stock pitches included:  Google, Nintendo, and Microsoft 

Design (Yonkers and Jersey City)

• 12 YPIE Design Scholars submitted their work to the Cooper Hewitt Design Challenge.  

• This year’s prompt asked: “‘What would you design to help everyone feel at home in your community?” Students explored their own experiences, stepped into the shoes of designers, and created inspiring sketches that reimagine what “home” means. 

Debate (Yonkers)

• 6 YPIE Debate Scholars earned bronze models for their participation in 2 NYC Urban Debate League competitions

• 2 YPIE Debate Scholars submitted to the NYT Global Podcast Contest, where they discussed the struggles of being a teenager, grappling with friendships, and fashion trends 

Film (Yonkers)

• 25 YPIE Film Major students created 3 films this year

• Reflections, a film created by previous YPIE Film Scholars, was an OFFICIAL SELECTION AT the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival and Urbanite Arts & Film Festival 

Journalism (Jersey City)

• Nine YPIE Journalism majors collaborated to create Fresh Perspectives, a collection of student stories and voices that discuss relationship challenges, world events, and create original games and poetry.

Envirothon (Yonkers)

• 25 YPIE Scholars and YPS students represented Yonkers at this year’s NCF Envirothon Competition, the environmental and natural resources conservation competition for high school students across the country.

• One of the Yonkers teams won the Top Prize in the "Current Issue" category!

Our YPIE Jersey City Scholars also took exciting field trips to Regeneron, ASRC, the Liberty Science Center, Cooper Hewitt, MoMA, and the Whitney Museum, and hosted several career-oriented speakers.

Congratulations to all these YPIE Scholars!