Ten members of Oyster Bay High School's Rho Kappa honor society traveled to Nassau Community College on Friday, Oct. 24, to participate in the 2nd Annual Civics Summit – an event designed to strengthen student understanding of civic responsibility and democratic values.
Under the guidance of Social Studies teacher and Rho Kappa advisor Mr. David Pontillo, the students joined peers from Locust Valley and Cold Spring Harbor high schools for a day focused on civic engagement and historical reflection. The summit emphasized how America's commitment to democracy proved decisive in defeating fascism during World War II, drawing connections between past and present civic duties.
The conference featured a combination of video presentations and interactive panel discussions, giving students multiple opportunities to engage with the material. Oyster Bay High School students actively participated in these panels, both asking thoughtful questions and contributing their own perspectives during discussions. The highlight of the summit came with the keynote address delivered by Helen Patton, granddaughter of the legendary World War II General George S. Patton. Following her speech, Ms. Patton led her own panel discussion, offering students a personal connection to the historical events that shaped modern democracy.
Junior Emma Hampton said: The Civic Summit we attended was a fantastic example of how American youth can be dedicated and engaged in our country's history, future and politics. The summit's collaborative approach, bringing together students from multiple Long Island school districts, demonstrated the power of civic education to inspire the next generation of engaged citizens.
Representing Oyster Bay High School at the summit were Giovanna Lisa, Gio Maninos, Mosie Bradley, Maalika Mehta, Emma Hampton, Christos Kokotos, Tommy Rahilly, Silas Miller, Noah Kingsley and Maddie Matthews. The event received local media coverage from News 12, which featured footage of participating students from Oyster Bay and other schools. Click here to view the coverage of the summit
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