High School East siblings earn water quality grant

Three siblings from Smithtown High School East were honored on April 27 as the Long Island Water Council awarded the school a $2,500 grant in recognition of their success in the 2026 Long Island Water Quality Challenge.

Junior Hannah Sack, freshman Julia Sack, and senior David Sack submitted their winning proposal, “Reducing Nitrogen Pollution Through a Rain Garden and Nitrogen Filter Bed.” Their project was selected among the top entries in the prestigious competition, a STEAM-based initiative presented by the Long Island Regional Planning Council in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The challenge encourages students in grades 6–12 to develop innovative solutions to improve water quality.

The students’ proposal outlines plans to transform the school’s courtyard into a “living lab,” incorporating native plants to naturally filter stormwater and protect local groundwater resources.

“This achievement perfectly embodies the Smithtown Promise—applying STEAM excellence to solve real-world problems for our community,” said Smithtown High School East Principal Paul McNeil.

In addition to receiving certificates of achievement from state and county officials, the team secured a $2,500 grant to support the implementation of their project on school grounds.