This is Poly

Poly People

Poly People

Hallie Stephenson ’20

“My favorite part about going to Poly Prep was that I found an incredible group of people who wanted to see me succeed and cared about my future,” said Hallie Stephenson ’20. “The mentors at Poly gave me confidence and inspired me to pursue things that I was at first unsure about. Poly truly allows people to find a great group of friends. You will hardly meet anyone who does not want to befriend you; rarely anyone is unkind. Coming from other schools where cliques reign, this school is refreshing, as it allows for people to find their place. Poly has prepared me for the future. I took classes that are similar in rigor to college classes. I have learned to stop procrastinating and feel ready for any work that’s given to me. I am positive that compared to most schools, Poly has given me the toughest skin in regards to academics and taught me how to withstand and excel in my educational goals.”

Here’s what English teacher Christy Hutchcraft has to say about Hallie Stephenson ‘20: “At 17 years old, Hallie has written a full-length play, dozens of short stories and nonfiction texts, a series of poems, and she is currently at work on her first novel. Much of this work was done during her free time, outside the requirements of her regular academic workload. Hallie breathes words and language, and she will be the first to tell you that she is her best self when she puts pen to paper and lets her imagination take hold.” Hutchcraft said Hallie has excelled in her English courses, enthusiastically enrolled in AP courses, as well as the Creative Writing elective. “She spent her junior year crafting and fine-tuning her short stories, as well as studying one of her favorite authors, Jamaica Kincaid, during an independent study on fiction. She was also a vibrant, committed member of the Creative Writing Club.” That’s not just Christy’s opinion: Hallie won a Gold Key in the 2020 Scholastic Writing & Art Awards.

Academics

More Poly People

Alumni

Akili Tommasino ’05

Akili Tommasino ’05 studied art history at Harvard and founded the Prep for Prep/Sotheby’s Art Academy in 2017 “to give high school students of color an earlier window into the art world.”

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Alumni

Alexandra Nava-Baltimore ’20

“Being a student at Poly has allowed me to live what I learned. Poly has been my home, my studio, my classroom, and my inspiration.”

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Alumni

Chris Davenport ’91

Chris Davenport ’91 has been a reporter for The Washington Post since 2000 and covers the defense and space industries for the Post‘s financial desk.

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Alumni

Diahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20

Diahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20 was the second girl to serve as president of Poly’s Student Government. “Diahann was a force of nature,” recalled Paul Raso, retired science teacher and former Student Government advisor.

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Alumni

Dr. Neil Schluger ’77

“…I developed a love of learning, even for its own sake, and Paul Raso was one of the teachers who helped to instill that in me.”

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Alumni

Jared Banner ’03

Jared Banner ’03 played four seasons of varsity baseball at Poly. He was named Executive Director, Player Development for the New York Mets in 2018.

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Alumni

Jeanine Smartt Liburd ’88, P’21, ‘24

“I honed my ability to craft my ideas and utilize language to be persuasive and share my perspective.”

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Alumni

Kahaliah Sandy ’21

“Kahaliah has a great ear and confidence to carry out a conversation in Mandarin.”

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Alumni

Emily Giurleo ’13

“I certainly wouldn’t be a software engineer if Ms. Turkenkopf and Ms. Licata hadn’t encouraged my love of math and science.”

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Alumni

Eugenia Xiao ’14

Multi-talented Eugenia Xiao ‘14 earned a BA from Cornell and then a MS in Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing.

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Alumni

Fiona Greig ’97

“Athletics gave me a natural home.”

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Alumni

Gauri Purohit ’21

“Poly has given me a vast array of opportunities in both academics and the arts, which have allowed me to immerse myself in math courses beyond the standard curriculum and participate in theatre performances.”

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Alumni

Gigi Georges ’84

Gigi Georges ‘84, a recipient of Poly’s Distinguished Achievement Award, has had an extensive career in politics, public service, and academia.

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Alumni

Leslie Grinage ’99

“Being in an educational environment such as Poly prepared me well to live in and value a pluralistic society.”

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Alumni

Lola Stephens ’21

“Lola S. ’21 is a top science student, always pushing her own boundaries to understand information and concepts at the deepest levels,”

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Alumni

Max Rose ’04

Alum Max Rose ’04 was elected to represent NY District 11 in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.

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Alumni

Nyla Welch ’20

With an exceptional talent for language, Nyla has traveled abroad through Poly’s Academic Travel program twice, to Martinique and France.

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Alumni

Rowan McAllister ’15

“Art was always my favorite class, but I’ve found I use my math and engineering skills almost as much…to really connect all the dots of my education.”

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Alumni

Ryantony Exuma ’22

“Just like stringing notes together to create music, in French class, Ryantony strings together words, manipulates syntax, and applies grammar to express himself in such a thoughtful and euphonious manner…”

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Alumni

Samantha Chan ’21

“Poly encourages students to seek help from teachers, lead meaningful conversations in class, and voice their opinions at community forums.”

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Alumni

Sonja Lindberg ’16

“I worked more and harder than I ever had in English classes. After a few weeks, I came to love it.

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Alumni

Tess Sutter ’21

“Tess’ work ethic, values, and ability to be a consummate teammate while striving for excellence have been recognized by her teachers, coaches, and peers.”

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Alumni

Wendy Haft ’84

Wendy has coached every sport from basketball to tennis, but focused on softball. In 2015, she returned to Poly to present the Yale Cup at our end-of-year Athletics Awards Ceremony.

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Alumni

Will Hochman ’10

“I felt like maybe I could become who I imagined myself to be.”

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Alumni

Nick Storz ’17

Poly Blue Devils pitcher Nick Storz ’17, who was listed among the Baseball America 2017 Top 100 Draft Prospects, chose to play for LSU, where he is an imposing presence on the mound.

Alumni

Ira Feldman ’75

Sustainability must encompass environmental protection, economic development, and social justice. Educating the next generation of environmental advocates is a priority for Feldman.

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Alumni

Peter Taubman ’65

Esteemed educator, Dr. Peter Taubman has dedicated his life to teaching. During his tenure at Poly, he helped launch the Anti-Bias Coalition and served as coordinator for the Center for the Study of Diversity and Teaching.

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Alumni

Michael Terrin ’66

Eminent physician Dr. Michael Terrin ’66, MDCM, MPH is an internist with subspecialty certification in pulmonary medicine, and an MPH in epidemiology.

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Alumni

Elizabeth Somers ’91

With an extensive background in biology and drug development, Elizabeth Somers ’91 heads the Infectious Disease, Global Project and Alliance Management area at Merck.

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Alumni

Nnamdi Orakwue ’91

Nnamdi Orakwue ‘91 is a Harvard graduate who has become a successful business leader and strategist in the technology investment space.

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Alumni

Qadir Forbes ’11

“I love the Poly community and have been in service to Poly since my days as a student.”

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Alumni

Dr. Robert Minutello ’87

An active interventional cardiologist, Dr. Minutello has performed cardiac procedures in over 10,000 patients during the course of his career. 

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Alumni

Ella Schwartz ’92

Ella Schwartz ’92 has been a cybersecurity warrior for more than 20 years as well as the author of several nonfiction children’s books.

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Alumni

Ed Schoenfeld ’67

Ed Schoenfeld ’67 was a charismatic NYC restaurateur who became an unlikely, but highly regarded culinary ambassador for Chinese cuisine.

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Alumni

Beatrice Larkin ’23

“The rigor of the courses keeps us on our toes, which helps us prepare for the future.”

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Alumni

Shaza Mousa ’23

“Shaza has an incredible and zany imagination and she is fierce on the page. Her talent as a writer is undeniable.” 

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Alumni

Atiya Pope ’23

“The thing that makes Poly students special is that we’re all rooting for one another.”

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Alumni

Dr. Arthur J. Bellinzoni, Jr. ’53

After graduating from Princeton, Arthur earned a PhD at Harvard in History and Philosophy of Religion with a concentration in early Christianity.

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Alumni

Marcus Whitney ’93

Marcus is a software developer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist with a track record of success in all areas.

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Alumni

Angela Yee ’93

Media personality Angela Yee has her finger on the pulse of hip-hop, culture, business, and community. 

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Alumni

Michael Cacace ’98

You”ll find Michael  “front of the house” hosting at his family’s landmark restaurant, Michael’s of Brooklyn. Ask about their famous sauce!

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Alumni

Otis Pearsall ’49

Thanks to his passion for historic preservation, his efforts led to the monumental New York City Landmarks Law and Brooklyn Heights as the first historic district.

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Alumni

Stellene Volandes ’89

An avid participant in the arts while at Poly, Stellene is an accomplished writer and the editor-in-chief of Town & Country.

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Alumni

Dan Fogler ’94

Dan Fogler is an American actor, comedian, and writer who won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

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Alumni

David Koven ’69

David devoted most of his career to community development work, specializing in affordable housing development and in 2024, he earned Poly’s Alumni School Service Award.

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