Laura Bush Honors Partnership Between the Yonkers Public Schools and the Hudson River Museum

First Lady Laura Bush honored the partnership between the Yonkers Public Schools and the Hudson River Museum at a White House Ceremony Monday, January 28.  The Museum is the recipient of the "Coming Up Taller Award" for its Junior Docent Program which trains District students to serve as guides who lead tours of the museum’s many exhibits, and run family oriented workshops.

Superintendent of Schools Bernard P. Pierorazio remarked, “The rich partnership the Yonkers Public Schools has developed and sustained with the Hudson River Museum has rewarded our students with an appreciation of our shared culture and the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the community.  We couldn’t be more pleased to learn of this honor.”

Stephy Sunni, (center) a Saunders High School student, and a docent since 2002, attended the White House ceremony with Rebecca Kraus (left), Manager of Youth and Family Programs for the museum. Stephy is an active member of the Junior Docent Advisory Board. Her most recent contribution was an extensive interview of acclaimed artist and illustrator, David Macaulay. She has also written about the museum’s permanent collection for an article on Teen Programming in Museums featured in the Journal News’ Newspapers in Education January 2007 supplement. Stephy has also represented the program at a number of community outreach events, worked as a mentor for incoming middle school students, and participated in museum celebration days. Stephy was also recently named an Advanced Placement Scholar by the College Board for her performance on the college-level advanced placement exams. We are incredibly proud of her and share in the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Coming Up Taller" is an initiative of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, of which Mrs. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.  The organization promotes arts and humanities education.

The Hudson River Museum, one of the Yonkers Public Schools valued cultural partners, is the oldest and largest museum in Westchester County. The Junior Docent Program is a collaboration between the Hudson River Museum and the Yonkers Public Schools. The Junior Docent Program serves nearly 80 teens who become docents for the museum. To prepare for their docent roles, students undergo an ongoing intensive training process where they learn about the Museum's exhibitions, which focus on the art, history, and ecological environment of the region. Once trained, junior docents lead weekend tours, help run family- oriented hands-on workshops and work with the Museum's camp programs.