Stavisky/Rozic Announce $250,000 in State Funds for Townsend Harris High School’s Bridge Year Program

QUEENS- Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic were proud to announce $250,000 in State funding for Townsend Harris High School’s Bridge Year Program. They spent the afternoon talking to students who benefited from the program and have taken courses such as English, Astronomy, Sociology, and Urban Studies.

Townsend Harris High School (THHS) has always offered their seniors a unique opportunity to attend classes at Queens College and earn college credit.  Under the previous mayoral administration, there were attempts to cut the program despite strong support from local elected officials, the THHS administration, faculty and students.

Senator Stavisky, who led the fight in the State Senate for the funding stated, “This is a program that should be replicated throughout New York City. With the ever growing costs of college, this gives students a foot in the door while at the same time exposing them to the excellent opportunities that Queens College has to offer.”

Assemblywoman Rozic who is an alumnus of Townsend Harris High School and benefited from the Bridge Year Program herself said, “Giving our students the tools to advance in their higher education is imperative for their success at the university-level and beyond. I am proud to have secured funding with Senator Stavisky for the Queens College Bridge Program at Townsend Harris High School which will help transition high school seniors to the new responsibilities of college coursework and allow them to gain college credits at no additional cost to families.”

Since taking the helm at Townsend Harris High School five years ago, Principal Brian Condon has been an outspoken proponent of the program and has brought together City and State officials to keep the program running.

“On behalf of the entire Townsend Harris Community, I thank State Senator Toby Stavisky and Assemblymember Nily Rozic for securing $250,000 to fund our renowned Queens College Bridge Year Program,” said Principal Condon. “Their visionary leadership and willingness to fight to keep this program alive for another year will ensure that the next senior class of Townsend Harris High School students will attend college courses while in high school. Furthermore, it will continue to allow Townsend Harris High School at Queens College, a public high school, to be a place that offers students of all backgrounds the greatest educational opportunities this city and state have to offer.“

With a new City administration now in place, the elected officials hope this funding brings fresh opportunities for the school and encourage the new Mayor and City Council to continue to invest in the Bridge Year Program.