Poly People

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

Kahaliah Sandy ’21

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

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.”

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.

Fiona Greig ’97

“Athletics gave me a natural home.”

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.”

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.

Hallie Stephenson ’20

“My favorite part about going to Poly Prep was that I was able to find such an incredible group of people who wanted to see me succeed and cared about my future.”

Leslie Grinage ’99

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

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,”

Max Rose ’04

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

Nyla Welch ’20

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

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.”

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…”

Samantha Chan ’21

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

Sonja Lindberg ’16

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

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.”

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.

Will Hochman ’10

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nnamdi Orakwue ’91

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

Qadir Forbes ’11

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

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. 

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.

Ed Schoenfeld ’67

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

Beatrice Larkin ’23

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

Shaza Mousa ’23

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

Atiya Pope ’23

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

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.

Marcus Whitney ’93

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

Angela Yee ’93

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

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!

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.

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.

Dan Fogler ’94

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

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.