Freshman school reporter, Sara Diaz, interviewed Ryan and wrote this story. When was the last time you visited our school? I was just here last semester, so in the fall I was working on converting a commercial building into a residential building, and we had to build a physical model of our design. So, I came here to laser cut acrylic and chip wood to build a model. What was one of your favorite things that WHSAD had to offer throughout your four years of education? WHSAD actually offered me a lot of stuff. I would say architecture grill. It was a program where we partnered with an architecture grill company by Gowanus in Brooklyn. We would go there every Tuesday after school and we got to work with them, create our … [Read more...]
Highlighting WHSAD’s CTE Award-Winning Teachers
Student reporter, Miguel Hernandez, wrote this story. On February 13th Mr Codio and Ms. Cumberbatch received CTE awards. CTE stands for Career and Technical Education. These are electives that teach students about a certain career, Architecture being one of those careers. The award received recognizes the hard work and dedication teachers have put into educating students about their fields with a high standard in their classrooms. A CTE award is an amazing award to have received. How Did They Get There? When Mr. Cornell arrived at WHSAD as principal, the architecture program was struggling and nowhere near how it should have been. Mr. Codio was one of the first people hired by Mr. Cornell, in an attempt to fix the program. Mr. … [Read more...]
2026 Park Avenue Armory Residency
Each year, WHSAD’s Sophomores engage in an eight session residency with teaching artists from Park Avenue Armory. In the past, students have constructed collages using various media, crafted backdrops for scenes they scripted, and built subway cars out of plastic pipes to convey what NYC commuter life could be like. Each of these projects has some connection to a work the students viewed at the Armory, allowing them to investigate an artistic production in a deeper and more personal way. These sessions allow students to engage with one another in ways different from what takes place in a typical English classroom, from striking a pose in a tableaux to using iPads to record mini-films and voice overs. Every year, students have a great deal … [Read more...]
ACEing My Future
Saidjohn with Laela Sluchevsky, Assistant MEP Estimator, Turner Construction Company, and Co-Managing Director of our Gensler New York office, on being named Chairman of the Board of ACE Mentor Program of America. By Saidjohn Saidganiev, 2026 WHSAD Graduate, ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York Scholarship Recipient, and incoming student at Syracuse University Sophomore year, I made a deal with myself. If I wanted a shot at a good college, I needed to build something—an extracurricular base, a resume, a reason for someone to take a chance on me. The first thing that came to mind was a program I had heard about freshman year and completely ignored: ACE. I go to Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design. Freshman year, … [Read more...]
Melina Gomez, Class of 2026
What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? Some of my most memorable moments have been staying after school hours. When classes aren’t going on, there is still so much life and fun in school. I’ve made so many new friends by joining after school programs and staying late to finish assignments. Doing this has also gotten me closer to my teachers. Taking walks throughout the hallways and popping into different classes to say hi to my old teachers is one of my favorite things to do and the main things I’ll miss at WHSAD. What are your plans for life after high school? Why do you feel this is the best option for your at this time? Life after high school I plan to attend Pace University to … [Read more...]
WHSAD’s 2026 Seal of Biliteracy Students Share Their Stories
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) is a formal recognition awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages. To earn the Seal, students must meet rigorous criteria, including earning a specific number of points through high school coursework, state exams, and a Culminating Project presented to a panel of experts. For New York students, pursuing the Seal is a powerful way to validate their linguistic and cultural identity while gaining a competitive edge. It not only distinguishes college applications and resumes but can also lead to advanced course placement or university credit, all while celebrating the 21st-century skills necessary for success in our … [Read more...]
Jada Quijano-Class of 2026
What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? I've made many memories here at WHSAD that I will never forget. I've worked on many projects in collaboration with various community partners and my peers, such as a habitat analysis with Freshkills Park and a rooftop analysis with Newtown Creek, which have all taught me so much. I was even given the opportunity to lead my own project in which I designed a plaza space with students from MS 577. I'll never forget all that I've learned from Mr. Rodriguez and Codio, as I wouldn't be where I am today without them. I've spent countless hours here at WHSAD after school and on weekends working on projects with my peers, constantly cracking jokes and pestering … [Read more...]
Jake Kadar-Class of 2026
What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? In general my most memorable moments at WHSAD have been staying late working on projects and messing around with my friends. Some days we're actually doing real work, some days not so much. No matter what though, we're having fun. What are your plans for life after high school? Why do you feel this is the best option for your at this time? I plan on going to college for architecture. Specifically, I plan on getting a BS in architecture and then an M.Arch. I think this is the best decision for me because architecture combines logical and creative thinking. Once I get my master's degree and collect enough work hours, I'll start working towards … [Read more...]
Derek Martinez-Class of 2026
What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? The most memorable moments were me selling snacks and candy throughout freshman year. It was pretty fun, and I learned so much and have experience on making negotiations. There was another experience that I would never forget and that is theater club where I was mostly shy and was scared. When the first performance started, I was really scared that I was going to mess up, but I didn't. I used Ms SIlverstein's advice to think that there was barely any people in the auditorium. I made it to the end and realized that I wasn't that bad to what I think when first signing up. The final theater performance was one of the most truly spectacular performance I … [Read more...]
Leah Carrington Payne-Class of 2026
What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? Some of my most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD have been the times I was able to grow both academically and personally. I will always remember the friendships I built and how those connections helped me get through stressful moments. One thing I learned is that the people you start high school with are not always the people you leave with, and that’s something very important because it shows growth and change. Being very involved in school, helping plan events, and participating in different activities also made my experience more meaningful. There were definitely challenges along the way, but overcoming them made the good moments … [Read more...]