Dr. Matthew Costello presents his lecture, “Living and Dying in the White House: Treating America’s First Families” at Columbia University.
From left to right: Juan Valencia, Trevon West, Heather Butts, Adria Lee, and Dr. Matthew Costello
While many students and faculty members used this April’s break as a way to rest and recharge for the final weeks of the 2017-2018 school year, some of WHSAD’s community members continued learning. WHSAD students Adria Lee, Trevon West, and Juan Valencia, accompanied by Freshman teacher Ms. Sandra Spaziana, attended Dr. Matthew Costello and Heather Butts’ lecture, “Living and Dying in the White House: Treating America’s First Families,” at Columbia University. The program provided students with the opportunity not only to learn more about United States’ history but also to reconnect with Dr. Costello who provided a White House tour for this same group of students during the February break. Below, Heather Butts and Trevon West share their thoughts about the day.
Juan Valencia and Trevon West brightening a New York City resident’s morning with cookies and fruit.
There are so many people to thank for the wonderful program we co-sponsored yesterday at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. I am a faculty member at Columbia and first met Dr. Costello as a co-panelist at the @dchistory Conference in DC last year. Our program on 4/5 was entitled “Living and Dying in the White House: Treating America’s First Families.” First, huge thank you to our speaker, Dr. Matthew Costello, Senior Historian at the White House Historical Association. He and his wonderful wife Kristen traveled from DC for the event, and we are so glad they were with us. His talk was fascinating, inspiring, and insightful. We also want to thank Dr. David Rosenthal and Ms. Carey McHugh of the @columbiapublichealth Health Policy Management Department for being crucial to making this day happen; it would not have been possible without them. Next, our students from the Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design: Adria, Trevon, and Juan who first met Dr. Costello at the White House and WHHA in February and joined us for the talk. They were accompanied by teacher Sandra Spaziani, and we are thrilled they attended and participated in the discussion. Finally, our wonderful audience, who asked probing, fascinating questions and were engaged and fabulous! Looking forward to more projects with Dr. Costello. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please use the link below: https://www.whitehousehistory.
The perks of attending Columbia lectures!
Warmest regards, Heather Butts.
On April 5, WHSAD students Adria Lee , Juan Valencia, and Trevon West, along with teacher Ms. Spaziani and Health for Youths Founder Heather Butts attended a presentation at Columbia University led by Dr. Matthew Costello. The presentation itself was about the history of illness, disease and death in the White House. The students were chosen because they took a private tour of the White House also led by Matthew Costello. This was important information for the students to learn because it is essential to know the history of the country you’re residing in. Increasing your knowledge of history could not only help you in school but your daily life as well.
Trevon West