High School student Wasif Islam, who will start his senior year in September, was recently accepted into the prestigious Engineering Pipeline Program sponsored by National Grid.

The Pipeline is a six-year developmental journey for high school students to translate their interest in science, technology, engineering or mathematics into a future career in engineering. Each year, 45 juniors are selected who demonstrate a strong interest in science and math, and also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 87. While in the program, they are given the opportunity to participate in ongoing educational, job shadowing and mentoring activities, as well as competing for a select number of paid internships at National Grid. Accepted students must pursue an engineering degree, maintain a 3.0 GPA in college and participate in ongoing Pipeline activities; after graduation from college, they will be considered for future employment with National Grid.

An honors student taking multiple AP classes, Islam also serves as the captain of Deer Park’s Dark Falcons catapult team and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society and basketball team. He hopes to attend Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, majoring in aerospace engineering.

“Wasif is one of our most promising students, who takes on challenges and achieves his goals by his intelligent persistence and drive to succeed,” said technology teacher Bruce Sander, who, along with physics teacher Ted Smirlis and Board of Education trustee Keith Rooney, recommended Islam for the program. “He has been a core member of my Dark Falcons team, and can always be counted on to be there to help and offer his opinions regarding the design and engineering of the school’s catapult. He is one of the top students in my architecture and civil engineering class. His parents should be very proud of the child they have raised, who is kind to all others, a mentor to fellow students, respectful and sharply focused on his goals.”