Recent News Articles about the Longwood RoboLions
Student Programmed Robot Cuts Ribbon on Longwood’s New Career and Technical Education Center
Sep 25 2026
Longwood High School students did not need scissors to open their new Career and Technical Education Center on Thursday. Instead, they utilized their new skills, classroom, and equipment to program a robotic arm to cut the ribbon for them, then welcomed guests into our five industry-grade spaces designed to prepare our students for the work they will encounter in the field and enter the workforce directly after high school.
This new state-of-the-art center, constructed and renovated through the district’s ongoing capital improvement program, brings Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Barbering, Clinical Medical Assistant, and Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing under one roof at Longwood High School.
Students train in an industrial instructional kitchen, a fully equipped cosmetology lab, a salon-quality barbering studio, a clinical medical lab, and an advanced manufacturing shop featuring industry-standard machining and robotics equipment. Each program is taught by professionals with experience in the field and is built into the regular school day, tuition-free for Longwood students.
“This is what a first-choice ready education looks like,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lance Lohman. “Our students are training in spaces built to industry standards, taught by people who have done the job, and they are doing it right here on their home campus and in our community. They will leave this building with a diploma in one hand and a credential in the other, and they earned both right here at home in Longwood. That is what First-Choice Ready means.”
Superintendent Lohman, Board of Education President Victoria Molloy, and members of the Board were joined by New York State Regent Felicia Thomas-Williams, Elizabeth Dovell of the New York State Department of Labor, and representatives from Eastern Suffolk BOCES and the New York State Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center for the ceremony outside the school’s new entrance. Students from the Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing program operated the robot for the ribbon cutting.
Students who complete the two-year programs are eligible to sit for New York State licensing exams in cosmetology and barbering, a national certification exam for clinical medical assistants, and ServSafe certification in culinary arts.
The Center represents the newest chapter in the Academies and Pathways of Longwood High School, where students begin exploring careers in ninth and tenth grade before selecting an Academy in eleventh grade.
“When a family sends a child to Longwood, they are trusting us with something to provide an opportunity to each and every one of their children, regardless of background or socio-economic status, and that is something we do not take lightly” said Board of Education President Victoria Molloy. “This community made an investment in its children that will change their opportunities and outcomes forever. The Board did not do this so we could stand outside and cut a ribbon. We did it so our students get to work in spaces that would prepare them to find their place in the industry right out of high school.”
The five programs join Automotive Technology and Media Production among the career-focused Academy offerings available to Longwood High School students.
The district broke ground on the Career and Technical Education Center in July 2025.
Sep 18 2026
The New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) has presented the Longwood Central School District with its Culture of Caring recognition, honoring the care and thoughtfulness shown by the Board of Education, administration, teachers, staff and students in establishing the RoboLions Unified Robotics team at Longwood High School. Catherine Romano, Area 12 Director for the NYSSBA Board of Directors, formally presented the recognition at the Board of Education’s September 10 meeting.
The Culture of Caring recognition celebrates the meaningful, often unseen work happening inside school districts that strengthens their culture and community. In Longwood’s case, that work is a unified robotics team where students with all different abilities build side-by-side.
The RoboLions’ Unified Robotics program pairs students of varying abilities as teammates in a hands-on engineering environment. Together, they design and build fully functional adaptive robots using real tools and real processes, including a robot that allows students of all abilities to shoot a basketball. Ms. Romano noted that the program extends the inclusive spirit of unified sports into an academic and extracurricular setting, where students learn from one another and build something their peers can use for years to come.
“The Unified Robotics Team presents an opportunity to solve for both sets of students,” said Ms. Romano. “Life will always bring challenges. Overcoming them is a team effort.”
The recognition traces back to a Newsday feature story published in April 2026, which spotlighted the program’s student-led origins and its impact on the school community.
The certificate, signed by NYSSBA President Christine Schnars and Executive Director Robert S. Schneider, commends the district’s “contribution to a positive district and community culture.”
The RoboLions compete in FIRST Robotics, where the team has been recognized with the Impact Award in 2025 and the Gracious Professionalism Award in 2026, an honor that reflects the teamwork, respect and character the program is built on.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lance Lohman praised the team’s approach. “You guys are not looking for recognition,” he told the students. “You see a need, you fill it. That is what Longwood represents.”
The program was built and led by students and is guided by coaches John Hirdt and Jennifer Stehle. Board members also thanked the parents, families and mentors whose time makes the program possible.
The Culture of Caring recognition will be displayed prominently within the district.
News 12 Long Island With Coverage of our 2026 Long Island Regional. Click the image above for the full video which features our 2026 Robot Lavar.
Team 564 Attends STEAM Day at NYS Capitol
Tuesday May 6th 2025
The Longwood RoboLions traveled to the New York State Capitol yesterday to participate in Assembly Member Jen Lunsford’s STEAM Day, advocating for increased STEAM funding for Title I schools with robotics programs. During their visit, the team met with Assembly Members Jodi Giglio, Joe DeStefano, and Rebecca Kassay, who represent the Longwood School District, as well as other legislators from across Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley.
As a highlight of the day, the RoboLions were honored on the Assembly
floor during the legislative session and received formal Proclamations
from Assembly Member Joe DeStefano and Rebecca Kassay recognizing
their outstanding achievements during the past season.
The RoboLions’ participation reflects their commitment to advancing
access to STEAM education and stress the vital impact robotics
programs have in empowering students in schools. We are extremely
proud of the way the RoboLions’ represented Longwood Central School
District in our state capitol.
