Pictured (left to right): Jasia Mirza, mother of Tehreem Rehman; 2009
Stanley and Susan Novak Scholarship winner Tehreem Rehman; Jack the giraffe;
and Melinda Novak, Co-Owner and Vice President, Long Island Game Farm.
August 31, 2009
Walt Whitman High School Student Tehreem Rehman Wins Stanley and Susan Novak Scholarship
Tehreem Rehman, a college-bound student
from Walt Whitman High School, has won the Long Island Game Farm scholarship
of $1,000, to ease her financial responsibilities in her college career.
Each year, this award is granted to a graduating senior from Long Island who
plans to attend a two-year or higher college or university program and
exemplifies the qualities required to become a pioneer in nature; whether it
be in the field of veterinary medicine or environmental science.
Tehreem, who is from Huntington, is attending Columbia University in the
fall, where she hopes to major in earth and environmental engineering, with
a concentration in environmental health. Upon graduation, she plans to
become an environmental immunologist, in which she would treat her patients
by determining the environmental factors which trigger certain illnesses.
"Studying engineering would teach me to think innovatively and outside the
box, which would prove to be beneficial when diagnosing and treating my
patients," Tehreem said.
The Long Island Game Farm was founded in 1970 by Stanley and Diane Novak.
It features hundreds of animals on 25 acres of land in Manorville. Year
after year, the park is visited by thousands and enjoyed by all. It has
been an educational site for school children to learn about animals and
nature for decades.
The scholarship was established in 2004 to honor the memories of Stanley
John Novak, the Game Farm's co-founder, and his daughter, Susan Mary Novak.
In 1999, Stanley Novak was 66 and had been building the Long Island Game
Farm for nearly 30 years. Sadly, he died from a heart attack, leaving his
legacy behind. In 2001, his daughter, Susan, who worked at the Game Farm
since she was five years old, died from Multiple Myeloma at age 37. Both
were passionate about animals and were steadfast in maintaining Long
Island's environment.
"I can think of no better way to help preserve the memories of Stanley and
Susan. They helped our family pursue its dream of building a park where
children can see and interact with animals found in nature. Through this
scholarship, we help college students pursue their dreams," said Diane
Novak, Co-Founder and Owner of the Long Island Game Farm.
