Students and staff of Maxwell Career and Technical Education HS added a fundraising Lupus Walk to their annual senior class picnic at Forest Park in Queens on June 11 in honor of Jacqueline Rodrigues-Smith, a veteran science teacher and the school’s track coach, who died in March at age 45 of the chronic autoimmune disease. In less than two years at Maxwell, Rodrigues-Smith taught the school’s first Advanced Placement biology class and created the school’s first track team, said cosmetology teacher Kendall Overton, who helped organize the event. “She did a lot in a very short period of time,” said Overton.

“The students adored her.” Rodrigues-Smith is remembered not only for providing uniforms and a gym membership for each track team member but also for the work of her forensic science students, who conducted investigations throughout the school as they worked on cases she created to develop their skills. The approximately 75 students and staff at the picnic did 10 laps around Strack Pond before gathering for a barbecue and activities including a sack race and a water-balloon toss.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew and Janella Hinds, the vice president for academic high schools, also attended the event. With donations from students, staff and others still coming in, Maxwell HS Chapter Leader Ed Ludde predicted the school community will raise about $1,000 for the local Lupus Alliance.