On May 19th, two former students, William Faugno and Joseph Risi, from the graduating class of 2011, returned as alumni and held a forum in the Little Theatre for faculty and students to attend. Both Faugno and Risi graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2015, and were both heavily involved with research projects during their studies at the college. The two alumni returned to St. Rose High School in order to express the diversity needed in the field of science. Risi and Faugno spoke of their college experiences at Stevens, including how diverse their friend groups had been while working on their research projects and studying for their degrees in science.

Both Risi and Faugno have moved on to other projects since their graduation last May. Faugno is currently in a Ph.D. program at Penn State University working on topological photonics. Risi has since been employed as a research assistant in New York. Risi still conducts research and is working on an examination of people’s notions of connectivity, and his project is currently ongoing.

The main topic that Risi and Faugno focused on during the one hour forum was, “What does it mean to be a Scientist?” They expressed the importance of diversity of minds; Risi continually mentioned the diversity of people he worked with while in college, and even now while he is working within Microsoft’s research department in New York. “More people mean different types of minds, and with that more can be researched and discovered,” Risi stated.

The need for scientists is so important now, with technology constantly changing and several discoveries being made daily, more job opportunities are out there for the people who are interested in being in any field of science. The demand in this constantly changing modern world is calling for new scientists.

By Lauren Kruthers ’17

On June 1, two students had the opportunity to represent St. Rose at the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival.  Megan Lawson and Maggie Baker, both juniors, were chosen for their creative writing.  It was held at Ocean County College and both girls went with their Creative Writing teacher, Mrs. Colvin, during the school day.  They were very enthusiastic about the opportunity and their unique experience.

Both Maggie’s and Megan’s pieces were chosen from the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival, which was held in March.  Maggie’s poem is called, “Space.”  She was nominated for an award in the creative writing category.  Megan’s piece is prose and is called “What Do You See?”  Both girls attended the creative writing workshop and read their writings out loud to the proctor.  They both received critiques from more experienced writers in order to further improve and enhance their skills.  They also were given a paper with written comments that they can use to consult and refer back to for future writings.

The purpose of the Teen Arts Festival is for students to showcase their artistic sides and to experience the talents of others.  One of the most important parts of the festival is the critiques from the proctors and judges because the goal is to keep making students better and to encourage them to continue working hard.  There is always room for improvement and growth in the arts.  The festival does a wonderful job of promoting writing, dance, singing, audio/visual, and traditional art and how it is crucial for education.

One of the best parts about having the opportunity to attend Teen Arts are the many workshops offered throughout the day.  These are a favorite of the St. Rose students who attend the Monmouth County Festival, and it was no different at the State level.  Both Maggie and Megan spoke highly of the workshops offered at Ocean County College, especially a juggling workshop. Maggie said, “Megan and I learned to juggle (sort of) and spin plates.  It was pretty cool.” They both really enjoyed this moment in their day because there are not many other times where you can learn to spin plates.

St. Rose is extremely proud of both Maggie and Megan and all their accomplishments in writing.  They did a wonderful job representing the school and their own talents.  Their success also shows how great Mrs. Colvin’s creative writing class is and how St. Rose holds so many hidden gifts within the student body.  The Teen Arts Festival is an excellent place to show off artistic achievements and to learn new skills.  Congratulations to Maggie Baker and Megan Lawson!

By Katie Considine ’17

And they’re off! The graduating class of 2016 celebrated the completion of their high school careers and look forward to what the future has in store for them beyond the walls of St. Rose High School. Faculty as well as administrators, family and friends accompanied the graduates for their ceremony at Monmouth University. After the traditional Pomp and Circumstance, Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Arnister conducted the opening prayer. He informed the students that God was with them from their very first days of high school, to the moment they receive their diplomas and will continue to be their lives each and every day.

The Valedictorian, Maura Cahill, gave a sentimental and heartwarming address that sparked both tears and laughter. She instructed her classmates, “Goodness does not consists in greatness, but greatness in goodness.” She advised her classmates that aside from all the studying and books, they must remember to follow the catholic values St. Rose has taught them.

The choir had an inspiring performance singing, “You Raise Me Up.” It acted as another symbol to signify the amazing memories that all the students have created and that it was not only the classwork completed, but also the friendships that produced their success.

The honored guest speaker was Moderator, Office of Catholic Education and superintendent of schools, Mrs. JoAnn Tier. She addressed the graduating students and congratulated them on their outstanding achievements. She spoke of her inspiration, “Arch Bishop Ramiro,” and explained his teachings that instruct people to, “Take a long view of God’s kingdom and how nothing is complete.” She spoke of their innate talents and spectacular potential.

After the speeches concluded, academic excellence awards were distributed to ambitious students that received the highest grades in a department. In addition, the St. Rose High School Award for Outstanding Improvement in Four Years, was given to Alexa Grabowski that stated, “I know that St. Rose has prepared me for my future, even if I don’t know what it holds.” Diplomas were distributed to each graduate, and they exited the Monmouth Gymnasium alongside each other and their loving teachers.

Graduation Day is always full of opposites: cheers and solemnity, memories and dreams, childhood and adulthood, goodbyes and hellos. But the St. Rose graduating class of 2016 all managed to make the special day their own, and celebrate the memories they shared and the new ones they will make after turning their tassel.

By Jacqueline Lorenzo ’17

On August 28, 2012, a little theater filled with an anxious, anticipated, and excited Class of 2016 sat in disbelief when Sr. Kathy announced that the next four years of our life “would fly by faster than we think, and that before we know it, we will be sitting in the same place only as seniors ready to graduate”. Fast forward four years and her words could not be truer today.
The memories we have made at St. Rose are ones that will last a lifetime. Beginning with Hurricane Sandy freshman year, to a class trip to Disney our senior year, our times at St. Rose have been all but uneventful. The knowledge we have gained at St. Rose has prepared us for college;  life lessons learned throughout high school will carry us throughout our future lives, and friendships and relationships formed at St. Rose with last us forever.
As our time as St. Rose High School is coming to a close, the feeling is of bittersweet satisfaction. While it is easy to feel sad about the past four years coming to end, we are all excited about the next four years ahead of us. The future is bright and promising for the Class of 2016, and nothing but joy, excitement and hope for the future lies ahead.
The numerous amounts of opportunities await the St. Rose Class of 2016 at our separate colleges. Whether it is choosing to study a semester abroad, participating in an intramural sport, joining a specific club, or entering Greek life through a fraternity or a sorority, the possibilities at college are endless!
College is a time where we can truly find ourselves, be an individual, and develop in our knowledge and character. Senior Emily McEwan, who will be studying as a nursing major at Fairfield University in the fall, is most looking forward to “meeting new people and growing as a person, while expanding my horizons”. While enthusiastic toward the overall college experience, Emily admits she is nervous about the core curriculum classes, and overall first day of living independently at college. Emily plans on participating in club soccer, community service, and the art program. Following college graduation, Emily dreams of living in sunny California, and pursing her career in nursing on the West Coast, while also experimenting with music and the arts.
Senior Aine Donohue, who will be attending the University of Miami in August, will be majoring in exercise science to pursue a future graduate career in physical therapy.
Aine is most looking forward to meeting a many new people, experiencing living in a new, warmer part of the country with new classmates, and eventually studying abroad! As excited Aine is for college life, she is nervous about leaving all of her friends at St. Rose, since it will be “the longest I’ve ever been away from them”. Aine is excited to participate in an intramural or club sport and possibly join a sorority or other groups on campus!

By Sam Mastrocola ’16

To some, freshman year may feel like it was just yesterday, but over our past four years here at St. Rose the class of 2016 has accomplished the unthinkable. We survived the SATs, Kairos, a trip to Disney World and back, AP exams, a trip to NYC, proms and even a HURRICANE! Many of us seniors may not realize this but we did all of these things together, together as a family. Our friend groups may have changed, our hairstyles or clothes may have changed, but the memories we have made over these past four years are something that will never change. They are forever.

Yes the long nights of studying and homework were tiring and tedious, but those nights have shaped us into in hard working, brilliant students we are today and has prepared us for the next chapter of our lives.

As freshman we came in excited for this new “freedom” of not walking to class in a straight line and where gym class wasn’t just once a week. After the first month when we finally could find our way to class, the monstrous Hurricane Sandy struck! This crazy event made us aware of what a community and family St. Rose is sadly through the destruction of our beautiful campus. Also as freshman we did whatever we could to get involved. We saw this new, exciting beginning as an opportunity to develop friendships. Friendships that we still have today and will have for the rest of our lives.

As sophomores we were finally comfortable with finding our way around the school, we had our circles of friends and we were happy with the fact that we weren’t the babies of the school anymore.

As juniors, we were faced with the SATs, Prom, and the fact the college process was quickly approaching.

Now as seniors, we are faced with the harsh reality that it’s now time to leave our sheltered bubble of the past 18 years and enter “THE REAL WORLD!!!” This reality can be exciting as well as nerve racking. Senior Erin Prachar said that, “It’s weird to think that some of the kids that I’ve gone to school with since kindergarten are going to be out of my everyday life within a matter of months.” And it is. It’s crazy to think that the people you’ve grown up with are going to be living hundreds of miles away from your in just a couple of months.

I now have a challenge for the Class of 2016. Make sure you accomplish what you wanted to do before the end of high school. You don’t want to look back and say “I wish I was involved with…. Or “I wish I talked to…….” Make your last 2 months at SRHS ones to remember and don’t forget to embrace your peers and teachers and don’t look at the final days of school as a finish line but a new beginning that is exciting and breathtaking. We may all be going separate ways but we always be the Class of 2016 and will NEVER forget our memories from our time at SRHS.

By Maddie Reilly ’16