Within a few dozen blocks along Avenue C on June 2, students from the two Bayonne parochial high schools gathered in final ceremonies that marked their transition from high school into the new and uncertain world beyond.
Marist graduates gathered at St. Vincent’s Church for their traditional Baccalaureate, or graduation Mass, while 20 blocks south at St. Henry’s graduates of Holy Family Academy held their commencement ritual.
At both churches, students, teachers, parents and friends stirred in the hour before the events caught in a mood of mixed emotions, glad to have finally reached the moment they had worked so hard to achieve, yet sad about all the memories they would leave behind once each graduate received his or her diploma.
At each event “Pomp and Circumstance” was accompanied by prayer and requests for God’s guidance, testifying to the religious education that accompanied those of academics.
Students off with hope and prayer
Sister Judith Oliver in speaking at the Holy Family Academy graduation invocation at St. Henry’s summed up some of the philosophy that the school tried to instill in its students, such as encouraging the graduates to always wonder about things, always seek a breathtaking future, but also reminded them that “no acts of kindness are ever too small,” and that the talents and gifts God gave to each graduate were meant to be shared.
She said, “Always travel with a light heart and let laughter come easily, believe in your own good,” but also reminded students that as they traveled they would continually be greeted by the face of God.
Class President Maureen Betz, who offered the graduating class the ceremonial welcome, opened her remarks with a sigh and said, “Well, we made it.”
Betz admitted that graduation also posed new challenges for the graduates.
“It is a taunting task to start over,” she said, though gave credit to Holy Family for preparing each of them for the real world. But she said the education was not merely in the hands of the teachers, but also an effort conducted among the students who often helped each other. Then, in a word of advice, Betz said, “Don’t forget what we have meant to each other.”
Holy Family’s valedictorian this year is Rebecca Elizabeth Tomace, who also received numerous department awards including top honors in theology, mathematics and science.
Highlights of accomplishments by Holy Family graduates include Tiffany D. Browne, Lindsay Marie Sanchez and Alyssa Marie Outwater winning perfect attendance records for the four years at the school, Danielle Kapsalakis’ winning the Social Studies Department award, Malorie Negaar Meshkati winning the Latin Studies award, Kristin Michelle Scudder winning the award for English, Keri Colleen Sullivan for Business, Emily Ann White for Art, and Mallory Faith De La Cruz Zalamea for Spanish.
Marist graduates described as ‘ambitious, but fun’
Wayne Patko, chairman of the English Department at Marist High School, said the 2006 graduating class is one of the largest in recent years, but also one of his favorites.
“They are ambitious, but fun,” he said, claiming the class had a good mix of creativity and academics.
Alice Miesnik, assistant principal for academics, called the class “very spirited, good sports and a nice group of people.”
Noel Alfonso is Marist’s valedictorian for the 2006 graduating class. Patko described Alfonso as “all math and science.”
“He’s quoting Isaac Newton in his speech if that tells you anything,” Patko said.
Alfonso, a resident of Jersey City, said he will be attending New Jersey Institute of Technology in the fall where he intends to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering. He said his favorite subjects at Marist were calculus and biology.
“I’m going to miss the family atmosphere at Marist,” he said, noting his biology teacher, James Nugent, helped inspire him.
Miesnik described Alfonso as “quiet, but very disciplined.”
Patko, however, said this year’s salutatorian, Janelle Biamonte, seemed more interested in English and writing. Biamonte, a Secaucus resident, said while she loved English literature, she wants to pursue a medical career with the possible aim of becoming a dermatologist. She will be attending Brandeis University in the fall where she has been admitted into the pre-med program.
Like Alfonso, Biamonte said she would miss the family atmosphere Marist provided.
“No matter what time you’re here someone is around – teachers or friends,” she said, noting that although she was very impressed with her social studies teacher, Thomas Murphy, she had a lot of good teachers at Marist.