Legacy Fall 2022

I S S U E 6 | F A L L 2 0 2 2

E D I T O R I A L S T A F F

M e g a n K n i g h t D i r e c t o r o f D e v e l o p m e n t & A l u m n a e R e l a t i o n s

J o s e p h Z i a y a D i r e c t o r o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s

L y n n B u r e k P r i n c i p a l L a u r e n C o r v o A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l H e l e n K o t o u l a s C h i e f F i n a n c i a l & O p e r a t i o n s O f f i c e r

J e a n J a c k s o n D i r e c t o r o f A d m i s s i o n s

B e t h E l l e n W a l s h D i r e c t o r o f S c h o o l & C o l l e g e C o u n s e l i n g

L i s a R a t z D i r e c t o r o f T e c h n o l o g y

K e l l y A b n e r D i r e c t o r o f A t h l e t i c s

B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S K a t h e r i n e L o r d i , ' 6 7 Chairwoman of the Board M a r i e l G e s u a l d o , ' 9 7 Vice Chairwoman

M i c h a e l M a r t i n e z Treasurer

M o n i q u e D e g n a n , P ' 2 0

Secretary

D e b o r a h B a s e i l , P 0 8 S r P a t r i c i a B u t l e r , S C

N i c o l e C h a s e , ' 8 7 D e i r d r e G a f f n e y , P ' 2 0

J a m e s G a r r e t t , P ' 2 0 & ' 2 1

S r M e r r i s L a r k i n , S C

S r N o r e e n N e a r y , S C

A n t o i n e t t e P l e w a , ' 7 2 , P ‘ 0 2

Behind the Scenes

Academy of Saint Elizabeth gratefully acknowl edges the time and talent of our graphic designer, Erika Desimone, P ‘26, who redesigned our school logo in 2016 and has crafted the layout of Legacy Magazine since its first issue

A T T H E A C A D E M Y

The Academy of Saint Elizabeth is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women, founded by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Our mission is to promote the disciplines of academic excellence and moral responsibility within our young women by sustaining a scholarly environment and a nurturing community of faith. @ a c a d e m y o f s a i n t e l i z a b e t h @ A O S E a t h l e t i c s A c a d e m y o f S a i n t E l i z a b e t h

Sponsored by the Sisters of Charit y of Saint Eliz abeth Christmas please join us T hursday, December 1, 2022 6:30 PM T R E E L I G H T I N G C A R O L I N G W I T H T H E C H O I R C O O K I E S & C O C O A P A N T H E R S H O P P I N G

Academy Accents, page 5 A glimpse into robust Academy life and thriving activities, service opportunities and accolades enjoyed by our SEAsters

Transformative Gifts, page 7 The restoration and renewal of the rich history and classic elegance within Academy spaces, classrooms and offices

Unlock the 2022 Grant Challenge, page 30 Knights of Saint Elizabeth offers $18,600 in matching gifts to Seton Fund.

what’s INSIDE

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

On the Cover

Uliana Leshchuk, ‘23 and Kalyna Leshchuk, ‘17 stayed connected to their cultural roots by sharing their gifts of traditional Ukrainian music

Letter from the Principal . . . . . . . . . . 4

Accents 5 9 Junior Ring Ceremony, Beth Ball, Calendar Party, Alma Mater Competition, Mother Daughter Tea, Father Daughter Bowling, Field Day, Class of ‘22, Gift Auction & Senior Gala, Emma the Musical Panthers Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 Praying and Playing for Ukraine 12 Faculty Spotlight

Mrs Brady discusses the importance of writing in the modern world Student Spotlight 18 Valedictorian Grace Roethlin ‘22 SEAster News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Class of 1967 Scholarship, Art Show, Model UN Awards AOSE A+ Niche rating U S Congressional Art Recognition, Commencement Speaker Cara Cavanaugh ‘12

Alumnae News 22 Wedding Bells at AOSE, Class of 1972 Reunion, SEAsters in Italy, Class of 2002 Reunion, Career Day

Supporting the Academy . . . . . . . . . 26 Transformative Gifts, Knights of Saint Elizabeth

An Elegant Tapestr y

We have opened the 2022 23 school year with much excitement and eager anticipa tion of the good that is to come. Perhaps the best par t of our opening was the return to nor malc y for our young women af ter t wo v er y c hal lenging sc hool y ears. W hile we adjusted beautifull y to the intr usive public health and safet y measures, we are now free once again to exper ience sc hool as it was meant to be connecting, col labor ating, communicating we are whole, loving and thriving. A tr ue blessing.

The Holy Family Chapel came to life with prayer, inspiration and song on September 13 as we welcomed Bishop S weeney for the traditional Bishop’s Mass. Together with our students, parents and S isters of Charit y we asked for the L ord ’ s blessing for this new year. The Mass ended with Bishop Sweeney ’ s final blessing reminding our students “L ove Never Fails’ alongside a spirited rendition of “L ord, I Lif t Your Name on High.”

We are proud to introduce a ne w sc hool motto created by student Mar ia Clar a Br agagnolo Rose, ‘24, the winner of a contest sponsored by the Mission Integr ation Committee of the Board of Tr ustees and implemented through our Theological S tudies Depar tment. O ur goal was to present the Academy mission in a c lear, concise and direct manner, communicating who we are while defining the Academy experience in ver y few words. Nine simple words that so eloquentl y capture who we are and what we value: Minds in W isdom. Hear ts in Ser vice. Lives in Faith.

P lease accept our invitation to join the Ac ademy for c her ished e v ents like the Mother Daughter Tea, Career Day, Gala/S enior Celebration, Class Reunions and more As always, we are deeply grateful for your suppor t and look for ward to bringing you back to our storied halls to take part in Academy life as student, parent, grandparent, alumnae, facult y/staff, S ister of Char it y, or fr iend Together we for m an elegant tapestr y with unique and remarkable contributions to the Academy legac y.

May God continue to bless the Ac ademy of S aint Eliz abeth communit y as we endeavor to bring light and love into the wor ld through our young women they are the future And, we are blessed and proud to enrich the future in our work each day

Onl y by grace, Lynn Burek Principal

Alma Mater Competition

Seniors capture top spot with “Pitch Perfect” video rendition

The annual Alma Mater competition was pushed to new heights with the event held at Dolan Auditorium on Saint Eliza beth University’s campus Now on a larger stage, every grade put their own twist on the Academy’s Alma Mater with incredible story telling, acting, and singing

The freshmen kicked off the event singing “ The Family Madrigal” from the hit Disney movie, Encanto, tying the message back into the amazing “ power ” of the Academy’s SEAsterhood Sophomores enacted a scene from The Beth Ball where the DJ has no music and the Alma Mater

SEAsters Celebrate Calendar Day

The annual Calendar Party was a con glomeration of celebrations for the Winter Olympics, March Madness, Jersey Shore Summers, and Mischief Night! From a bas ketball free throw tournament to seniors and teachers being pied in the face, this year ’ s celebrations marked greater returns

must be sung to keep the party going! The juniors took to the slopes as they placed their hands over their hearts on the Olympic podium, not to sing the national anthem, but rather to share their school pride through the Alma Mater The seniors created a video spoofing the hit movie Pitch Perfect before rushing up to the stage to sing the praises of the Academy in their final Alma Mater competition

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 for winning the competition, and an amaz ing job to all of the students who helped celebrate this Academy tradition

to normalcy and a true celebration of SEAsterhood While Mischief Night and a recreation of the Jersey Shore (by ways of sandboxes) made a little bit of a mess, the day allowed for everyone to experience some fun in the sun before the end of the school year

Emma: A Pop Musical Performs to Sell Out Crowd

This year ’ s Spring Musical, directed by Mrs Kennedy and Ms Dowd, was titled Emma: A Pop Musical Based on the Jane Austen novel, the musical takes a modern glimpse into the life of Emma, a senior at Highbury Prep, who seeks to play match maker for shy sophomore Harriet Mix in hit pop songs from The Supremes, Katy Perry, and more, our actresses put on two stellar performances to sold out audi ences Congratulations to the directors, cast, and crew!

Congrats to our Musical Cast & Crew, under the direction of Mrs Christin Kennedy and Ms Erin Down, 08: Siena Bascom, Ava Breault, Amelia Calveric, Isabella Cerciello, Emma Chiofolo, Caroline Clarke, Mia D Angelo, Sophia Fiore, Maggie Jones, Amelia Lisco, Bridget Lomax, Morgan Lomax, Ella Mansfield, Emma Marsh, Rebekah Marsh, Isabella Misrahi, Naomi Murphy, Kathleen Ott de Vries, Angelina Salese, Mackenzie Schubert, Keiri Shuyama Ava Van Wie

Colleen Santoriello '25 looks on as Kathryn Callahan '25 and Lily Agnew 25 stand tall in their cover of The Family Madrigal "

Kasey Desiderio '25 Kathryn Blount '22 and Shannon Hunt 25 celebrate Calendar Day

Belles of the Beth Ball

The Academy winter tradition was “out of sight”!

Following a two year hiatus, The Beth Ball returned to the Academy with great celebration and fanfare With the guidance of Ms Vukas, Student Council arranged for an evening of great music, food, dancing, and fun under this year ’ s theme of “Disco ”

Our young ladies looked “fab” for their “funky, out of sight” evening which trans formed the Panther Den into a dance floor with a DJ for live music, and the Study Hall hosting food and seats for when the girls and their guests needed

temporary relief from dancing

This Academy tradition is surely one that will continue to be “off the hook” in years to come, too!

Junior Ring Ceremony Father Daughter Bowling

An Academy rite of passage, the Junior Ring Mass and Cer emony, was held on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Class of 2023 and their families attended Mass in Holy Family Chapel, followed by the blessing and presentation of their rings While each ring may be made of different materials and of different designs, the unifying nature of class rings is the bond of love and respect they feel for the Academy and toward their fellow SEAsters

This year ’ s Father Daughter Bowling was a “striking” success with over 120 bowlers competing against one another at Stryxe in Madison, NJ This year ’ s Top 3 Scoring Teams were Team Erickson (1st Place), Team Vocolla (2nd Place), and Team Roethlin (3rd Place) Awards for Best Team Uniform were also presented to Team Breault (1st Place), Team Murphy (2nd Place), and Team Scalamoni Goldstein (3rd Place) A Team Work Award was also given to Team Chambers

From left to right: Montserrat Soriano Gutierrez '24 Anne McDonough '24 Brugge Erikson 24, and Greta Servitto 24 pose for the camera in our themed photo booth

From left to right: Kathryn Callahan '25 Lily Agnew '25 Mackenzie Siegel '25 and Zoe MacWhannell 25 enjoy the return of the Beth Ball in the Panther Den

Mother Daughter Tea

An unforgettable afternoon Une fête de Paris!

A miniaturized replica of the Eiffel Tower greeted our families and guests as they entered the Study Hall for last year ’ s Mother Daughter Tea The theme for the event, “A Cafe in Paris,” was brought to life with a greenery floral wall for photo graphs, stringed lights, French pastries and delicacies, and even a real life mime!

Families and guests celebrated Mass in Holy Family Chapel before being escorted to the Academy by our very own mime, where they found the Study Hall transformed into an immersive Parisian experience Over 250 guests enjoyed an afternoon second only to visiting France itself, as they relished in the ambience and flavors of a street cafe in Paris

The Parents’ Association planned, coordinated, and executed the annual Mother Daughter Tea with the utmost care and precision We are exceptionally grateful to have such an active Parents’ Association here at the Academy!

Students Face Off in Field Day ‘22

Field Day, under the guidance and organization of Mrs Prasad and the National Honor Society, was packed with various competitions and events for stu dents and teachers of all skill sets and abil ities Activities such as the Hurdle/Dizzy Bat Race, Cup Tower Challenge, Water Balloon Toss, Musical Chairs, Tug of War,

Potato Sack Race, and much more were featured competitions throughout the day Each grade level was divided into six teams to face off against one another Ad ditionally, the Administration, Faculty, and Staff competed against one another in each of the competitions Halfway through the schedule of the day, a Kona

Ice truck came to provide some much needed relief and "cooling down" before continuing the competition At the end of the day, the entire Academy community took part in a "Follow the Leader" Dance Party, led by the National Honor Society Members on the front lawn

Class of 2022 Commencement

A lifelong commitment to their SEAsters beyond graduation

The Class of 2022 celebrated their Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony the weekend of June 4 and 5, capping off a high school experience blended between in person and virtual learning However, this year ’ s commence ment events marked a return to normalcy as Holy Family Chapel and the Graduation were fully attended events by the gradu ates’ families and friends

During the Baccalaureate Mass, cele brated on the Vigil of Pentecost, Fr Thomas Fallone, Pastor of St Thomas More Church, reminded the graduates of their “mission” after leaving the Academy: just as the Apostles were sent forth into the world to spread the Gospel message of Christ, so, too, our graduates are called to bring beauty into the world through their God given gifts and talents

Following the Mass, Ms Megan Knight, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations, Antoinette Plewa ‘72, P ‘72, and Denise Grandmont ‘72 inducted

our graduates as the newest members of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth Alumnae Association Each graduate received their Alumnae Association card, a keepsake Academy charm, and eight personal letters from multiple generations of alum nae sharing words of encouragement and wisdom

Pristine weather conditions and a glorious day set the stage for a beautiful Commencement Ceremony on the front lawn of the Academy Dressed in elegant white gowns and gloves, our graduates accepted their diplomas as a sign of their completion of study at the Academy

As students in the Class of 2022 were reminded throughout their senior year, graduation does not sever their ties to the Academy, a place where they will always be welcomed Their bond of SEAsterhood will continue to grow stronger in a lifelong relationship that will never fade away

After three years working in space policy in Washington, D C , Cara Cavanaugh '12 is now studying at The George Washington University Law School, where she is pursuing a career in space law

Cara graduated from Princeton University in 2016 with a B A in History of Science She subse quently received a Fulbright Award to travel to Dublin, Ireland where she completed her Master's Degree in Science Communication

On Thursday, May 19, 2022 the Acad emy celebrated the senior class at the annual gift auction and fashion show Over 500 guests gathered for the signature event at Birchwood Manor where our young women graced the runaway as their accomplishments and accolades were read aloud to be celebrated They have so much to be proud of in shaping the Acad emy, and we were so grateful to have been

there to celebrate the Class of 2022

One of the highlights of the evening was the inaugural presentation of the R Perry Neilson, Jr and Caroline Neilson ’18 Award by The Knights of Saint Elizabeth to an outstanding father/daughter duo, Mark Hunter and Lulu Hunter, '22

We extend our endless gratitude to our parent volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the Gala a fabulous success

From left to right: Members of the Class of 2022, Caroline Villa, Abigail

Faloni Erin Kilgore Grace Cannon Margaret Cody Victoria Tyson Marina Werner Annalisa Bio Colleen Devenny and Maggie Macchiarola

Alison Breault, P '24 and Monique Misrahi, P' '24

Margaret Flanagan '22 and Lulu Hunter '22 Kathyrn Blount '22 and Sophia Stuermann '22

From left to right: Avery Kelly 24, Emma Kelly 23, Uliana Leshchuk 23, and Colleen Dooley '23

from the SPORTS DESK

Ice Hockey Team Looks to Expand Roster

The Academy of Saint Elizabeth Morris Catholic Ice Hockey Co Op Team excelled this past season under Coach Foer Mia Foer '24 has been a stalwart on the team, contributing greatly to the team's overall success Mia is the only female on the team and posted 1 goal, 5 assists, and 6 points in 5 games this year

The team had 5 wins on the season, almost matching the prior year ’ s win total of 6 games

The team looks forward to growing in the upcoming year and potentially adding additional AOSE girls to the roster

Aqua-Panthers

The “Aqua Panthers“ achieved new depths of success in their program ' s history this past season The Swim Team contended and advanced through the NJSIAA Non Public B State Tournament by defeating Gill St Bernard's in the first round The team celebrated a historic milestone, reaching the Quarterfinals for

the first time in Academy history

Long standing Academy records were continually surpassed by the likes of Kasey Desiderio '25, Caitlin Flanagan '24, Kathryn Blount '22, Sophia Formanes '25, and Julia Ricco '24 Young fresh talent will be on the block this year, hoping to grow the team’s achievements this winter

Coach Jacobs Leads Softball Partnership

The Softball team Co Op with Villa Walsh Academy helped bolster participa tion in the sport for both schools The students bonded under the tutelage of Head Coach Andrew Jacobs and began to develop as a team Morgane Farrell '24 had a season for the ages with a 512 batting average, 610 slugging percentage, 21 hits, 14 runs, and 9 RBI Morgane collected her

50th hit of her young career early in the season, ensuring many more milestones to come in her AOSE future

The Panthers look forward to a more competitive season with Coach Jacobs and returning veterans including Ava Orr '25, Zoe MacWhannell '25, Anabella Biondo '23, and Rebekah Marsh '24

Rising Stars in Panthers Hoops

After the graduation of several senior teammates in 2021, Panthers Basketball focused on reestablishing themselves as contenders on the court in the NJAC Liberty Division

With a mix of veteran players and new recruits, Coach McCloud worked on team building, skills and drills as the season progressed Up and coming play ers like Greta Servitto '25, who garnered 246 points and 194 rebounds on the season, and Maggie Sullivan '23, who recorded 45 steals on the season, are set to lead the team this winter alongside returning seniors Colleen Dooley '23, Kate Condon '23, Molly McHale '23, and Cate Schneider '23

Maggie Sullivan '23 recorded 45 steals last season helping lead the Panthers offense

Morgan Farrell 24 led the Softball team with a 610 batting average while recording her 50th career hit

Panthers L AX – Eyes on Divisional Prize

After a dominating 2020 2021 season and winning the NJIGLL Independence Division Championship, Panthers Lacrosse enjoyed a resounding 2021 2022 season featuring great comebacks and strong teamwork on the field

Under Head Coach Kim Wood, the

team went 10 9 on the season (6 4 in their last 10 regular season games) and advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Tournament, Non Public B In the first round of the tournament, the Panthers defeated Newark Academy 13 11 with Avery Amato '22 scoring 3 goals

The team was led in great part by Annalisa Bio '22, who scored 46 goals, 55 points, and 9 assists in 19 games last season Avery Amato '22 garnered 37 goals, 44 points, and 7 assists throughout the season as well Rounding out the seniors on the team was Erin Kilgore '22 with 9 goals, 18 points, and 9 assists on the season Up and coming leaders of the team, Colleen Dooley '23 and Scarlett Clapps '25 played a heavy hand in scoring goals throughout the season, with Colleen scoring 32 goals and Scarlett scoring 29 goals The team has its eyes set on a strong 2022 2023 season in pursuit of another Divisional Championship

Stellar Track & Field Season Etches New Names in Academy Record Books

The Track and Field team had another record breaking season as the girls fol lowed in the footsteps of years past and etched their names in Academy sport records history Under returning Head Coach Kayla Stolarczuk and new Assistant Coach Ciara McGovern, the Track and Field Team focused on new strength and conditioning exercises to prepare for the season This additional focus helped our athletes perform better, achieving new heights in their athletic careers

Throughout the season, new school and personal records were met and exceeded Early on in the season in a dou ble meet against Boonton High School and Kinnelon High School, Caroline O'Callaghan '24 took first place in Discus, Emma Dietz '23 broke her personal record in the 400m Hurdles, and Sophia Vail '23 broke her personal record in Triple Jump Soon after at the Randolph Relays, Emma

Dietz, Caroline O'Callaghan, and Sophia Vail medaled in the 3x400m Hurdles, Mag gie Flanagan '22, Caroline O'Callaghan, and Mia Foer placed 5th in Discus, and Maggie Flanagan broke an Academy record in Discus with a throw of 83 1 feet Toward the end of the season, Kathleen Byrne '23, Allison Shannon '23, Mackenzie Schubert '22, and Whitney Teagan '25 broke an Academy record for the 4x100m Relay with a time of 56 12 seconds

WINTER ‘22 CONFERENCE HONORS

Second Team All Conference

Greta Servitto '24 (Basketball)

Maggie Sullivan '23 (Basketball)

Honorable Mention All-Conference

Kasey Desiderio '25 (Swimming)

Colleen Dooley '23 (Basketball)

Julia Riccio '24 (Swimming)

Academic All Conference

Greta Servitto '24 (Basketball)

Maggie Sullivan '23 (Basketball)

SPRING ‘22 CONFERENCE HONORS

First Team All-Conference

Annalisa Bio '22 (Lacrosse)

Morgane Farrell '24 (Softball)

Ava Romer '22 ( Track and Field)

Mackenzie Schubert '22 ( Track and Field)

Second Team All Conference

Colleen Dooley '23 (Lacrosse)

Margaret Flanagan '22 ( Track and Field)

Julianna King '24 ( Track and Field)

Allison Shannon '23 ( Track and Field)

Honorable Mention All Conference

Claire Daly '22 ( Track and Field)

Maggie Sullivan '23 (Lacrosse)

Academic All Conference

Annalisa Bio '22 (Lacrosse)

Colleen Dooley '23 (Lacrosse)

Morgane Farrell '24 (Softball)

Julianna King '24 ( Track and Field)

Allison Shannon '23 ( Track and Field)

Scarlett Clapps 25 was voted one of the Top 100 Freshman Lacrosse Players by NJ com

Praying and PLAYING for Ukraine.

The

midst the billowing smoke of a town recently bombed in Ukraine, one home stood alone This home did not avoid the scars of war, as the home’s windows were shattered, walls collapsing, and roof caving inward However, a shining symbol of the unyielding Ukrainian spirit sat untouched within this home: a bandura, or the Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument synonymous with the country The bandura has become more than an instrument, but rather a light shining in the darkness and a stalworth of Ukrainian culture seeking to thrive under the accu mulating clouds of war

Over 4,700 miles away in Whippany, NJ, the bandura carries the same hope and cultural beauty for two young women, Kalyna Leshchuk ‘17 and Uliana Leshchuk ‘23, sisters/SEAsters who use their musical talent and bandura playing

skills to help support Ukraine The Leshchuk sisters’ ties to Ukraine have been lifelong, as their mother was born and raised in the country before coming to the United States of America and meeting their father, born in America with Ukrainian heritage Ever since they were children, both sisters were raised to be active mem bers of the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Whippany, NJ, of which their mother currently acts as the Head of the Board of Directors

“We call the Ukrainian American Cultural Center a second home We almost practically live there,” said Kalyna

Since childhood, Kalyna and Uliana have taken part in traditional Ukrainian dance, language classes, youth groups, and music lessons through the Ukrainian American Cultural Center

Building upon their cultural roots, for the past seven years the sisters have encapsulated their experiences at the Center and shared that with others by performing as a Bandura Duet This has been especially true over the past few months since the war in Ukraine started in February 2022 While conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, the recent invasion of Ukraine has bolstered the sisters’ resolve to spread their cultural pride and gather support from the local community

“ The war has changed our connec tion to the bandura,” said Kalyna “It really was always our connection to Ukraine, but now it’s an even stronger connection than anything before ”

A phone call from their cousin was how the Leshchuk family found out the invasion by Russian forces had begun “Our mom got a call from our cousin [in Ukraine] around midnight and she was speaking English, which was unusual,” said Uliana “My cousin said, ‘ They’re attacking this is actually happening’ and our mom was so confused ” Their cousin was speaking in English to prevent her children, two years old and seven years old, from understanding the conversation she was having with Kalyna and Uliana’s mother

The following day, the Leshchuk

family took part in a demonstration before the United Nations building and the Russ ian Embassy in New York City Countless other supporters marched alongside them in support of Ukraine The support only swelled in the ensuing weeks when the family traveled to Washington, D C to further protest the war, as well as raise awareness as to the plight Ukraine was facing Uliana recalled how before the

Uliana and Kalyna’s SEAsters from the Academy

“I remember I started getting texts from my friends at school and from people I don’t normally text,” said Uliana “ They were texting me at all hours of the night asking, ‘Are you okay?’ and ‘What can we do?’”

With support from their SEAsters, the Ukrainian community, and the community

invasion, many members of the Ukrainian community did not believe a war would occur since conflict with Russia had been ongoing for decades However, after the invasion began on February 24, 2022, the sense of support grew beyond the bounds of those who were Ukrainian, but to people throughout the world, including

at large, the sisters began to devise plans as to how they could help those suffering in Ukraine “Everybody was asking me how my family was doing [in Ukraine], but it’s not really just my family the country, in a sense, is our family,” said Uliana “We’re worried about everyone ”

“My friends were asking me ‘What can

The Leshchuk family learned of Russia’s invasion when they received a midnight phone call from a cousin in Ukraine Over 12 million citizens have been displaced as a result of the war, and in early 2022, Uliana joined forces with friends at the Academy to raise money and collect clothing and humanitarian aid for the people displaced in Ukraine

The recent invasion of Ukraine has bolstered the sisters’ resol ve to spread their cultural pr ide and gather support from the local community

we actually do?’” recalls Uliana, concern ing the days that followed the invasion Uliana and some of her friends, Emily Crabbe ‘23 and Charlotte Scalamoni Goldstein ‘23, came up with a plan to design blue and gold ribbons which could be purchased and worn by their fellow SEAsters After spending several nights making the ribbons, Uliana, Emily, and Charlotte sold them in the Study Hall during lunch The demand for the ribbons was so great, more ribbons had to be made

“One of my friends [from the Acad emy] has a sister at Saint Vincent Martyr School [Madison, NJ], where I went to elementary school,” Uliana said “My friend went to pick up her sister from Saint Vin cent, when one of the teachers asked, ‘Where did you get the ribbon from?’” When she answered with Uliana’s name, the teacher reached out to the Leshchuk family to not only have ribbons made to be sold at Saint Vincent, but for Uliana to also visit and give a presentation to the

entire school concerning Ukraine Uliana gladly accepted, made more ribbons to be sold, and gave a moving presentation on Ukrainian history and culture

After the success of the ribbon sale, Uliana's other friends began to ask what else could be done to further help Ukraine “Let’s do a bake sale,” Uliana remembered her friend, Siena Bascom ’23, saying “ The school always loves bake sales!”

The girls reached out to each grade level and asked for donations of baked goods, with hundreds of items being sold by the end of the sale Additionally, Ella Tully ‘23, who worked with Uliana in the Academy’s Fashion Club, planned a cloth ing and humanitarian aid drive Ella per sonally delivered the items to the Center in Whippany to be transported to Ukraine along with the thousands of other dona tions collected there

“People started dropping off things at the [Ukrainian American] Cultural Center,” said Kalyna “We literally thought we were

not going to get out of this; it was boxes upon boxes I thought we were going to be swallowed up by the amount of boxes we stacked up It was like walking through an unending maze, yet it was also unbe lievable to see people continually bringing donations ”

An organized drop off drive through the Center involved four hundred volun teers to help grab boxes of donations from cars and organize them for ship ment The traffic was so great that police were called to help direct cars on North Jefferson Road near the Center with some vehicles waiting up to forty five minutes to make their drop off of dona tions When everything was said and done and the donations were packed for trans port, nine shipping containers were needed to deliver the donations first to Poland, then to be brought over the bor der into Ukraine

While donations of combat equip ment (clothing, boots, helmets), food, and money has continued to pour in to support Ukraine, the Leshchuk sisters are now turning an eye toward their banduras again as a new force for awareness and action in the community

“ The news can cover it [the war in Ukraine] so much before people are tired of hearing the same thing over and over, ” said Uliana “Unfortunately, people are living the same thing over and over again,

“Through the songs we play, people can understand the pain and sorrow we feel but also the hope and resilience the Ukrainian people carry ”

From left to right: Kalyna Leshchuk 17, Sergiy Olehovych Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations and Uliana Leshchuk '23 Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Leshchuk Family went to the United Nations to voice their support for the Ukrainian people

so we have to find a way to get it back in the public’s mind ”

Kalyna and Uliana have been playing their banduras at concerts almost every weekend since the start of this past summer The audiences vary from event to event, yet the message remains the same: that of sharing the beauty of Ukrain ian culture through music

“We have recently performed to more American audiences,” explained Kalyna “ Through the songs we play, people can understand the pain and sorrow we feel, but also the hope and resilience the Ukrainian people carry That is our special

way of giving back and keeping Ukraine in our hearts ”

When asked what the Academy in stilled within the Leshchuk sisters through out this ongoing situation, two words stood out: community and Catholicism

“I knew I could rely on them [friends from the Academy] since some of what people did was not because I asked them to do it; rather, it was people deciding on their own that they wanted to do something like that,” Uliana said “We’re supposed to help others and live out that mission, which is also the Academy’s mission ”

“I value the Catholic education the Academy gave to me, ” Kalyna reminisced “After the Academy, I attended Fordham University where I was inspired by a quote on the auditorium walls stating, ‘ To whom much is given, much is expected ’ Instilling charity and on this level is about doing good without expecting anything in return ”

The charity that both Kalyna and Uliana have exercised since the onset of the war in Ukraine is an incredible beacon of light shimmering amongst the darkness of human pain, reminiscent of that singu lar bandura standing strong amidst the rubble and ruin of bombings The Leshchuk sisters have come to embody John 1:5, by becoming “the light shin[ing] in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it ” ��

C O - S P O N S O R E D Uk rainian Schola rship

The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in partnership with the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, helped sponsor Stacy Solop ‘23 for the 2022 2023 academic school year Once the war began in February 2022, Stacy and her mother emigrated from Ukraine to the United States As Stacy’s father continues to fight alongside other citizen soldiers in Ukraine, this sponsorship is helping the Solop family through this difficult period of transition

Thank you to the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth for joining the Academy in co-sponsoring Stacy and making her education a priority.

The Leshchuk sisters have come to embody John 1:5, by becoming the light shin[ing] in the darkness.

TRUE NORTH: The Impor tance of Writing in

the Mode r n Wor ld

by Maureen Brady, Academic Team Leader, English & World Languages

Protesting a title change on her short story in the Academy’s literary magazine, a student recently implored, “You have to understand it’s my voice, Mrs Brady It’s my voice ” It was important to her She was passionate and that passion is key to good writing, urging the writer to probe beneath the surface, to know herself better, to develop her voice At its best, whether fiction or nonfiction, writing fosters ratiocination, the process of precise thinking or logical reasoning a skill in high demand

Good writing is precious.

Today’s employers are looking for competent communicators and finding them isn’t easy As reported in the Na tional Association of Colleges and Em ployers’ Job Outlook 2020 survey, more than 77% of employers are seeking strong written communications skills 1 Yet, ac cording to Karl Uphoff, retired CIO of a large consumer insurance company, “Rarely do job candidates possess the abil

ity to write effectively Someone who has ideas, can organize their thoughts, and express them coherently in written form, is the exception to the rule ” Why is this the case? And why is it important?

Beyond mechanics, good writing is an investigative process that requires critical thinking Strong writing is the demonstra tion of informed, analytical, and organized thought More than the passive act of sim ply thinking, writing forces one to delve deeper into a subject, to make decisions, to refine positions

“Putting it in writing” used to be the lit mus test for truth, an indication that there is no turning back, a verification, a com mitment Perhaps the last vestige of this belief is the signature requirement on im portant documents It is written; therefore, it means something Anything important in the span of a human life is “docu mented,” i e , birth and death certificates, driver’s and marriage licenses, diplomas The written word carries more gravitas than the spoken word; it is official Histor

ically, the written word is perceived as true and is destabilizing when it’s not

W hy are Writing Skills Impor tant in the 21st Cent ur y?

Via the Constitutional right to free speech, Americans may write whatever they want with impunity in most cases Since the invention of the printing press and the advent of the Industrial Age, U S consumers have largely taken for granted that the editorial process would ensure the veracity of content consumed in the public square; however, in the Information Age, most digital content is not scrutinized by a qualified gatekeeper

In the absence of editorial standards on digital media platforms, fiction and fact are often conflated, resulting in fake news Unfortunately, a significant portion of the population still assumes the “information” they read on the internet is official or at least true Although Einstein claimed that in the advancement of science “imagina tion is more important than knowledge,”2

when perceived as fact, imagination can wreak havoc on society So, just as good writing can guide a society toward its true north, poor writing can navigate us away from it Conscientious writers recognize that rhetoric comes with the responsibility of balance and accuracy, rather than con tributing to the cacophony of superficial, misinformed, or biased thought To para phrase the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis Brandeis: sunlight is the best disinfectant 3

Gatekeeping In the Infor mation Age

Today, the responsibility of gatekeep ing information falls on the writer AND the reader While the term has a negative con notation as a euphemism for censorship, used properly, it can be a defensive tool against the spread of misinformation while steering consumers toward truth, facts, and science

For example, awareness of faulty rea soning techniques can deter naïve con tent creation and consumption One doesn’t have to scroll far to encounter false either/or arguments posing limited options, or non sequiturs connecting a conclusion to an unrelated premise Addi tionally, persuasive devices, whether neg ative ad hominem attacks or positive bandwagon appeals, are shortcuts often leading to false destinations i e false con clusions While often intentional, some times the use of truncated reasoning is

just laziness, an avoidance of the probing, longer road of balanced reasoning Other times, the limited perspective is caused by the author’s confirmation bias; therefore, proficient writing requires careful critical thinking

The Power of Creative Writing

While writing a narrative, discoveries made and boundaries pushed expand one ’ s “imaginative knowledge ” Fiction often functions as the proverbial canary in the coal mine, shedding light on the state of the writer or the society Throughout history, fictional considerations of ‘what if?’ have inspired reflection, revelation, and revolution affirming Einstein and Bran deis’ claims

The reemergence of book banning in our country further illustrates that the power of creative writing is threatening to some; perhaps only more unfortunate than the banning of books is when these efforts are met with indifference Azar Nafisi addresses the power of literature in fostering empathy and fighting tyranny in her book Read Dangerously: The Subver sive Power of Literature in Troubled Times

In a recent interview, she pointed out that “if we believe in diversity genuinely, and if we believe in respect for the other, we do not confine ourselves to just ourselves Come out of yourself, and join the other That is the message of great novels ”4 Possibly, that is the message of all good writing E

ABOU T MRS. BRADY

Maureen Brady is the Academic Team Leader of English & World Languages, moderator of SEAL: St Elizabeth Arts & Literary Magazine, and advisor to The Beth, the Academy ’ s electronic student newspaper Mrs Brady currently teaches AP Literature & Composition, Media Literacy, Digital Publishing, Writers ’ Workshop, and Public Speaking. She has also taught Critical Reading & Writing and World Literature

Prior to working at the Academy, Mrs Brady was Assistant Professor/ Program Coordinator/Broadcasting at Sussex County Community College, Lecturer at Bergen Community College, and Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, Kean Uni versity, Ramapo University and Saint Elizabeth University She received her B A in Communications from Seton Hall University, and M A in Speech & Theater with a concentration in Broad casting from Montclair State University

Students explore “imaginative knowledge by expressing themselves in our annual student publication, SEAL

Before pursuing a career in acade mia, she was Director of Advertising & Production at Madison Square Garden Network after working as Affiliate Marketing Manager at SportsChannel She has traveled to over 20 countries and is a professional writer and photographer

Small Choices, Big Results

Commencement S peech

by Valedictor ian Grace Roethlin ‘22

S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T

Good afternoon Mrs Burek, Mrs Corvo, faculty, family, friends, and gradu ates:

Fellow members of the Class of 2022, I can almost hear the sigh of relief coming from the teaching faculty as they send us off from the Academy If I remember cor rectly, our early days were a bit of a circus However, I can say with great pride that the women of the class of 2022 that are standing here today are far different from the girls who entered this school 4 years ago Without realizing it, we have all ma tured with much help, of course, from our teachers, administrators, loving parents, and each other Over the past four years, each and every one of us have achieved amazing things graduating is only the tip of the iceberg

I could spend the rest of my time talk ing about the adversity we have faced in the pursuit of our accomplishments How ever, I think everyone already knows the list: the pandemic, growing up with social media as a distraction, being a teenager in general The real story, I believe, is how each one of us has overcome these obsta cles But how did we do it? The alarm went off, we didn’t hit snooze Dunkin messed up our order, we drank it anyway We showed up to school, we went to our classes, we did our homework, we went to practice We studied for our tests,

maybe not enough, maybe too much, but at least we tried We had a bad day, we still smiled at our friends School went virtual, we still woke up at least a few minutes be fore class (hopefully) and logged on We tackled big, global, even history making is sues with tiny, everyday choices Whether or not we realize it in the moment, these miniscule decisions set the course for the rest of our lives We are climbing the mountain, but doing it one step at a time Even coming to the Academy was a choice Definitely one of our better ones This decision introduced us to the friends, teachers, and mentors that shape our lives today We have received an education that guides us through making the right choices and an opportunity to grow and learn, even if sometimes we have learned the hard way None of this would be pos sible, though, without the friends we made, the teachers who pushed us, the coaches who trained us, and the admin istrators who believed in us Even before our time here, we learned how to make good decisions from our families, who en couraged us with wisdom and love to be come our best selves Above all, our faith, nurtured by our time at St Elizabeth’s, is the foundation for the choices that we make, whether they be big or small However, graduating high school is by far not the last adventure that we will have

to tackle in our lives It is merely the train ing ground for our future, where we exer cise the muscle of good choice every day As we move onto the next step of our lives, college, we will need to flex this mus cle even more On our own, away from the watchful eyes of parents, teachers, and guardians, the choices we make will come down to us, alone Luckily, though, we can move with confidence into our futures because we have been well prepared by our time here But why am I emphasizing our small, everyday decisions? It's because every choice, even the little ones, estab lishes who we are Choosing to get up in the morning, show up, act kindly, be self less, be a friend, love others, defines who we are We are not made from the biggest things we do, but the smallest choices we make And if we get stuck, and we will, the way out is to just do the next right thing, no matter how small We will make mis takes, we will make wrong choices, we will regret them, but starting over is as simple as making the next right choice As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “I am who I am today because of the choices I made yes terday ” To my fellow members of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth Class of 2022, congratulations It has been a pleasure and an honor to learn with you; I wish you every luck and happiness and as my mom always says, “make good choices ”

students

Model UN Delegates Honored

The Model UN team competed in their annual spring conference with schools from across the globe Eight of our students took part and debated on the topics of Climate Change, Protecting Endangered Species, and Poverty Reduc tion Each and every one of the resolutions proposed by the Academy delegates was passed by the conference Our delegates

also received various awards for this participation, including Uliana Leshchuk ‘23, representing India, in 2nd Place for Outstanding Delegate Award for her work on the Poverty Reduction Committee; Emma Kelly ‘23, representing Brazil, in 2nd Place for Outstanding Delegate Award for her work in the Climate Change Commit tee; Kate Condon ‘23, representing Panama,

in 2nd Place for Outstanding Delegate Award for her work in the Protecting Endangered Species Committee, and Alexa McCarus and Sophia Vail ‘23 received 3rd Place Honorable Mention in their respective committees Katie Acken, Kathleen Ott de Vries ‘23, and Alyssa Rossini ‘23 were all key contributors in passing their groups ’ resolutions

The 2022 Art Show was a great cele bration of the many talented young artists here at the Academy With a variety of mediums on display, the Study Hall was magically transformed into a gallery show case of student work photography, ceramics, paintings, sketches, sculptures, and more

Under the direction and guidance of Ms Denuto and Mrs Rovayo, the Art Show provided a space to display how our young women continually hone their skills in the Fine Arts and use their talents in ways that speak to the soul

Photo Credit: Ms Ellen Denuto

Photo Credit: Ms Ellen Denuto

Photo Credit: Ms Ellen Denuto

From left to right: Model UN Delegates Alexa McCarus '23 Sophia Vail '23 Emma Kelly '23 Kathleen Ott de Vries 23, Alyssa Rossini 23, Kate Condon 23, Uliana Leshchuk 23, and Katie Acken 23

Emily Crabbe Awarded Class of 1967 Scholarship

This year ’ s Class of 1967 Scholarship Award recipient, Emily Crabbe ‘23, recalled how her quiet, unassuming demeanor throughout her life led to challenges in the classroom, even though she was and is an exceptionally hard working student Maintaining an “A” average her entire educational career, Emily wrote her schol arship essay detailing how having that high average was not enough for her to be distinguished from her fellow peers Feel ing brushed aside at times, Emily spoke about how the Academy of Saint Elizabeth helped her find her voice and become an advocate not only for her own success,

but also the success of others Emily plans on studying architectural engineering upon graduation from the Academy, with a desire to design sustain able, affordable housing for those living in poverty and homelessness Using her newfound voice from her time at the Academy, Emily wishes to stand up and be a powerful voice for women in the field of engineering

Congratulations to Emily for receiving the Class of 1967 Scholarship Award and best wishes of success in her final year at the Academy

Rachel Danzitz ‘22 Recognized by NJ Representative Mikie Sherrill

Each spring, the United States House of Representatives recognizes artistically talented high school students across the nation at their annual Congressional Art Competition Since its inception in 1982, more than 650,000 students have partici pated in the competition, moderated by the Congressional Institute Students must submit their work to their district represen tative’s office for review by a panel of district artists Winning entries are recog nized both at the district level and at an awards ceremony in Washington, D C , where a gallery of work is displayed for one year in the United States Capitol

The Academy of Saint Elizabeth has been ranked by Niche as one of the top Catholic High Schools and All Girls Catholic High Schools in New Jersey! Our deserving A+ ranking is based on multiple factors, including reviews from students, families, employees, and alumna

By leaving a review on Niche about your experience at the Academy, you are assuring young women an Academy education will be their Best Decision Ever! To leave a review, scan the QR Code and visit the Niche’ Academy of Saint Elizabeth profile

This year, Rachel Danzitz ‘22 entered two photographic submissions for review Her works, titled “Five More Minutes” and “Cynomys Ludovicianus” are incredible examples of wildlife photography at its finest, using skills gleaned here at the Academy Her photographs Rachel received a prestigious award of “Special Congressional Recognition” from Repre sentative Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District Congratulations to Rachel on this incredible achievement and testament to her beautiful artistic capabilities

Pictured left to right: Ms Katherine Lordi '67 Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Mrs Lisa Crabbe, Emily Crabbe, 23, Mr Daniel Crabbe and Mrs Donna Sylvester Kupper, 67

Reac h for The S tars

Commencement S peech

by Cara Cavanaugh ‘12

A L U M N A E S P O T L I G H T

Good afternoon, Principal Burek, fac ulty, staff, families, and most impor tantly graduates My name is Cara Cavanaugh, and I am a member of the Academy’s class of 2012 It’s strange to me that a decade ago, I was sitting in your place It must feel equally strange to you that just four years ago you were begin ning high school Yet here we are And in a few quick months, you will be going off to college, and explaining to your new friends that the pictures of you in a long white dress and gloves are not, in fact, from a debutante ball, but are actually from your high school graduation (Or at least, that’s what I had to do in the first week of college)

When considering what to say today, I thought, “What do I wish I would have known ten years ago?” This moment right here is the end page of a chapter, but you have yet to turn the page to reveal the next one I remember feeling excited but wor ried about the future What I wish I had known back then, and what I hope to con vey to you today, is that you are ready to face your next chapters because you have so successfully written a full one here

All of us came to St E’s from different

towns and different schools Maybe you knew a few people or maybe you knew no one Either way, you learned how to navi gate taking the train to Convent Station, and you walked through those double doors to choose a seat in the cafeteria

You put on a new uniform and new shoes, and went to class (Also, I found out recently that you all can wear boat shoes now? When I was here, we had these clunky black uniform shoes that squeaked in the hallway!) But you didn’t just master the logistics of coming to a new school, you also became a part of its culture You entered a place with an ingrained history, and traditions that you made your own When you sang in the Alma Mater contest or climbed all those steps to get to the art room or decided to join a new sports team, you built a life here for yourself

Now that you ’ ve done that once, you can do it again

And believe me, you will have to start new chapters over and over again more times than you think In my ten years since graduation, I have gone to college, moved to a different country, moved back, started one job, pivoted my career, started a new job, and then left that to go to law school When I was in your place, I thought that the most important lessons that I would take with me from high school were the ones that I had been tested on in class And (no offense to my former teachers sitting here today) while those were impor tant, with hindsight, I have come to find that the most valuable lesson is using all your experiences from St E’s as a refer ence for your amazing next chapters

Let me give you an example A couple

“I have come to find that the most valuable lesson is using all your exper iences from S t. E’s as a reference for your amazing next chapters.”

of years ago, when I was working in Wash ington, DC, I had to give an important presentation at NASA Headquarters This was a big deal since it was the culmination of over a year of researching policy issues for spacecraft sterilization On the morn ing of the presentation, I was in a coffee shop, wearing my suit, practicing what I would say from my notes, and feeling very nervous Then, I thought to myself, “Cara, you ’ ve done this before! Your suit is just a costume, and these notes are your script This is way less nerve wracking than being in the St E’s production of The Wizard of Oz, when you played the coroner of Munchkin Land, and had to sing one line in front of the whole school ” At least I didn’t have to sing at NASA!

Then I thought, that was not even nearly as stressful as when I played Jesus in the Stations of the Cross and discovered during the performance in the Chapel that I didn’t have the core muscles to hold the “Pieta” pose at the end So, it looked like I was having a seizure in Mary’s lap! Think ing back on those on those experiences, I realized that explaining spacecraft steriliza tion at NASA was a piece of cake

All of this is to say, that ahead of each of you lies chapter after chapter with twists and turns, but your experiences at St E’s will guide you As you’ll soon see, you will take many trains, put on many pairs of new shoes, and choose seats in many cafete rias after this But I know that you ladies are more than prepared to do so Thank you, and congratulations to the Class of 2022

Wedding Bells Ring At

The Academy

Alumnae reunite to celebrate fellow SEAster’s

wedding at Holy Family Chapel

On Saturday, October 1, Jenna Discher, ‘12 was married in Holy Family Chapel Like something out of a fairytale, Jenna and her father arrived to the Academy’s picturesque campus in a white horse drawn carriage Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride took her “First Look” pictures with her SEAsters on the grand staircase in the Motherhouse

Cara and Grace stand together in front of our new Acad emy of Saint Elizabeth sign before the commencement cer emony as fellow SEAsters and Valedictorians 10 years apart

Pictured left to right members of the Class of 2012: Alissa Pape Chrissy Hughes Briana Treacy Jenn Discher Cosenza (bride) Samantha Wilkinson Kannie Beaudouin

Proud father of the bride, Ray Discher, P 12, helps his daughter out of a horse drawn carriage as she arrives at the Academy for her First Look photo shoot, which included stunning pictures with fellow SEAsters

Alumnae Celebrate Five Decades of SEAsterhood

On Saturday, June 11, the Academy was honored to host the 50 Year Reunion for the Class of 1972 The day commemorated 50 years to the day when these women graduated on the front lawn in their white gowns They had two special guests (their former teachers) join them, Sister Marie Russo and Sister Geraldine O’Brien Attendees also made meaningful contributions to the Alumnae Scholarship Fund in memory of their classmate, Patricia Flothow

“ Words cannot express how blessed our reunion Class of ‘72 was to have you [Megan Knight] organize, be a part of and celebrate with us on the exact, to the day, 50 year mark of our graduation! I think I can speak for all of us attending, that we had a blast! We might be old in number but we are young at heart! I was happy ever ything fell into place.”

Clare, ‘72

Cov-Italy: An Unexpected Reunion Abroad

by Kathy Donlon Ambrosio ‘75

My husband, Dominic Ambrosio, and I went to Italy for a vacation with a group from all over the United States We were required to have negative Covid 19 tests in order to return home Nine of us were detained for positive test results and had to extend our stay During the course of our extended time, I discovered one of our fellow travelers was a 1965 graduate of the Academy of St Elizabeth We both were so excited to discover this and had a lovely time reminiscing about shared teachers, traditions and experiences we each had (though at different times) while we attended the Academy It is really a small world, but the Academy reaches far!

Kathy Donlon Ambrosio 75 and Dawn Uhlendorf Insalaco 65 visiting Villa D'Este in Tivoli

alumnae news

Class of 2002 Reunion

SEAsters revisited fond memories during their celebration at the Academy

On Saturday, October 1, the Class of 2002 hosted their 20 year reunion at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth The party began in the Moran Library with catered food and beverages to enjoy while the SEAsters chatted, caught up on their lives and looked through yearbooks Mark Kleban came prepared with a music playlist and speaker with the top hits of 2002 for the ultimate throwback

The tour was probably the highlight of the evening with so many memories, laughs and stories coming back with each visit to a classroom Mr Yarnall’s classroom got a visit and lots of messages on his whiteboard from his former students

A special thank you to Ashleigh Plewa and Mary Kleban for taking the initiative and planning this special milestone class reunion

Career Day and Founders’ Day Assembly

Stories of Success and Inspiration Fuel Future Leaders

On Friday, April 1, 2022, the Academy celebrated our annual Career & Founders' Day Alumnae visited the school to speak to our current students about the different career paths they chose after graduating from the Academy, which included profes sions such as therapist, attorney, veterinar ian, city planner, entrepreneur, engineer, and more! Students were able to select three different morning sessions about careers they were interested in learning more about from their fellow SEAsters

The day concluded with a Founders'

Day Assembly in the Study Hall paneled by Antoinette Plewa, '72 and her daughter, Ashleigh Plewa, '02, both of whom discussed their experiences at the Acad emy Thank you to the alumnae and presenters who came to share their stories of success Our guests brought us great pride and inspired so many young women!

ARTF UL Renewal

by Jennifer & Ted Mendr y z yc ki, P ‘26

When we initially toured the Academy with our daughter, Cate, we were im pressed with the recent transformations of the Study Hall, Library and Panther Den, all of which were accomplished through generous gifts from former and current AOSE families We saw the immediate im pact that giving has on the experience that young women have at the Academy When we saw the art and dance studios, we saw the potential to make a transfor

mative gift that would refresh and update the space while maintaining the original character Our hope is that our gift will provide current and future classes with the opportunity to continue to foster a love of the arts and channel their talents Our daughter Cate has always had a love for the arts, which has been encouraged by her grandmothers Cate’s maternal grand mother comes from an artistic family, and has used her artistic gifts in painting and

singing to support her community and her Church in Florida Cate’s paternal grand mother was a Catholic elementary educa tor and principal for 40 years, finishing her career as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York

We made our gift in honor of them and the commitment they have made over the years to the education and support of young women

T R A N S F O R M A T I V E G I F T S

For 162 years and counting, every single one of us has been a steward of the incredible Academy legacy We all need to ensure we leave the Academy a better place than when we arr ived

TRANSFORMATIVE GIF TS

The vision and generosit y of Mrs. S uz y Moran, P ‘92 continues to rene w the timeless elegance and renowned prestige of the Ac ademy.

Our relationship with Suzy Moran began when the time came for Suzy and her husband,Mr J Brian Moran, to select an all girls Catholic high school for their daughter, Regan, and their decision to have her attend the Academy Two of her nieces also went on to graduate from the Academy Fast forward a generation, and Mrs Moran’s granddaughter, Lily, will be graduating with the Class of 2023

Throughout the years, Suzy used her professional aptitude and love for the Academy to transform many of its spaces around campus Her first project oversaw the renovation and the dedication of the McMullen Auditorium in 1992, followed by the Moran Library in 1998 and the Study Hall in 2000, which was done as a dedica tion to Saint Joseph The iconic chande liers that our students know and love throughout the building and administrative offices were also a mark of Mrs Moran’s signature style

After completing the Panther Den renovation in 2019, the Administration and the Development Office decided the Study Hall would be the newest initiative to update and renovate The strategic plan for our #GivingTuesday Campaign was held to raise funding for the “Heart of the Academy ” When the time came to consult for the overall design of the project, Megan Knight, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations, knew exactly who to call Mrs Moran

An additional fundraising event was planned and our committed and generous community rallied around the “Heart of

the Academy Campaign” on December 1, our annual Day of Giving Friends of the Academy gave generously and alumnae shared their favorite memories together in the Study Hall We ended the Campaign so grateful for all of our friends who graciously supported our vision and legacy together

After nearly 18 months and many gallons of paint (even a color change!), too many cases of caulk to count, 365 yards of French navy blue velvet fabric, custom made cornices and draperies for each window, wooden blinds, hand painted artwork in the alcoves behind the stage (which were inspired by the signature tiles throughout the building), and brand new tables, Suzy’s vision for the Study Hall finally came to fruition The Study Hall now looks and feels like the true “Heart of the Academy”

However, Suzy did not stop there! Her vision continued down the hallway her focus now on the renovation and overhaul of the Principal, Assistant Princi pal and the Academy main office The design complimented and mirrored the prestige of the Study Hall This next step included new wallcoverings, furniture, wooden blinds on every window, and the same custom blue draperies as in the Study Hall The new wool carpeting tied all three offices together into separate, but continuous spaces Suzy’s vision has essentially created a rebranding of the Academy’s finest features tying separate spaces together in a timeless, enduring and classical way

Transformative gifts, like Suzy’s gen erosity, received by the Academy are life changing for our school These gifts are investments entrusted to us by our vision aries They have a profound and immedi ate impact on our school These gifts are the ultimate testament of the deep com mitment in keeping the oldest all girls Catholic high school in New Jersey ready to continue to meet the needs of young women for generations to come

In the next issue... THE MORAN LIBRARY

Do you want to learn about ways you can invest in the Academy?

Schedule a tour, meeting or phone call with Megan Knight to learn how a transformative gift can make an immediate impact on our school.

When John Riccio, P ‘24, went to his daughter’s back to school night last year he heard Ms Megan Knight, Director of Development & Alumnae Relations, talk about a text message she received from a senior dad, “I want to leave every thing better than when I got here ” That is when John and his wife, Petrina, de cided they wanted to give back in a way that aligned with their professional area of expertise restoring and honoring antique furniture Certainly in a 120 year old school building there are plenty of opportunities to honor the past and em brace the future

What started out as creating a custom finial for the stage in the Study Hall quickly evolved into assisting with various projects and renovations around the school Shown here are just a few examples of the work John and his team have done as gifts in kind We are deeply grateful to the Riccio Family and the artisans at Antiques Plus for their gifts of time and talent.

A Parent’s PASSION

By

In 2014, my wife, daughter, and I en tered the historic building of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth for the first time Through the 8th grade, both our son and daughter attended public school, yet my family wanted something more than what the local high school had to offer

Our son, Mike, graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 2013 with an experience that far exceeded our expectations Being six years younger, Katie was in awe of the cul ture at Seton Hall Prep as she watched her brother’s experience and decided that she

wanted the same for herself when it came to high school

We toured all of the girls’ Catholic high schools in the area, but none of them offered anything remotely similar to what our son had experienced until we at tended the Academy’s Open House and Accepted Students’ Night As we drove home from the Academy of Saint Eliza beth on those impressionable nights, three takeaways left us with no doubt that this school was the right choice for Katie Our passion and call to support the

Academy has only grown as alumnae parents

We left the Academy that night with an overwhelming feeling of being wel comed into a tight knit family that spans across numerous generations The Acad emy made it very clear from the be ginning that no matter what grade level a student was in, everyone, including our daughter, would be welcomed and accepted by her peers This was the begin ning of Katie’s SEAsterhood

For the past 162 years this school has been special, and we take pride in our role of continuing such distinction into the future

Like so many students at Saint E’s, our daughter made the life changing decision to part ways with her childhood friends from public school and forge her own path at a school that would mold her into the young woman she was destined to be come The warm welcome from her peers is something our family values to this day

The dedication and passion of the faculty and administration in their aca demic and spiritual pursuits were apparent Smaller class sizes allowed the faculty members to focus on challenging the stu dents to achieve their highest potential Support from an administration dedicated to preparing the students for college and ensuring spiritual growth to support life’s journey was a big differentiator Perhaps

Academy of Saint Elizabeth students

Now, more than ever, we must sustain the Academy for future generations.

Mr. Kenneth Purzycki, P ‘19

“To say the exper ience exceeded our expectations would not give justice to all the Academy has to offer ”

Mr Kenneth Purzycki, P ‘19

An Annual Fund like the Academy’s Seton Fund, is established to close the gap between a school's revenue and expenses.

See how the Academy of Saint Elizabeth fares in comparison to other independent schools in the nation:

NATIONAL

NATIONAL AVE RAGE GAP:

PE R STUDE NT Inde pendent Schools with < 300 Students

A.O.S.E. ANNUAL GAP:

2023 Academic Year

most importantly, we were blown away by the young ladies at the Accepted Students’ Night who carried themselves with poise, maturity, and eloquence beyond their age as they detailed their passions and experi ences at the school

Today, now more than ever, it is important for us to sustain the school for future generations of young women to learn, grow, and flourish

The Academy offered a unique oppor tunity, not only for young women to flour ish, but also for parents to become active participants in the community I was ini tially apprehensive about getting involved, as I did not want to get in the way of my daughter’s independent experience with the school she fell in love with Fortu nately, my initial hesitancy did not stop me from charting my own path of immersion in the school’s community I served as the Parents’ Association Vice President then the President, Parent Ambassador, basket ball clock operator, and now a founding member of the Knights of Saint Elizabeth I may have “missed the mark” of not getting in my daughter's way, but I did foster a deeper connection to the school that has become a significant part of our family’s lives

To say the experience exceeded our expectations would not give justice to all the Academy has to offer Our Academy

experience, rooted in quality academics, rich tradi tions, spiritual development, athletic diversity, enrich ment in the arts, and an overall sense of encouragement, surpassed what we would have received in any other high school setting I hope each of you feels the same way and understands the importance of support ing the continued excellence of our beloved school

The gift of giving is always a personal choice but rest assured that all contributions go to a very worth while cause If you are able, I invite you to join my fellow Knights in making a Founders’ Circle level gift to the Academy GO PANTHERS!!!

Mr Kenneth Purzycki, P ‘19

Members of the Knights of Saint Elizabeth: