The Wessex Wire
Senior Edition
The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
West Essex High School, 65 West Greenbrook Rd., North Caldwell, N.J.
Senior Edition 2017
After four years, we’ve always ‘kept it fresh’
June 2017
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The Wire: Senior Edition
Congratulations to Vincenzo Abbattista Essex County College Rani Abdulaziz Fairleigh Dickinson University Anthony Agrifolio Stockton University Connor Auer Work Force Michael Bachmann Quinnipiac University Zachary Balz Montclair State University Adam Baran County College of Morris John Barker William Paterson University Joseph Barretti Bloomsburg University Brandon Barry County College of Morris Jovanna Bartelloni Stockton University Gabriella Bastianelli University of Florida Jordan Behrle Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Robert Bell County College of Morris Robert Berkowitz Fairleigh Dickinson University Bridget Betley Post University Hailey Blum University of Michigan Karly Blume University of Massachusetts Megan Boeckel Rutgers University Bobbie Boettinger James Madison University Mark Bogdanoff SUNY Maritime College Deirdre Brady The Ohio State University Emi Brito Kirikihira William Paterson University Joshua Caggiano Saint Joseph’s University Nicole Caggiano Stockton University Raiya Campanaro Kean University Gabrielle Campanella Gettysburg College Carlee Campanile Rutgers University Victoria Cannella Stockton University Matthew Caplan University of Delaware Violet Capria County College of Morris
Sara Castro LAM Institute Nikolas Cataldo University of Tampa Kelley Cattano University of South Carolina Anthony Celentano Pennsylvania State University Michael Centrella University of Maryland Nicholas Cerrigone Bucknell University Jamie Chebuske Northeastern University Gianna Cielo County College of Morris Elizabeth Cimilluca University of Iowa Alana Cinque Lynn University Taylor Cirillo Seton Hall University Dominique Citarella Montclair State University Alexandra Codella Indiana University Hailey Coldon Indiana University Sophia Colitti Rutgers University Steven Collini Gap Year Steven Connelly Drexel University Brian Contaldi Pennsylvania State University Michael Contreras New Jersey City University Anthony Corso SUNY Maritime College Marissa Corso DeSales University Alexis Cosenzo Fordham University Alexander Coulter Fairleigh Dickinson University Gavin Courtney County College of Morris Gabriel Cuadros Workforce John Cuccia Workforce Jessica Cunha Emerson College Michael Cunha Stevens Institute of Technology Marissa D’Antonio Emory University Dean D’Antuono William Paterson University John Daaling Institute of Audio Research
Colton Dahlin County College of Morris Shane Daneyko Gap Year Katie De Brabanter Tufts University Michael DeAngelis Rider University Carly Decker Hofstra University Danica DeFrank William Paterson University Michael DeFranza Seton Hall University Franklin DeJesus Essex County College John Delehanty University of Colorado Boulder Malik Dellimore Workforce Anthony DeVincenzoBartley Pennsylvania State University Alexa DeVito University of Notre Dame Richard DeVivo Montclair State University Sarah Dickson University of Vermont Catherine DiGangi Northeastern University Patrick Dingwell Marywood University Gianna DiStasi Montclair State University Ryan Diver Montclair State University Nicholas Donnelly County College of Morris Connor Doyle Colorado State University Michael Dressler Lincoln Technical Institute Jenny Entin University of Pennsylvania Nielfe Erese County College of Morris Daria Esposito Montclair State University Alexa Estrada Loyola University Maryland Jake Evangelista Dickinson University Gia Falzarano Montclair State University Brett Feldman The Ohio State University Lindsay Feldstein University of Michigan Frank Ferrante Rowan University Michael Ferraris Montclair State University Connor Flanagan Santa Barbara City College
Erin Foley University of Alabama William Fost Emory University Melissa Fritz Montclair State University Matthew Fundler Indiana University Michael Gaccione Wentworth Institute of Technology Louis Galarowicz University of Pennsylvania Amanda Garofalo Massachusetts Institute of Technology Taylor Gates University of Tampa Jared Gatti County College of Morris Madison Gemma Stevens Institute of Technology Steven Gemma University of Delaware Gianna Gencarelli Felician University Grace George American University Nina Giangrande Montclair State University Kara Gingerelli Syracuse University Dean Girardo Caldwell University Lisa Giuffre Misericordia University Austin Goldberg Indiana University Julian Goldenberg Marist College Justine Gonnella James Madison University Michael Gonzalez University of Tampa Alyssa Gossett The College of New Jersey Veronica Greczek Marist College Anthony Gulla Montclair State University Evan Haas Duquesne University Emily Hacker University of Pittsburgh Shayne Hansson West Virginia University Samantha Huetter Stockton University Jared Huff Michigan State University Gloria Hussain James Madison University Moustafa Ibrahim University of Arizona Daniella Ignacio American University
Carlie Israel New York Institute of Technology Derek Jacobson Montclair State University Dominic Jandoli Montclair State University Ian Jarmel Susquehanna University Adam Karain County College of Morris Jesse Katz Lincoln Technical Institute Zachary Kearney Pennsylvania State University Michael Keller Sacred Heart University Jenna Kenny Florida Atlantic University Jessica Kenny Montclair State University Sydney Kessler University of Rhode Island Matthew Kumar Virginia Tech Felicity Lac County College of Morris Michael Lacovara Quinnipiac University Azdren Lajci United States Marines Caroline Lanfrank University of Miami Mitchell Lanzl Kean University Jared Lapenta Florida Atlantic University Alyssa LeCastre West Virginia University Anthony Leone Montclair State University Nicole Leone Fairleigh Dickinson University Drew Lepre University of Maryland Koji Lewis University of California, Santa Cruz Daniel Librizzi University of Delaware Arden Little County College of Morris Trevor Lombardi The College of New Jersey Stephanie Lombardo Ramapo College Chloe Lorenzen Christine Valmy Sadie Lowenthal University of Rhode Island Steven Lucero Sacred Heart University Anthony Luongo Fashion Institute of Technology Marcanthony Macrino Bloomsburg University
June 2017
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The Wire: Senior Edition
o the Class of 2017 Stephen Madia County College of Morris Vincent Maffucci Workforce Karin Maher Marion Military Institute Katharine Makin St. Joseph’s University Emily Malone Kutztown University Lauren Manniello University of Colorado Boulder Samantha Manuzza Pennsylvania State University Thomas Marano Florida Gulf Coast University Amanda Margiolas Pace University Raymond Maroon University of Tampa Ralph Marotti Montclair State University Richard Marsh New Jersey Institute of Technology Elizabeth Martine County College of Morris Peter Matarazzo Kean University Nina Mazzella Tulane University Skye McCrone University of Alabama Jenna McCullough County College of Morris Eleanor Mead University of Alabama Ria Medasani Rutgers University Joseph Melillo Kutztown University Nicole Mellilo University of Connecticut Jade Mendola University of Delaware Carly Menendez Rutgers University Italia Messina Temple University Justin Meyer University of Colorado Boulder Amanda Mielnicki Pennsylvania State University Julia Miller University of Rhode Island Samantha Minion Cornell University Rachel Mintz Vanderbilt University Milad Mirghahari New Jersey Institute of Technology Isabella Monaco County College of Morris
Thomas Moro Virginia Tech Cole Morrone Bentley University Jules Moskowitz Syracuse University Peter Mouskourie Fairleigh Dickinson University Nicholas Mouta County College of Morris Sophie Moyer University of Maryland Madison Muehlbauer Stockton University Kerry Mundy Stockton University Claudine Navia Rutgers University Molly Neal Pennsylvania State University Maisie Newman County College of Morris Brian O’Neill University of Pennsylvania Oliver Ortman Fairleigh Dickinson University Daniella Otun William Paterson University Mia Oyama University of Florida Patrick Parvarkhah County College of Morris Isabel Parzecki Rutgers University Spencer Peckman George Washington University Ardit Pervizi New Jersey Institute of Technology Olivia Petrella University of Florida Naomi Pidgeon Florida Atlantic University Colin Plunkett University of Oklahoma Elia Pollio Lock Haven University Thomas Pravata County College of Morris Jordan Prince County College of Morris Max Prince Washington University in St. Louis Hussain Qureshi New Jersey Institute of Technology Amanda Radice East Stroudsburg University Nicole Realbuto Montclair State University
Michael Reali William Paterson University William Reif Emory University Brett Reo Hope College Aron Reyes Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Margaret Ribardo Virginia Tech Matthew Richardella Pennsylvania State University Olivia Ritter Boston University Ambrosia Rodriguez County College of Morris Rachel Rodriguez Indiana University of Pennsylvania Isabella Roldan University of Tampa Dominick Romano Workforce Erin Rondi Sacred Heart University Gabriella Rosamilia Montclair State University Victoria Rotonda Kean University Dean Russo Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences Christopher Ryan Workforce Michael Sabato Workforce Corey Saccente University of Florida Olivia Salan East Stroudsburg University Vincent Salvatoriello Fairleigh Dickinson University Zachary Sanger County College of Morris Hannah Sanok Seton Hall University Elizabeth Schechter Syracuse University Adam Scheckman University of Maryland Peter Scheer Moravian College Steven Schneider Caldwell University Rose Schuchard County College of Morris Samantha Schwarz University of South Florida Nicholas Scrivo Workforce Daniel Searle Gettysburg College Robert Searle Workforce
Jaaffar Seddiki Pennsylvania State University Briana Serpone Florida Atlantic University Joe Servidio County College of Morris Kira Shababb Boston Conservatory Jake Siciliano Columbia University Madison Silvestri University of Delaware Lia Sinisi Michigan State University Nicholas Slaaen University of Arizona Shane Smith Coastal Carolina University Anthony Steets Georgia Institute of Technology Zoe Stern University of Vermont Matthew Stout Tufts University Noah Struss Gettysburg College Isabel Tabs Syracuse University Michael Tartini United States Navy Lauren Theobald Ramapo College Jessica Thies The Ohio State University Jordyn Thies University of Pennsylvania Amber Tomlin Gap Year Jonathan Tomlin County College of Morris Jack Torchia William Paterson University Erica Torter Rutgers University Joseph Torter Virginia Tech Natalie Trabucco University of Colorado Boulder Luke Traverso Case Western Reserve University Lucia Trigo Loyola University Maryland Danielle Vacca Virginia Tech Christian Valerian U.S. Army Alexa Vardiman Arcadia University Nicholas Vassallo Virginia Tech Dani Veliu County College of Morris
Hannah Vizcai Montclair State University Nicolette Waldron Montclair State University Nina Ward Fairfield University Dunea Washah Artistic Academy Allie Weinstein Tulane University Micaela Weiss Syracuse University Sara Wells Fairfield University Lauraleigh Werzen Bergen Community College William Werzen U.S. Marines Toni Marie Williams University of Hartford Sydney Winkler Howard University Kelsey Witzel Ithaca College Schafer Witzel County College of Morris Ethan Wolf University of Pittsburgh Jacob Wolf Syracuse University Tyler Yeranian University of South Carolina Christopher Zaccaria Sacred Heart University Gianna Zecchino Villanova University Delia Zumpano The College of New Jersey Francesca Zumpano The College of New Jersey
Jessica Cunha Isabel Tabs Jacob Wolf Olivia Ritter Grace George Micaela Weiss Jules Moskowitz Alexandra Codella Lizzy Cimilluca Michael DeFranza Daniella Ignacio Megan Boeckel Mia Oyama
June 2017
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Senior Edition
An open letter to my classmates By Isabel Tabs Editor-in-Chief
High school can be the best four years of your life, or the worst. Honestly, for me let’s just say my experience worked both ways. The past four years I had been planning my #next4 just dreaming about college and waiting for May 1, 2017. I was vicariously living through my older friends’ pictures on Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat Stories, anticipating my college experience. Putting all the cliques aside, the fake people and all the drama that followed them, in the end, my classmates ended up being the best support system to my educational high school career (along with my parents, guidence counselors and my teachers). So to my classmates… Thank you for helping me with my math homework on late weeknights when I had a long, stressful
and tiring day. Even though we may have never spoken in class, you were always there for me when it came to lending a hand when I could barely stay up late enough to do my work. In times like this, students have your back. Thank you for supporting my “petitions” when I wanted to move the day of a test because I was extremely overwhelmed. Our GPA’s benefited because of your sacrifice for me and anyone else who wanted the test to be changed. And if we didn’t win the battle, we all took the “L” together with pride. Thank you to those dedicated students, at least more dedicated than me, who made the study guides for those chapter tests that everyone dreaded. Laziness seemed to prevail motivation many times, so those study guides came in handy more than once. Thank you for taking time out of your day to help a girl out, when she missed class or accidentally zoned out. Also big shoutout to
Google Docs, for making a “Share” option in these times (I have to give Google some credit). Public quizlets were also a bonus and a huge help. Thank you for not laughing at me when the teacher called on me and I answered the question wrong. And response after response, I sadly still failed to achieve or resemble something of the correct answer. And to those who truly saw that I was struggling or that I had my “resting confused face” on, thank you for slyly whispering the answer into my ear to save me from embarrassment and being scolded by our teacher. Classmates who are confused together truly stay together. So in the end, with all your guidance and dedicated support, homework, tests, projects, etc. were able to become a bit more bearable and tolerable. Because we’re all in this battle together, right?! So for that, I can truly thank you, classmates!
West Essex, not East High By Grace George and Olivia Ritter Arts & Culture Editors
Does it bother you that high school was nothing like “High School Musical?” Seriously, we spent our entire childhoods dreaming of the awesomeness that awaited us when we walked through the doors of high school. But, on the first day of freshman year, we were greeted with a rude awakening. There were no epic songs in the hallways or dynamic dance numbers in the cafeteria. Not even lifesize posters of the student athletes in the school. Boys don’t climb up to your window at night and serenade you or invite you to the rooftop garden in between classes. Nobody cares if you don’t stick to the status quo and on the last day of school no one quietly said “summer” until the last minute and threw their papers in the air in celebration. Instead, we walked through the halls, quietly, kind of, and left the music in our earbuds. No one dealt with their issues by dramatically singing in the empty halls or breaking into a dance routine in the middle of practice. And the only countdowns came from Mr. Diliberto in the morning as you
Photo By Isabel Tabs
sprinted to class half awake. We grew up watching the students of East High sing and dance out their feelings while also managing to get into difficult colleges like Juillard, Berkeley, Stanford and Yale. To us, that’s what high school was. The fact that we haven’t done a school-wide dance routine is offensive to not only us, but to the masterminds behind “High School Musical.” We didn’t sing and dance in times of hardship, but we united in our own small ways. We did all come together to make our own red, white and blue day on spirit week, let’s not forget. Maybe we didn’t carry out a master plan to get through a mathletes tournament, callback day and a championship basketball game, but we
did attempt to figure out when to figure out Decision Day. But, in reality, maybe high school wasn’t all that bad. We complain and couldn’t wait for it all to be over, but, really, some things from this place are going to stick with us. Who could forget our peak spirit day Just Do 17 shirt or, even better, being “sophisticated” sophomore year? As frustrating as it is, we all became better drivers navigating that parking lot and we can all admit it. We might not look back and remember breaking out into song or the entire grade participating in the school musical, but we will remember those times where we wanted to. Besides, “High School Musical” set some pretty high standards for high school.