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invocation
A spiritual blessing read by Class of 2020 co-salutatorian Kelsey McKenna Cooper: Dearest God, Today, we ask You to bestow Your blessings upon Trinity Hall’s Class of 2020 as we take the next step in our lives. We ask You to watch over us in our future endeavors and help us reach our full potentials. Guide us to make the right decisions, ones which will bring peace and happiness to us and create positive change in the world. During these uncertain and unprecedented times, help us rise up and use the values instilled in us at Trinity Hall to overcome challenges with determination. Bless those who have stood by our side and supported us through the ups and downs, and remind us to lean on our sisterhood when faced with adversity. May Your blessing not only be for us, but that we ourselves become a blessing to others. Wherever we go, may You provide us with the strength and courage to believe in ourselves and our convictions and to grow into women who persevere, who respect, who lead, and who are faithful to their God. Amen.
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contents TA B L E O F
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GRADUATES FACTS & NUMBERS SENIOR AWARDS COLLEGIATE STUDENT ATHLETES VALEDICTORY ADDRESS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
graduates Olivia Marie Almeida Colts Neck Clemson University
Liana Beatriz Bustillo Sea Bright University of Pittsburgh
Alexandra Ellen Chrystal Manasquan Rutgers University
Alessandra Elizabeth Arege Little Silver University of Southern California
Whitney P. Butterfield Ocean Providence College
Kiley A. Cizin Lincroft Sacred Heart University
Jane Powers Banahan Fair Haven Muhlenberg College
Shea Patricia Campanella Rumson Salve Regina University
Molly Caitlin Clifford Rumson University of Michigan
Fatima Carolina Barahona-Escobar Eatontown Marist College
Mary Kate Cashman Bradley Beach University of Notre Dame
Madeline Q. Condon Manasquan Bryant University
Hope Marie Caucino Sea Girt Villanova University
Kelsey McKenna Cooper Middletown Brown University
Mary M. Boesch Spring Lake Texas Christian University
Samantha Lynne Devine Ocean University of South Carolina 4
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Francesca Maria Dodaro Morganville Rutgers University
Julia Noel Hallman Interlaken Elon University
Riley Elizabeth Dunfee Red Bank University of Georgia
Grace K. Hanlon Ocean Fairfield University
Logan Elizabeth Dziadzio Port Monmouth Northeastern University
Sophia Marie Hegel Manasquan The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lauren Grace Ehnot Manasquan Cornell University Morgan Leigh Feiler Fair Haven Wake Forest University Shantal Sarai Ferrer Escamilla Neptune Caldwell University Riley Mikala Francese Howell Clemson University Patricia Frees Tinton Falls Providence College Mara Christina Galvin Spring Lake College of the Holy Cross Sophia R. Gana Colts Neck Johns Hopkins University Maya Lydia Gardner Monmouth Beach Cornell University Kylie Angelina Hall Tinton Falls Clemson University
Madeleine G. Hicks Tinton Falls Northeastern University Margaret D. Hough Little Silver Bard College Juvene Cierra Jean Neptune Temple University Annabelle Griggs Kaeli Monmouth Beach Bucknell University Kathleen Bridget Keenan Hazlet University of South Carolina Colleen A. Kelly Rumson Bucknell University Alexandra I. Konczyk Sea Girt Hobart & William Smith Colleges Vanessa Penelope Lambrou Freehold California Polytechnic State University
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Violet Theoni Lambrou Freehold Skidmore College
Isa Alexandria Murphy Middletown Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Hailey L. Scarantino Lincroft University of Miami
Carolyn Litwin Colts Neck The University of Findlay
Angelica Joy Niedermeyer Manasquan Manhattan College
Grace Kathryn Shimkus Wall Township Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Abby Eileen Lonardo Atlantic Highlands University of Delaware
Anna Elizabeth O’Neill Manasquan Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Skye Redmond Loures Holmdel Lafayette College
Katherine Elizabeth Perrone Red Bank University of Oregon
Sarah Ann Maes Brielle The College of New Jersey
Aoife Lily Picadio Point Pleasant Beach Pepperdine University
Madison Hoyt Marques Freehold Rutgers University
Bailey Ryan Powers Matawan Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Adriana Trisha Masters Tinton Falls The University of Scranton
Sydney Dorothy Jacqueline Riepl Monmouth Beach University of California, Los Angeles
Catherine Ashley Wright Monmouth Beach The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alexa Rose Sadowski Hazlet Lafayette College
Caitlin Claudia Ziec Woodbridge Fairleigh Dickinson University
Emma Grace McEvoy Matawan Thomas Jefferson University Caroline R. Meany Colts Neck Boston College Ryen Elizabeth Miller Old Bridge James Madison University
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Shannon Elizabeth Smith Middletown Villanova University Priya R. Verma Rumson Dartmouth College Maggie Elizabeth Ward Colts Neck Baylor University Caitlin Elizabeth Wingertzahn Rumson College of William and Mary
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20 FOUNDERS AWARD The Founders Award serves to recognize the member or members of the Trinity Hall community whose commitment to the success of Trinity Hall mirrors the dedication of the Founders – Mairead and Sean Clifford and Victoria and Justin Gmelich. Each year, the faculty committee will nominate for this award and the selection will be made by the founders. “This year we have chosen unanimously and very rapidly to finally recognize someone who has never asked for recognition, who selflessly thought of Trinity Hall with nothing to gain, who fought side by side in the court with us. He’s helped arrange facilities and made every way as smooth as it could be. The fourth Trinity Hall Founders Award is presented to Mr. John Giunco.” 7
CLASS OF 2020
facts& numbers The Class of 2020 has been offered admission to over
$9 100
MILLION IN MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
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DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
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student-athletes have committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at the
NCAA LEVEL
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awards senior
VALEDICTORIAN The class valedictorian is the senior with the highest weighted cumulative grade point average earned during four years of high school work.
Caroline R. Meany
SALUTATORIAN The class salutatorian is the senior with the second highest weighted cumulative grade point average earned during four years of high school work.
Kelsey McKenna Cooper Sophia Marie Hegel
SCHOLAR ATHLETE This award is given to the senior with the highest cumulative grade point average who has excelled in a varsity sport while exhibiting outstanding school and community citizenship.
Colleen A. Kelly
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GRADUATE WITH DISTINCTION Trinity Hall seeks to recognize superior academic achievement in our graduating class. “Graduate with Distinction� is awarded to the top 20% of the class based on a weighted cumulative grade point average.
Liana Beatriz Bustillo
Hope Marie Caucino
Molly Caitlin Clifford
Kelsey McKenna Logan Elizabeth Cooper Dziadzio
Lauren Grace Ehnot
Maya Lydia Gardner
Sophia Marie Hegel
Colleen A. Kelly
Violet Theoni Lambrou
Madison Hoyt Marques
Caroline R. Meany
Sydney Dorothy Jacqueline Riepl
Alexa Rose Sadowski
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core value awards LEADERSHIP AWARD This award recognizes the student who, during her time at Trinity Hall, has empowered herself as well as her peers by consistently leading with confidence, humility, empathy, and integrity in both formal and informal ways through her influential words, deeds, and positive attitude. She pursues leadership as a method to better her environment, and seeks to lift others up in order to work towards common goals.
Patricia Frees
RESPECT AWARD This award recognizes the student who, during her time at Trinity Hall, has continuously demonstrated the utmost respect for her community through her sincere admiration of the diverse personalities and opinions of others, her mature and healthy self-worth, and her genuine regard for the talents and gifts God has granted all of us. She unfailingly identifies the dignity of others and honors the community with her attention on each individual.
Mary Kate Cashman
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A continued focus on the core values of leadership, respect, perseverance, and faith are celebrated in the senior awards, as one student is selected as the recipient that best represents each value. All students nominated for these awards are diligently committed to their own academic achievement while going above and beyond to serve as role models for the Trinity Hall student body.
PERSEVERANCE AWARD This award recognizes the student who, during her time at Trinity Hall, has faced challenges and, through her remarkable resilience, unwavering courage, and eternal optimism, has persevered to overcome those obstacles and achieve success. She realizes that success is earned through hard work and demonstrates the confidence in herself to continue even the most seemingly difficult tasks.
Juvene Cierra Jean
FAITH AWARD This award recognizes the student who, during her time at Trinity Hall, has borne witness to her faith through her compassionate mercy, humble generosity, and morally just actions that have subtly but powerfully served as a daily reminder to all of us of our own commitment to be people of faith. Her choices reflect her confidence in a power beyond the reach of proof and her actions are influenced by her devotion to being a member of a faithful community.
Shantal Sarai Ferrer Escamilla
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2020
COLLEGIATE
madeline condon
lauren ehnot
Bryant University | Swimming Division I
Cornell University | Sailing Division I
annabelle kaeli
adriana masters
Bucknell University | Rowing Division I 14
The University of Scranton Swimming Division III
STUDENT ATHLETES
isa murphy
priya verma
Hobart & William Smith Colleges Tennis Division III
Dartmouth College | Squash Division I
caitlin wingertzahn
katie wright
College of William and Mary Basketball Division I
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Swimming Division I
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Trinity Hall has given us all the opportunity to lead
EXTRAORDINARY LIVES, and it is our responsibility to give others the ability to do the same.
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VALE D ICTORY ADDRE S S Caroline Meany, Class of 2020 Valedictorian, is a member of the Boston College Class of 2024. Here are a few excerpts from her valedictory address: I am truly honored to be speaking on behalf of these amazing women. Women who I have had the privilege of spending the past four years with. Obviously, this is not the ending any of us wanted, or could have imagined. But, just because we may have missed out on our last few months here at Trinity Hall, does not mean we haven’t left our own legacy or exceeded expectations. As freshmen, we were the biggest class and many wondered if we would be able to form the same sense of sisterhood as the three classes above us had. Many also questioned our leadership, and whether or not when the time came we would be able to lead our fellow sisters. We were held to a high standard, but I think we surpassed that standard. We have truly grown as leaders. And there are a few moments that specifically come to mind when I realize just how much we have grown. When I think of these moments and reflect on how we have handled ourselves throughout a challenging senior year, I see just how well we rose to the occasion. Through a global pandemic, we continued to work hard and encourage our fellow classmates to do the same despite the ambiguity of the situation. The women of the class of 2020 are responsible for the creation of numerous clubs and the continuation of many traditions. We have led teams to state championships, won Basie Awards, and helped win the ShopRite Cup. We have played an integral role in establishing the distinguished reputation Trinity Hall has today. We became the leaders we always knew we could be, and the best part is that we did so together. All 65 of us formed an incredibly strong sisterhood. Throughout our time here at Trinity, not only did we work together, but we constantly learned from one another. As I was writing this speech, I wondered how we could maintain the amazing connections we have formed, especially in a world that is, for lack of a better word, “a mess.” During our four years at Trinity Hall, we have been given opportunities that most young people do not have. We have been given the opportunity to look at the world from different perspectives, challenge ourselves, and question our beliefs. And so I realized the best way we could remain connected is by creating these same opportunities for the next generation, no matter what they look like, who they like, or where they come from.
Not only will this common goal help us to maintain the strong sisterhood we have created over the past four years, but it will also allow us to give back and create a much better world, a world that Trinity Hall taught us is possible. Many of you probably know that I love quotes, so I’m going to leave you with a quote that I think is very fitting for the message I have just shared: “When one woman, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, she has no right to keep it to herself. Jacques Yves Cousteau.” Trinity Hall has given us all the opportunity to lead extraordinary lives, and it is our responsibility to give others the ability to do the same.
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Commencement Justin Gmelich, Trinity Hall co-founder, board member, and parent, addressed the Class of 2020. Here are a few excerpts from his commencement address: I am so thrilled for us to be able to meet here today in person. It was not easy to get here; we refused to accept a virtual version and we are happy to recognize the culmination of these girls’ time at Trinity Hall.
ADDRESS
Notably, this is our last founding class. Remember, when we started Trinity Hall, we started with just a freshman class. So the ladies here today matriculated as freshmen and we had our first complete school. The Class of 2020 is comprised of 65 strong, independent women, and they have done an incredible job. Let’s reflect on what you have seen directly or tangentially in your roughly 18 years of life: Your birthdates bracketed the horrific 9/11 event, and tragedy was around you right from the start. Not an easy beginning to say the least but thank God for our families who carried us through it. When you were about 10 years old, the Jersey shore and the eastern seaboard encountered superstorm Sandy – the second worst hurricane in US history. I am sure many of you were displaced from your homes, endured black outs, and learned to live on generators. And yet again your family circled the wagons keeping you safe. Fast forward to the spring of 2020; a global pandemic and the largest social justice movement in 50 years happened concurrently, in the last semester of your high school career. Forcing you and us to table a normal last semester of high school. And like every other time in your life, your parents and family have been there to help. Life has already thrown the Class of 2020 a lot of curves. You have persevered both individually and as a group. Take confidence in your ability to face adversity. It’s been around you from the start. I took the liberty of asking my daughters about the class of 2020 and my second-oldest described it pretty well: “You know dad, they have their cliques just like every other high school, but they all really respect and get along with each other. Kind of like the Olympic rings.” I thought that was pretty cool - each group distinct, overlapping but inextricably linked. The Class of 2020 has accomplished many things, like starting the ice hockey program and the gymnastics team. You excelled on the courts, on the stage and on the fields. Our school won the illustrious ShopRite cup last year, given to a high school that scores the most cumulative points which are earned by the performance of our athletic teams. It is simply unheard of that a school in existence only six years could win this coveted award. I am pleased to announce that Trinity Hall has won it again this year. Back-to-back cups. Hard to argue with success.
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The Class of 2020 is also adventurous. About five percent of our girls are heading to my home state, California, for college. They have taken more risk in their college selections than preceding classes by picking schools all over the country. Simply put, this class is comfortable with being uncomfortable. You have started numerous clubs and organizations, and after chatting with some of the seniors, I have determined my personal favorite is the A.C.E. organization, which stands for acceptance, compassion, and empathy. Empathy - the E in the A.C.E. acronym - is a relatively new word in the English language. It was introduced just over 100 years ago while its analog sympathy has been around since the 1500s. I find it shocking that one of the most important words in society today is so ‘new.’ Perhaps it is telling. Many pundits have reflected on the empathy gap in the United States. And I think they are right. We as a society have the inability or lack of willingness to put ourselves in other’s shoes. We have grown intolerant. We can do better. I worked on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs for over two decades. I currently work at King Street which is a money manager. In both of these roles, the use of information is vital. Data is critical. I am an early riser. I typically get up around 4:45 a.m. and spend three hours reading
news, current events, economic data, research reports, op-eds and the like. I tend to read a wide range of material. Every day I read articles from the far right of the media spectrum to the far left. Why do I do this? I fear that society is narrowly focused on seeking information that reinforces their previously held views. In essence, many are in an echo chamber. Unfortunately the message received from traditional media and social media is literally a curated view. As a society, we need to work harder to see other people’s positions. If you get your news from only one TV channel, tune into a different one. If you are getting tweets from only a list of people that share similar views, then subscribe to some new sources of information. You just might learn something from your efforts. I will not advocate a position here today on politics, but I will advocate that the new alumnae of Trinity Hall seek a higher standard for themselves around empathy and perspective around tolerance. Finally, since the entire class will be 18 or older by November, I will advocate that you vote. Make it a priority. Raise your voice.
To the Class of 2020, the Class of Champions, the Class of Scholars, to the Class of the “Olympic Rings” I will say to you the Olympic motto - citius, altius, forties. Faster, higher, stronger.
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closing prayer Read by Class of 2020 co-salutatorian Sophia Marie Hegel: Dear God, As we anticipate new experiences that will shape each of us, we know that we will be faced with decisions that will demand our attention and deliberation. May we make these decisions guided by your love and image. We pray... May the power of the father lead and protect us. As we are exposed to ideas inside and outside of the classroom, we know that we may feel overwhelmed or shocked. However, may we take comfort in the truth that it is in uncomfortable times when we will grow the most. We pray... May the wisdom of the son teach and enlighten us. As we meet new people who have had distinct experiences and view the world in a different way, we look to you to open our hearts and minds so that we will gain the most out of our college environment. We pray...May the love of the Holy Spirit renew and guide us. Finally, as we move beyond the walls of Trinity Hall, may we always rely on the bonds we have made with the Trinity Hall community, especially those that unite us as the Class of 2020. We pray...May the blessing of the father, son, and Holy Spirit be with us now and forever. Amen.
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Remember your sisters are always here and Trinity Hall is always home. Love, Doc Wheels
go change the world! - Mrs. O’Kelly
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let go. let God. - Mrs. Sciarrillo
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101 Corregidor Road | Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 | www.trinityhallnj.org
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