Schools hope graduates ‘continue to live the values they practiced here’
Top photo caption: Christopher Simone, SJV’s Air Force JROTC Corps Commander, earned a prestigious National NROTC Scholarship to Villanova University. The highly competitive scholarship covers full tuition and fees for future military leaders. St. John Vianney High School photo
By EmmaLee Italia,Contributing Editor
Among the most moving aspects of high school graduations is to see the students’ joyful anticipation of what lies ahead. It is an opportunity to witness their transformation as they prepare to use all that they’ve gained in the last four years for the road ahead.
And it is a time for families, faith and school leaders and all well wishers to consider the many ways that the graduates’ Catholic faith and moral development – their hearts for humanity – can effect a change for good in every community and institution that they encounter.
Careers dedicated to helping others a fixture among Donovan grads
A wide range of paths await graduates of Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, including higher education, military service, healthcare education, business, engineering, the sciences and public service.
“While their destinations may differ, they share a common foundation formed through Catholic education,” school officials said. “They leave Donovan Catholic with an understanding that success is not measured solely by personal achievement, but by how they use their gifts in service to others.”
Many graduates are “pursuing careers dedicated to helping people, improving communities, and addressing the needs of society,” school representatives continued. Others will serve their country, contribute to their local communities, or continue to deepen their faith through parish involvement and service, they noted.
“Our hope for this class is simple: that they continue to live the values they practiced here,” the school officials emphasized. “If their time at Donovan Catholic has taught them anything, it is that faith is not something we keep to ourselves. It is something we live through our actions, our relationships, and our commitment to serving others.”
St. John Vianney grads ready to pursue careers, build faith concurrently
“As they look ahead, the graduates of the Class of 2026 are prepared to carry forward the values instilled at St. John Vianney by serving others, pursuing excellence, and deepening their relationship with God,” school representatives said.
The future paths of the Holmdel school graduates “reflect both ambition and purpose,” they continued, noting career pursuits that include nursing, physical therapy, audiology, business and engineering.
One example of this dynamic is student Christopher Simone, an Air Force JROTC Corps Commander who earned a prestigious National NROTC Scholarship to Villanova University. Simone will go on to serve as a Navy officer, exemplifying discipline, leadership and commitment to country.
“This class also carries forward a strong connection to faith and community,” said school officials. “With 15 graduates following in the footsteps of parents who are SJV alumni, the legacy of Catholic education remains deeply rooted. That legacy is also reflected in the graduates whose parents are part of the SJV faculty and staff.”
Their faith remains a strong footing as well; consistent participation in Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, and service initiatives “has formed a foundation that will guide their decisions and vocations. The Class of 2026 is poised to live out the Gospel by serving others, leading with integrity and reflecting God in all they do.”
Stuart graduates taking Sacred Heart goals into next chapter
At Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, five separate goals are embodied by students throughout their time there; upon graduation, five seniors are awarded for their pursuit of these goals.
Nana Akua Ken-Kwofie received the award for Goal I: Personal and Active faith in God. “Goal I shapes every part of Nana’s life, from her quiet integrity in the classroom to her courage to choose what is right, even under pressure,” said school officials, pointing to her service as reader and music minister at Mass and leading her church youth group.
Goal II: A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values was awarded to Annika Alden-Siegel, “a wide-ranging scholar with boundless curiosity [who] pursues knowledge for its own sake,” officials said. “Her genuine love of learning, paired with her kindness, humility, and creative spirit, makes her a living testament to the life of the mind.”
Abigail Chirik earned the Goal III award for A Social Awareness that Impels to Action because she “lives out the Sacred Heart conviction that we are called to serve the common good,” representatives said, noting Chirik’s leadership of Operation Smile and participation in a trip to India to witness life-changing surgeries, as well as her summer trips to the Appalachia Service Project.
The Goal IV: Building of Community as a Christian Value Award was earned by Ziang Vivian Wang. As International Affinity Group Leader and Tartan Tour Guide who gives tours bilingually and mentoring younger students in dance, “she works to ensure that everyone – especially those far from home – feels seen and supported,” said officials.
Daniela Mayen-Veliz received the award for Goal V: Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom because of her remarkable transformation in spite of many life changes. “Guided by a renewed faith in God,” school representatives said, “Dani discovered that … the most significant growth comes from choosing to forgive and to love.”
