HAMMONTON—On June 6 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish at St. Joseph Church on French Street, St. Joseph High School had its 74th commencement ceremony, where 85 seniors graduated. The close-knit group of seniors wrapped up their four years of high school with a lifetime of memories and a diploma indicating that each will be entering the next stage of their schooling careers.
After the class of 2013 proceeded to their seats in the church’s pews, the ceremony began with opening remarks from the Rev. Edward Friel and the singing of the National Anthem. St. Joseph High School Salutatorian Kimberly Sirolli was introduced by Dean of Students Robert McCluskey.
Sirolli, who will attend Seton Hall in the fall, will major in Occupational Therapy and in pursuit of a master’s degree afterwards. The beginning portion of Sirolli’s speech was about the path ahead, and where each of the graduating class could be in the future.
“We hope to achieve all that we are set out to achieve. The grass is our future and we are in charge of its cultivation. The path of personal success isn’t a solitary one. Every individual has the opportunity to create the environment they choose. We will determine how good or bad the circumstances are that we find ourselves in,” Sirolli said.
The second half of the speech involved the small-knit group that entails a small catholic high school, such as St. Joseph and making the school proud, now and in the future.
“St. Joe is a small, close-knit supportive school. There are 85 students in our graduating class, meaning that we have seen each other at least once, and know most of our names and have gotten to grow as a group. Other schools have graduating classes that are 300-plus and didn’t have the same intimate experience that St. Joseph has given us. I think looking at my fellow graduates that we have made the school proud, and will continue to as alumni of St. Joseph High School,” Sirolli said.
St. Joseph High School Valedictorian was Alexandra Otto. Otto will be attending Nova Southeastern University in the fall, and was involved in nearly every activity at the high school, according to Principal Lynn Domenico.
Otto opened her speech with a statistic that the number-one fear among Americans is public speaking. She said that there is no need to be scared when we don’t have limitations. Though the fears will persist after high school and into college, change is inevitable and failure leads to success. Her well-written and spoken speech left a great impression on her fellow classmates and everyone that was in attendance.
The speech continued with the notion of being a close-knit graduating group and that, though this is a farewell for now, the class will come together again in the future.
“Thank you to the class of 2013 for the best four years of my life. You have made every day waking up at 6 a.m. worthwhile. Goodbyes aren’t forever, goodbyes aren’t the end and it only means I will miss you until we meet again. So, to the class of 2013 I will not say goodbye, but I will say I will miss you until I see you again. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat,” Otto said.
School president Nicholas Regina delivered a short speech to the congregation. Regina introduced the guest speaker, but said some words as he quoted the famous author Ralph Waldo Emerson.
“One of the things Emerson said I think has a lot to do about tonight and the class of 2013. Emerson said: don’t go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and make your own trail. If you think about that it is rather profound, and it is what we want you to do,” Regina said.
The guest speaker for the graduation ceremony was Kathryn Campanella Lambert, who is a 1978 graduate of St. Joseph High School. Campanella-Lambert graduated from Notre Dame, received her master’s degree at Villanova and obtained her medical degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. At UMDNJ she completed her residency in family medicine, and is currently the school’s assistant dean for student affairs. She has been recognized for her work in the medical field by numerous outlets, and has a family practice in Stratford.
Campanella-Lambert was born and raised in Hammonton, and had some encouraging words for the graduating class at St. Joseph.
“Wherever you go, treat people as you would want to be treated and talked to people as you would want people to talk to you. Do small things with great love every day. As you graduate, a path to a new adventure is before you. Choose a field where every day you will feel happy doing what you do and you will find happiness in what you do. Balance is especially important. I say work hard, but make time for yourselves as well,” Campanella-Lambert said.
Principal Lynn Domenico awarded two seniors with the St. Joseph Award of Honor. It is given to a male and female, who have lived the mission of St. Joseph High School and it was awarded for the 14th time. The award recipient embodies catholic values, excellence in scholarship, a love for learning and displays great community service.
The winners of this distinguished award were Alexandra Nowak and Joachim Jon Cedona.
After the awarding of the diplomas to the 85 qualified seniors and the singing of the alma mater, Domenico expressed her gratitude for the departing senior class. She stated that this particular class was special to her.
“I am going to miss this class much more than I have missed any other class, which is something special. In this class, I have had 12 students that have been with me for 12 years. I want to say for the final time to this class to do something to make you proud of yourself, and something to make St. Joseph High School proud of you,” she said.
Mike Vaccarella was one of the 85 graduating seniors. The Hammonton resident was relieved that he graduated, and at the same time a bittersweet moment for him. Vaccarella will attend Cabrini College in the fall, as he will major in business and possibly minor in criminal justice. His goal is to join the police academy.
Vaccarella will savor these past four years for the rest of his life, and all the friends he made during that time.
“These four years were very special. I have friends from first grade that I am still close with. I am thankful that I am close with them still, and I love them. I will remember the football teams, since it was the high point of my high school career. Every weekend I would hang out with a different group and it wasn’t just the same kids all the time,” Vaccarella said.
The St. Joseph High School class of 2013 leave the school with a lifetime of memories and learning experiences. Every member of the class will embark on the next journey of their lives, taking different paths to obtain an ultimate goal.
The 2013 St Joseph High School Graduates: Becker, Thomas J; Boffo, Rebekah Catherine; Borrelli, Maria; Brady, Michael L; Brida, Nellie; Burkett, Dorothy; Cade, Charles; Capaccio, Sandra Ann; Cendana, Joachim; Cerone, Anthony Aldo; Chillari, Kaitlyn; Clopp, Brett Underwood; Conway, Angelica; Corwonski, Alex Andrew; Curcio, John; Dawalt, Charles; Deskovic, Christine; Doherty, Erin; Esher, Alexandria Maria; Fagan, Casey; Fagan, Colin; Freiling, Ronald; Gallagher, Brandon Thomas; Giagunto, Anthony Joseph; Goldsmith, Kevin Joseph; Gramaglia, Joseph Christopher; Grasso, Nicholas; Hernandez, Brianna M.; Horan, Zachary; Jacoby, Taylor Leigh; Klemovitch, Dustin; Kraus, Michael; Kruc, Christopher C; Kutner, Jillian Rose; Lima, Yarimar Elizabeth; Lucas, Brianna Maire; Lucas, Roy; Maione, Silvio; Maloney, Andrew; Mangano, Regina Marie; Martucci, Gabrielle Rose; Mc Gough, Kathryn; Mc Neill, Daniel; Meyerhoff, Alec; Morganti, Francesca Raye; Moritz, Jefferey; Mulligan, Danielle; Nolan, Alyssa Nicole; Nowak, Alexandra; Ordille, Luke; Otto, Alexandra; Pacheco, Anthony John; Palmer, Miranda; Papaycik, Shane Joseph; Pease, Miles Joshua; Polk III, Charles C; Price, Kelly L; Pullyblank, Casey Donald; Rauch, Kaelyn; Reeves, Evan Michael; Reilly, Tyler; Ruberton, Briana Marie; Sherrod, Julian; Sirolli, Kimberly; Skorupski, Kirsten Francis; Smith, Gina Maria; Somogy, Michael John; Sparaco, Anne; Suski III, Thomas; Teran III, Galo A; Teran, Juan A; Thompson, Robert; Todoro, John; Tucker, Abigail J; Turchi, Joseph; Turnier, Nicholas B; Umosella, Gabrielle; Vaccarella, Michael; Wade, Dominick; Wagner, Joshua Michael; Wames, Laura Shannon; Weiss, Carly; Weiss, Cori M; White, Tykeemah and Zito, Alexa Ann.