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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.

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