Mother Seton Graduates Class, Awards Honors

Mother Seton Regional High School, held commencement exercises on May 30, 2013.  Principal, Sister Regina Martin, awarded diplomas to the graduating class.  The class of 2013 has achieved in excess of 13 million dollars in academic scholarships and awards.

In her congratulatory remarks, Sister Regina said, “None of us could have imagined what God had in store for any of you when you made the decision to come to Mother Seton four years ago. Each of you experienced Mother Seton in your own unique way. The wonderful story about today is that it is a commencement - a day of celebration but also a day of commencement, of beginning, of beginning anew. You have a wonderful opportunity to set new goals and to build on the old ones. Accept the challenge. There are three aspects to this challenge:  academics, of course, but also values and a deep abiding faith in God, in yourself and in your mission. Live the values through your clarity of purpose, your service, your faith, your leadership.  Where will you go from here?  For you, the choice is clear.  Today, you leave these halls of truth and knowledge and head for new beginnings at colleges and universities. Use your opportunities well.”

The Principal’s Award for academic excellence during the past four years was awarded to Valedictorian, Jessica Leszczyk and Salutatorian, Zenalenia Sockwell. The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for exemplary witness to Christian values during the past four years was awarded to Mary McDermott.

Leszczyk, the valedictorian, shared these thoughts with her classmates:

“When someone accomplishes something great, he or she receives recognition – an academy award, a Nobel Prize, or a big golden trophy.  The diploma that each of us will receive today recognizes all the effort and hard work we have put in these past four years. We started out as timid freshmen, and now we are confident seniors.  All of our accomplishments these past few years have brought us to this one moment.  We have worked tirelessly for this, and each one of us should be proud: as should our parents, grandparents, teachers and friends. They have supported and aided us in getting to where we are today.  There is a place in California, which I am sure most of you are aware of, where the stars have their names on the sidewalk – the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Your mark on this world may not be as well known, but it will be as permanent.  The journey continues today as you walk up and receive your diploma.  Now as for what your mark will be?  That’s up to you.”

Salutatorian Sockwell said,  “Our high school careers are coming to a close.  This marks the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one:  college.  There is a famous quote by the ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius – that goes 'Study the past if you would define the future.'  We are about to embark on a new journey in life, but the only way we can define our futures to fit our desires, dreams and goals, is to study our pasts – where we’ve been, what we’ve done, who we’ve met, and what we would change. Coming to find ourselves starts inside of us:  it’s what we value, the decisions we make, who we surround ourselves with, how we spend our free time, and what we share with others.  I’d like to thank all of those, especially those present who have helped us along the way within the past four years to bring us to where we are today.  Thank-you: to the members of the administration, who have afforded us endless opportunities to excel and to thrive.  Thank-you: to our wonderful teachers and staff, who have somehow taken the awkward freshmen we were in 2009 and transformed us into outstanding graduates we’ve become today.  Thank-you: to the parents, family and friends of every graduate here today, especially to my own. To the class of 2013, I want you to all go forward now with the confidence and dignity that you’ve built for yourselves here at Mother Seton.”

Janeclare McCann, Class President, invited the members of the class of 2013 to join her in turning their tassels as a symbol of their graduation from Mother Seton Regional High School.

Departmental Awards for academic excellence are awarded to the following:

Art                                                Janeclare McCann, Cranford

AP Calculus                             Jessica Leszczyk, Fords

AP English                              Ann Mary Hanna, Union

AP French                               Zenalenia Sockwell, Newark, Carla Souza, Rahway

Physical Education                   Julianne Cornell, Janeclare McCann

Religious Studies                    Ann Mary Hanna, Union

AP Biology                              Danielle Pfleghaar, Colonia

AP Chemistry                          Simrann Rai, Edison

AP Physics                              Jessica Leszczyk, Fords

AP Social Studies                    Caitlynn Fiol, Hannah Clark

AP Spanish                            Jessica Leszczyk, Tiffany Soares 

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students

Caitilin Conroy, Scotch Plains   Ann Mary Hanna, Union   Jessica Leszczyk, Fords

Danielle Pfleghaar, Colonia   Zenalenia Sockwell, Newark

National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar

Danielle Pfleghaar, Colonia                                                                                                

 Seton Distinguished Scholars

Judith Alba, Union                                      Jessica Leszczyk, Fords

Hannah Clark, Scotch Plains                        Kieran O’Connell, South Amboy

Caitilin Conroy, Scotch Plains                      Danielle Pfleghaar, Colonia           

Kayley Erla, Parlin                                      Tiffany Soares, East Brunswick   

Nicole Fruehwirth, Perth Amboy                   Zenalenia Sockwell, Newark

Ann Mary Hanna, Union                              Jeannide Vincent, Irvington