Enabling the Gift of Education
Hudson Catholic Scholarship Program
Expands & Grows
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The Hudson Catholic Scholarship Program has experienced robust growth over the past year, adding 19 new scholarship awards, having taken in $128,000 in the 2021-2022 school year. As a result, the program now numbers 30 awards valued at $78,300, positioned to aid 37 students.
Among the awards, there are 12 privately funded awards, e.g., The Frank & Mary Pecklers Memorial Scholarship, The Jack Weisberg Scholars Awards (for top performing students in the Dual Enrollment Program); the Tommy Shine (’79) Foundation Scholarship Award, and the (Gerard '72) McGraw Award in Memory of John Higgins ’77.
Eight awards are group-funded, e.g., The Board of Consultors Scholarship, The ALP Recipients Award, The Alumni Officers Scholarship, and the Class of 1994 Memorial Award.
Ten awards are open to contributions across the entire Hudson Catholic community. These are presented on our website at hudsoncatholic.org/hcsp, where they can be selected for adding a gift to the accumulated award funds. Among them are the Detective Mark Dinardo ’89 Police Memorial Scholarship, the Christian Brothers de La Salle Award, The Debra-Lucas McGady Memorial Scholarship, The Captain Mark Lee ’77 Firefighters Memorial Award, and The Medical Arts Scholarship.
Add to these the long-running Alumni Leadership Program awards offered by the Alumni Association, and our school is in position to offer significant assistance to students who are academically qualified and in need of financial assistance.
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Planned Media Arts Program
to enable credit accrual with NJCU
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Mr. William Venezia ’70, Director of Instruction, and Mr. Terence Matthews, President-Principal, have announced an agreement with New Jersey City University (NJCU) to form a new college level Media Arts Program, yet another tangible offering of the financial value that a Hudson Catholic education provides for our students and families.
Beginning in September, this two-year program will allow students to earn 18 credits toward a Media Arts Certificate that will be equivalent to a Minor at NJCU. The program classes will be taking place outside school hours, and NJCU will be transporting our students.
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Beginning a new, regular feature from which our President-Principal Terry Matthews will be delivering timely and topical messages, news and information about Hudson Catholic. |
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I plan to present a President-Principal’s message in each edition of BTL. It is my hope to keep you up to date with some of the wonderful things going on at Hudson Catholic, and highlight the incredible accomplishments of our student body. I am a firm believer that God gives our students many talents and we need to provide opportunities to help them discover, nurture and showcase them.
You will be happy to know that as of today, we have 137 Freshmen enrolled for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. We graduate 115 Seniors, so this is especially good news. Our Dual Enrollment Program with St. Peter’s University has been a rousing success and, on May 26th, the second cohort of students will graduate with 60 college credits and an SPU Associate’s Degree. We have finalized a new 18 credit Media Arts Certificate program with New Jersey City University that will launch in the Fall. Finally, we are engaged with Stevens institute of Technology to provide a Summer ACES program to select high-achieving students. As a college preparatory high school, it’s imperative that we create healthy relationships with our area colleges and universities.
Our inaugural Esports program saw two of our teams, Overwatch and Smash Ultimate 3, qualify for the East Coast Championship Tournament, with Smash advancing to the second Round of 32. When we researched Esports prior to launching the program this year, I was amazed to learn that 43% of student participants are not involved in any other high school activities. Esports competition is rooted in technology and provides a natural pathway for students pursuing college majors in the STEM category. Esports is officially recognized as a sanctioned high school sport through a partnership with the National Federation of High Schools and state associations. And there are Esports scholarship opportunities on the collegiate level.
These are just a few of many innovative things going on at your alma mater!
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The Joys of Scanning a Database
A/K/A
The Hudson Catholic All Name Team
And Other Musings
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What’s in a name? Apparently, everything, when you are a Hudson Catholic Hawk and your name is Matthew Hawk ’93, or Jim Hawkes ’80, or Allen Hudson ‘94! Actor Bruce Willis did not attend Hudson Catholic but nevertheless is widely recognized as THE Hudson Hawk - in the 1991 American action comedy film of that title. Musing along, what if the iconic 1941 film that initiated the Film Noir genre, had been titled The Maltese Hawk? And would Jumping Joe Bonner have concluded that Ali Youssef’s (’79) days spent at McGinley Square were foreshadowing of his eventual relocation to Hudson, FLA? Will we now have more Hawks flocking there? Is this where Hawks go to retire?
While the Rolling Stones never made an appearance at Hudson Catholic, we did have Michael Jaeger ’70 and Michael Jaeger ’85, but not Mick Jagger, appear daily in the hallowed halls.
Everybody’s favorite combo: Anthony Pizza ’94 and George Brew ’00, or Anthony Aleman ’07.
Long before hugely successful basketball coach Nick Mariniello arrived at Hudson, Nick Marinelli ’90 sat in our classrooms. Check the name on the Gym basketball court to see whose name appears there. And do they get each other’s mail?
Can anyone find Godfree San Diego ’97 on the map?
Is Samantha Stevens ’14 a Bewitched doppleganger?
Is Douglas Brain ‘07 of the outfit?
Bill Mykytka ’77. Robert Mykytka ’80. Mykyta Rozumnyi ’20. You say Mykytka, I say….
Of course, Mike Bull ’96 would end up working at the American Stock Exchange!
Seen at Satriale’s……..Chris Soprano ’93.
Famous name-a-likes: John Kennedy ’98 (somewhat ironically, has served in the Secret Service) -- call him ‘Prez’; and Alex Webster ’69, a giant in life.
Has Cupid Causing ’99 met Valentine Miele ’82?
Move over Virginia, according to Romeo Romero ’00 and Lovin’ Williams ’18, Hudson Catholic is for lovers!
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We previously shared some exploits of Senior Naomi Fernandez who is headed to Stevens Institute of Technology. On a trip in early May to Irvine, CA to attend the Engineer Girl Convention, sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering, Naomi had the privilege of meeting SpaceX CEO Gwynne Shotwell. |
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The Chowanec Legacy, on campus, son Craig '25 and papa Walter '90.
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Taking time out of a recent Softball tussle, the Girls Varsity posed for this cheerful team pic at Washington Park. |
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Back to business in-person. The Student/Partner Alliance mentors, including some Hawk alums, invaded campus in late March for some quality one-on-one time, after having no physical meetings for the duration of the pandemic. |
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Hawk Authors are Publishing
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble got 'em)
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Jack Curry ’82
Swing and a Hit with Paul O’Neill
From Jack: “The day that your book arrives on your doorstep is the equivalent of Christmas morning for a five year-old. So, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. In all seriousness, its very rewarding to have Swing and a Hit with Paul O’Neill (Blackstone Publishing) in my hands today." Feel free to pre-order it now so it can be in your hands by May 24th.
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Joe Colicchio '70
All Strings Attached
Joe's fourth novel will be released on June 7th, on most book-selling platforms, in paperback and e-book formats. From award-winner author Mary Jane Nealon: “Colicchio is exquisitely talented at giving us characters who are real, in voice, in description, and in their quirky behaviors”; and Kirkus Review: "Colicchio is a natural storyteller....an engagingly heartfelt pair of coming-of age stories.” Readings and other book-related events are being planned. Joe can be reached at jcolicchio@hccc.edu or on his Joseph Colicchio Facebook Page.
Joe earned a B.A. in English at Rutgers University and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Goddard College, then moved to Cambridge MA near Harvard Square. “Since I had some literary ambition, and didn’t want to be trapped in a mundane job at a young age, I wanted to be somewhere new where I would be surrounded by young, talented, ambitious writers and artists, to see how I matched up."
Joe returned to Jersey City in the early-80s, having published numerous short stories and with a novella As Told by Monk under his belt, along the way gathering awards and recognition in literary circles. He devoted himself to a career as an educator until retiring as an Associate Professor of English from Hudson County Community College in 2018.
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Vic Cabrera '73
Mr. & Mrs. Destiny Go To The Jersey Shore
Vic is a self-published author of three books, with this absurdist romp about love, matchmaking, and the power of fate planned for publication shortly. His titles can be found on Amazon or at cabreraproductions.com, a family business including his wife Peg’s work as a graphic artist.
Vic’s works are replete with comedic anecdotes. My Cuban Story is biographical, based in Hoboken (Vic’s father worked at the Clam Broth House of local lore), which might be a good read for those interested in a version of Hoboken very different than today but not too long ago. Pipo’s Flag is 90% fictional/ 10% character study based on Vic’s father’s life. Summer Ball is another fictional work about three teenage girls coming of age on a travel softball team.
Excerpts of an OnlineBookClub.org review of "Summer Ball": “…..a fictional story that puts friendship and family and the power they hold as its core message…. an uplifting plot about three teenage girls falling in love and sharing beautiful moments together.….a beautiful and enjoyable story that depicts the impact of true and lasting friendship and the significance of family time. It is a light and quick read… four out of five stars.”
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Is there a Printer in the House?
Seeking a Partner to help Advance
Hudson Catholic
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Every now and then, as we try to source a new service provider, we look to include our alumni and friends in the process
We have attempted to go digital with many of our communications, but there are still occasions that call for delivering printed material into the hands of our alumni, friends, and donors. The Annual Report, re-instituted for the 2020-21 school year, is one such example.
And because we must always be mindful of the expenses we incur to produce our printed materials for old-fashioned snail-mailing, we are seeking an alumni-owned or connected business that would consider working with us to deliver print / production services at a favorable cost, or as an ‘in-kind’ donation of goods or services to Hudson Catholic.
Of course, digital versions of our report will be made available on the school website at hudsoncatholic.org/annual-report, for viewing by all.
If you have a printing business or someone close to you who does, and you or they might be willing to work with us, please drop a note to Advancement@hudsoncatholic.org and we’ll be in touch to discuss the potential to work together.
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The Blauvelt Legacy
Not an action thriller from Hollywood, but a Hawk Legacy of a different sort. From Alain Blauvelt Finnerty, alumni parent: son David Finnerty ’84, and his uncles, the brothers Blauvelt - Robert ‘71, Thomas ’72, and the late Joseph '76.
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Where is this?
Let’s see how well you know the Hudson Catholic Campus.
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Spotlight on Young Alumni |
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Elite Peacock. Andrea Lombeyda ’18 was honored by St. Peter’s University as this year’s Female Scholar-Athlete award winner at the University’s recent Athletic Banquet. Andrea thanked St. Peter’s for the friendships she created, and the hard work and dedication she was pushed to make throughout her four years on campus. Andrea has a Criminal Justice major and is currently an Audit Intern at Cullari Carrico, a CPA firm in Fairfield. Did someone say Forensic Accounting?
Healthy Resume. Julia Franchesca Escarez ’21, Class Valedictorian holding an Associates Degree from St. Peter’s University via the HC-SPU Dual Enrollment Program, is enrolled at Stony Brook University pursuing a degree in Health Sciences. At Hudson, she was National Honor Society Prez, and participated in the LaSallian Youth Corps (community service), the Math Club, Student Panel for the Middle States Association visit, and Varsity Soccer and Bowling.
Ivy Leaguer. Isabel Vintimilla ’19 is not only majoring in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, she has become an undergraduate student researcher there.
Future Money Man. Jordan Johnston ’19, former Varsity Basketball Team Captain, is a Junior Finance Major at St. Peter’s University.
Future YES Man? Reggienal Gonzales ’18, a Senior Journalism Major at Montclair State University, is interning at the Somerset Patriots, a New York Yankees Double-A Baseball affiliate. We know another guy with a journalism and NY Yankees background, but his name escapes us at the moment.
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L.to R. Legendary Hawk Football Coach Ed Agresta; All State Linebacker Rich Zanetich ’77 (walked on at Duke and earned a full scholarship). Ed Roselle ’80; Asst. Coach Jerry Caputo (on Agresta's staff), and Hockey Coach Ken Such ’80. The place: Piccolo’s in Hoboken. When: recently. Outcome: lots of laughs.
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Former Faculty Sister Eleanor Ustach wrote about the 1998 photo of Pace, McGady, Gentile, Eigo, Schlachter, and Lenczuk: “What a great picture of the Legends of the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter! They were the best and a joy to work with.”
Late breaking: Matt Zagacki ‘93 wrote: “I noticed it said Mr. Pace was at HC from 1993, However I had him as a teacher before that so I believe the dates may be incorrect.” In response to Matt’s rather diplomatic call-out of our mistake, our resident fact-checker went back into the archives and identified the earliest photo of Mr. Pace in the ’91 Hawk Yearbook, inferring that his tenure at McGinley Square commenced earlier, we think in September 1990, not 1993. As usual, we regret the error, and may regret it again, as Matt has sworn faithfully to peruse his '88 - '90 Yearbooks and, if necessary, redeux the korrection!
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“I thank the Lord for the people I have found”
- Elton John, in Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters
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Zelle is Here!
We now have a Zelle account, to enable you to make direct payments between you and Hudson Catholic. We can be reached at gifts@hudsoncatholic.org
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The Office of Advancement ~ Gary, Jill & Jenine
201-332-5970 x118
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Please check out our long-running and recently added sponsors |
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Chris Johnston, HC Director - Technologies & Football Coach |
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