Alumnae Reunions & Events
St. Joseph Hill Academy Alumni Relations provides leadership, services and benefits to alumni from the Elementary School and the High School. Its mission is to keep the alumni well informed about the Academy and engage them in activities geared toward supporting the school community. With their time, talent and treasure, we can ensure that St. Joseph Hill Academy continues to be the outstanding institution it is today. Take a look at the fun-filled activities the Advancement and Alumni Office coordinates for alumni each year
If you or your class is interested in planning a reunion, please email [email protected] to get started. We can help reconnect you with your classmates and much more!
2023 Reunions and Events
St. Joseph Hill Academy held our second annual High School All-Sports Athletic Alumnae Reunion on the evening of Friday, November 17, 2023 thanks to a collaborative effort between Hill’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and the Athletics Department. The event reunited Hill alumnae athletes to celebrate their legacy set amongst the banners, trophies, and photos that detail Hill's amazing athletic achievements throughout the decades. This year, St. Joseph Hill Academy was proud to honor Anne Marie McDonough, SJHA Class of 1980 and Hill Varsity Swim Coach 1995-2020, and the SJHA 2015 National High School Championship Cheerleading Team.
Anne Marie McDonough, ‘80 was a member of the inaugural SJHA Swim Team in 1979. After graduating from Hill, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from SUNY Downstate and a Master’s of Public Health Administration from Columbia University. She has been the Senior Director of Rehabilitative Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital / Northwell Health for over 35 years. Amidst an incredible career and raising three children, two of which are Hill alumnae, McDonough was an incredible swim coach to Hill swimmers for 25 years. Though she has retired from coaching, she has continued to show support to St. Joseph Hill Academy and our swim program. Her decades of leadership helped our swim athletes to become strong, independent women who make waves both literally and figuratively. We were thrilled to welcome home so many former Hill swimmers there to honor their former coach.
Additionally, St. Joseph Hill Academy honored the 2015 National High School Championship Cheerleading Team, the first and only Hill team to win this title and the first Staten Island team to win it. The 2015 Cheerleading Team included the seven Hill Varsity Cheerleading Coaches that year: Kristen Daunt Narbut ‘11, Michele Lynch ‘94, Danielle Morelli ‘06, Tara Peters Reale ‘03, Kimberly Rex ‘99, Clarisse Ruby ‘99, and Donna Tabacco ‘00 and the Cheerleader Alums: Courtney Ahern '16, Ariana Alvarado '16, Victoria Asaro '16, Kai Bingham '15, Mary Rose Caria '16, Gina Cerenzio '16, Nicolette Colella-Fiorentino '16, Nicole Gasparino '17, Lauren Guardino '15, Kelsey Heinbockel '15, Kayla Intravaia '16 Kelly Karasinski '15, Taylor Kelly '17, Mia Loverdi '16, Stephanie Monforte '15, Nicole Nelson '15, Nicole Palazzo '15, Joie Passalacqua '15, Shanon Quirk '16,Julia Rodriguez '16, Samantha Schneider '16, Julianne Schneider '15, Alyssa Spoto '16, Alyssa Sqatrito '15, Shannon Stucin '15, Victoria Tabacco '17, Kristina Trotta-Stagg '15, Kaitlynn Wagner '15, Brooke Wildes '16, and Alyssa Zarcone '17.
Their story was a true Cinderella story. The dedication and commitment this group of young women and coaches demonstrated in that season was nothing short of spectacular as they clawed back from last place in 2014 to National Champions in 2015. The bond and sisterhood were palpable at the reunion, even eight years later. They tearfully recalled the day in Florida when they became Champions as well as the hard work they put into that season beginning with Summer Cheer Camp and the magic the team felt that year.
The event also kicked off the initiation of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School’s new Scholar Athlete Award Fund. Each year, the esteemed St. Joseph Hill Academy Scholar-Athlete Award will be bestowed upon a singular, outstanding high school senior. The annual recipient will be carefully selected due to their exceptional achievements, not only in academics but also in the realm of athletics.
If you are interested in supporting this award, please be so kind as to make your donation here.
On Friday evening, Hilltoppers from all years gathered for our second annual Rosé and Roses: A Night on the Hill event. Staying true to the theme, alumnae gathered around a beautiful “Hill Bloom Bar” (thanks to one of our very talented alums and her helpers) chatting and making gorgeous springtime floral arrangements to bring home in SJHA vases.
The program for the evening, developed by Hill's Advancement and Alumni Office, was "Trendsetters and Trailblazers" and featured Alumnae Arianna Sartzetakis '15, Founder of Uncover More, Lauren Briscoe '20, Founder of Baked by Lauren Briscoe, and an incredible student speaker from the Hill Class of 2023, Michele Chahwan, who blew us all away with her remarks. Alumnae also heard from SJHA leadership including Dr. Elizabeth Basile, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Sister Mary Coffelt, F.D.C., SJHA President, Mrs. Maria Molluzzo, SJHA High School Principal, and Mr. Lawrence Hansen, SJHA Elementary School Principal. They shared their gratitude toward the alumnae who returned “home” for the event and the visionary plans they have for our school's future.
Mostly, the event was a fun-filled opportunity for friends to reminisce and reconnect in a place that will always feel like a home away from home. They sipped rosé, laughed together over games of Hilltopper trivia and delicious food, and took tours of the school to see how much has changed while still retaining that magical sense of nostalgia from their teenage years. Alumnae of all years can easily transport back to the time when they walked down those "old familiar halls" in their saddle shoes. The lockers might be brand new and blue now but that feeling of home is always there.
We are thrilled we could continue to hold this event and hope to see all our attendees and more at next year’s event. Stay tuned for news about our new theme! If you are interested in staying in touch with Hill Alumnae or volunteering your time and talent with our current students, please visit stjosephhillacademy.com/alumnae/ or contact the Advancement and Alumni Office. To show your support for SJHA, please go to www.stjosephhillacademy.com/donate/.
|
- Rosemarie Coppola-Baldwin, '92
|
In the premier edition of "The Top of the Hill Herald," we shined a spotlight on the remarkable reunion efforts that define the spirit of our Hilltopper community. This month, we journey back with the class of 1983, a group of individuals who exemplify the power of staying connected and the profound purpose it can serve. For those of you who have embarked on the exciting journey of life as a “Hilltopper”, the bonds forged during your time on campus remain etched in your hearts long after you’ve graduated. At the heart of this enduring connection lies the desire to stay connected, informed, and engaged with the vibrant happenings of the Hill.
Dr. Mary Jo McGuire ’83, an alumna who has dedicated her time and energy to orchestrating the 40th Reunion for the Class of 1983, explains the why:
“Our reunion planning started when Barbara Erickson Breuer ’83 posted a picture on Facebook and the caption said it was 40 years ago that day that she had graduated from high school. A number of us commented on the photo saying how we really should do a reunion. And that’s how the ball got rolling. It had been 30 years since my class celebrated our 10-year anniversary and had not gathered since - needless to say, it was overdue.
We are excited to spend time with our fellow Hilltoppers this October - the women we spent some of the most formative years of our lives with. We are strong, hard-working, and like-minded when it comes to our values and beliefs, and sharing that again after 40 years is truly incredible.”
Fellow reunion planner and classmate, Josephine Paone Geraci ’83, further explains why she wanted to join the planning committee to reconnect with her peers, “The values that were instilled in me from my days at St. Joseph Hill Academy that I’ve lived by and that I instilled in my children and that I repeatedly rely on when making business decisions as a CEO of my own business are reasons why I couldn’t wait to reconnect with like-minded classmates - even if it has been FORTY shhhh years!”
Alumni like Dr. Mary Jo McGuire, Ms. Bonnie Brennan, Ms. Barbara Erickson Breuer, and Mrs. Josephine Paone Geraci, members of the 1983 reunion planning committee, are living testaments to the profound impact our institution has on our students. Their dedication to staying connected, not only with each other but with the essence of their Hilltopper experience, serves as an inspiring example for all.
One simple yet effective way to stay connected is by updating your contact information and becoming a part of our Alumni Directory. By doing so, you ensure that you remain in the loop about upcoming events, reunions, and exciting developments on campus. Please find our SJHA Alumni directories under our Advancement tab on both our SJHA websites.
As Dr. McGuire ’83 can attest, “For me, staying connected and supporting the school means giving young, intelligent women the chance to grow and flourish academically and spiritually in an environment that encourages hard work, integrity, and sisterhood. Raising other women up and celebrating their achievements is so important today. St Joseph Hill Academy fosters that culture and graduates confident young women ready to take on the world.”
We also applaud the Class of 1973 and Class of 1977 for holding their very own alumni gatherings this Fall! A special thank you to Donna Prato ’73 and Carol Zarrilli ’73 for coordinating their 50th Reunion celebration this October. An additional thank you to Mary Ellen Colangelo ’77 and Jennifer Lynch ’77 for gathering their classmates for a 1977 Luncheon as they prepare to celebrate their golden anniversary in just a few years!
If you are interested in starting a reunion of your own and would like assistance, please email: [email protected]
Fall 2022 Alumnae Reunions
Hill High School Alumnae Reunions were busy this Fall 2022 and we loved to see it! The Hill Classes of 1972, 1982, 1987, 1992 have celebrated their 50th, 40th, 35th, and 30th reunions.
50th Reunion: Class of 1972- Saturday, December 3, 2022- Lorenzo’s Restaurant, Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island. Organized by Barbara Esmilla.
40th Reunion: Class of 1982- Saturday, October 1, 2022- Maureen McHugh’s Home, Manasquan, NJ. Organized by Maureen McHugh.
35th Reunion: Class of 1987- Saturday, October 15, 2022 Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island. Organized by Judy Conti.
30th Reunion: Class of 1992- Saturday, October 8, 2022- Lorenzo’s Restaurant, Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island. Organized by Kerry Brennan Szyszko.
Fall 2022 Alumnae Reunion Photos
Alumnae Athletics Reunion 2022
The evening's honoree was Hill Alumna Kelsey Carey '13, whose basketball achievements while at Hill include: Four-year varsity player, Three-time Advance All-Star, Single season scoring record (Sr. year) – 727 points, Staten Island All-time Women’s Leading Scorer – 2,174 points, 2013 Jacques Award Winner, 2012-2013 SI CHSAA League MVP, 2013 Patricia Carbone Achievement Award, and averaged 26 PPG – Senior year. Not to mention her Volleyball accolades including two-time Advance All-Star, won 4 straight Staten Island Championships, and team leader in kills. Kelsey, like every Hilltopper, also went on to be incredibly successful both in her athletic and professional pursuits post-graduation.
We also heard from our two esteemed guest speakers that evening: Mrs. Janice Philipps and Mrs. Virginia Mayrose, two pillars of the athletic program at St. Joseph Hill Academy, who both helped shape the legacy we celebrated that evening.
It was an inspirational and joy-filled evening and we are grateful to the Athletic Office and the Advancement and Alumni Office for putting everything together. We are excited to keep the celebration going with similar events in the future!
Aumnae Athletics Reunion 2022 Photos
Rosé and Roses: A Night on the Hill 2022
St. Joseph Hill Academy High School held a special Alumnae of All Years event, Rosé and Roses, on Friday, May 6, 2022 on Hill’s campus. The inclement weather moved the event indoors to the Hill Auditorium, but did little to dampen the spirits of the over one hundred alumnae, many of whom were returning to Hill for the first time in many years.
With wine donated by The Vineyard at Windham, a Hill Alumna-Owned Business, light fare and refreshments, and lovely roses adorning the tables, alumnae were able to reminisce and reconnect with fellow classmates. They heard from SJHA Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Dr. Elizabeth Basile, who worked tirelessly to ensure the event was a beautiful, fun-filled evening after its original date was postponed from 2020 due to Covid-19. Sister Mary Coffelt, FDC, President of St. Joseph Hill Academy, welcomed our esteemed alumnae back and expressed her gratitude to them for choosing to receive a stellar education in a Catholic environment.
St. Joseph Hill Academy High School Principal, Mrs. Maria Molluzzo, reflected on how grateful she was to reunite with our alumnae, many of whom were her former students. She expressed her pride in how impressive they all are and how genuinely thrilled she was to see them return. As an Academy, the group also heard from our Elementary School Principal Mr. Lawrence Hansen, who welcomed back many “Hill Lifers” (graduates of the elementary school as well as the high school) and a number of parents of current SJHA Elementary School students. He reflected on the importance of a deep connection between SJHA Elementary School and High School.
Lastly, a current SJHA High School Senior, Sophia Cyrgalis, who was recently accepted into the 8-year medical program at Siena / Albany Medical College Science and Humanities Program addressed the alumnae. Sophia shared how Hill has shaped her and how she has grown academically, socially, and spiritually in her nearly four years as a Hilltopper.
Alumnae were able to enjoy small group tours of the school building thanks to our Student Ambassadors who volunteered at the event and are always enthusiastic about sharing what St. Joseph Hill Academy High School offers them as current students. Tours included our newly renovated Library, Chapel, and Performing Arts Studio generously supported by Hill’s outstanding donors.
“I came with five friends to Rosé and Roses and we had such a lovely time. It was so nice to go on the tour and exciting to see all the improvements Hill has made… The Hill TV Studio was so impressive! I was on the Dance Team and it was so great to see the new Performing Arts Studio and the newly renovated Library was gorgeous. We really had a blast,” said Christina Griffo Murphy, ‘02.
Alumnae received beautiful gift bags from our Advancement and Alumni Office with Hill-branded mementos and had the opportunity to participate in a number of raffles and a 50/50. Dr. Basile encouraged alumnae to continue to stay connected with their Alma Mater in a number of ways including giving back with financial support, volunteering to speak at one of our Career Conversations Alumnae Panel Series, and/or sharing their talents and resources with the school in any way possible.
Rosé and Roses: A Night on the Hill Photos 2022
