Catholic high school graduates in Central Jersey receive more than $110 million in scholarships

CENTRAL JERSEY – After facing unexpected challenges and despite not being able to finish their senior year in the classroom, the 492 graduates of the four Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Metuchen, who together amassed more than $110.5 million in scholarships and awards, have reached the culmination of their high school careers and have left behind a lasting legacy of perseverance, resilience and fortitude.

Across the four Catholic high schools – Immaculata, St. Thomas Aquinas, Mount Saint Mary Academy and Saint Joseph – graduates of the Class of 2020 averaged $224,600 in scholarships and awards per student, totaled 58,675 hours of service over the course of their four years, and have achieved a 100 percent college acceptance rate, with an average of 81 percent of graduates receiving scholarships and awards.

Seniors at Immaculata High School, Somerville, were the first to graduate in the diocese this year, marking the occasion first with a virtual graduation ceremony on May 29, and then a socially-distanced in-person diploma ceremony on July 9, held outdoors on the school’s football field. 

More than $26.8 million in scholarships and grants were awarded this year among the 127 graduates of Immaculata High School, a co-ed college preparatory high school lead by a dedicated team of lay administrators, faculty and staff, and a diocesan priest, who serves as the full-time Director of Catholic Identity. Over the course of their four years, the Class of 2020 accumulated 19,280 hours of service and 99 percent of graduates will continue their studies at a college or university, with 92 percent of the seniors accepted to their first-choice school.

Valedictorian Michael Blandino will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Villanova University in Villanova, Pa., and salutatorian Samuel Jaskolski plans to study chemical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, Class of 2020 was the next to graduate. Families and loved ones of the graduating seniors were invited to celebrate with a June 4 virtual commencement ceremony while a drive-thru distribution of diplomas was held simultaneously at the school.

Students in the Class of 2020 were the first to graduate from the school under its original name, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, since the return to the name happened during the 50^th anniversary of the school. Founded in 1969, the diocese’s co-educational college preparatory school is led by two Franciscan Felician Sisters and a dedicated team of lay administrators, faculty and staff, and a diocesan priest, who serves as the full-time Director of Catholic Identity at the school. The 151 graduates earned $35 million in scholarships and awards and over their four years, accumulated 32,795 hours of service. Of the 98 percent of graduates who will continue their studies at a college or university, 25 percent will go on to study at a Catholic university or college.

Valedictorian Bianca Villadolid will pursue a degree in philosophy at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., following the school’s pre-med track, and salutatorian Maia Lim plans to study at the University of Pittsburgh’s Honors College of Mathematical Biology, under the eight-year dental program.

Seniors at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, were welcomed back to the school’s campus on July 18, where they were joined by a limited number of their loved ones for an outdoor commencement ceremony on the school’s Angels of Victories Field.

The 76 graduates of the school were awarded $20.1 million in scholarships and awards. All graduates of Mount Saint Mary Academy, a Catholic, private all-girls high school owned and operated by the Sisters of Mercy of the Mid-Atlantic, will continue their studies at a college or university.

Valedictorian Christina Tillinghast received the Presidential Award from Villanova University, a renewable, merit-based award covering full tuition, room, meals, general fees, and the cost of textbooks for eight semesters. Salutatorian Anna Muller will study at the School of Business at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

The Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, Class of 2020 is expected to graduate on July 27 at an outdoor commencement ceremony.

Among the 138 graduates of Saint Joseph High School, a private, Catholic all-boys college preparatory school run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, $28.6 million in scholarships and grants were awarded. The Class of 2020 accumulated over 6,000 hours of service over the course of their four years and 100 percent of graduates will continue their studies at a college or university.

Co-valedictorians Miguel Zavalla, who will study at the College of Science, and William Zafian, who will pursue a degree in chemical engineering, will both continue their studies at the University of Notre Dame.

The graduating seniors who received the 2020 Bishop James F. Checchio Award for Religion are: Michael Blandino of Immaculata High School; Bianca Villadolid of St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Ashleigh Cotter of Mount Saint Mary Academy; and Alexander Internicola of Saint Joseph High School.

Addressing graduates in a video message, the Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA, Bishop of Metuchen, said he was disappointed to not be with the graduates in person, yet he acknowledged his disappointment pales in comparison to their own.

“In some strange way, this is probably good preparation for you,” Bishop Checchio remarked of the cancelled milestone celebrations and rescheduled graduation ceremonies.

“Life is full of all kinds of interruptions and disappointments,” he said. “So many things come into our lives that we’re not expecting and how we react to them is so important.”

Posing questions to the graduates, who have already been faced with unprecedented circumstances and challenges, he asked, “How do we let this draw us closer to our Lord and depend on Him?”

“He is the constant in our lives that we never lose, no matter what comes our way,” the bishop reminded. “Draw closer to Him throughout this time, so you have that strong relationship with Him throughout your lives, no matter what comes.”

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Metuchen will safely welcome students back to school and are now enrolling for fall 2020. With small class sizes and a sensible approach, Catholic schools in the diocese are ready to shift, no matter what the school year may bring. For more information about enrolling your child or to find out how you can help support the privately-funded programs which provide tuition assistance to aid low-and moderate-income families within the diocese, please visit diometuchen.org/schools or call (732) 562-2446.

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