Catholic High School Graduates in the Diocese of Metuchen Exemplify Faith and Service

CENTRAL NEW JERSEY— Rising from a global pandemic, the Class of 2024 from the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Metuchen has emerged with profound academic distinction and a legacy of community dedication. This group of 458 graduates navigated unprecedented challenges with remarkable resilience, securing over $113,000,000 in scholarships and contributing over 45,000 hours of committed service.

At the commencement ceremonies across all four high schools, Bishop James F. Checchio lauded the Class of 2024 for their unwavering perseverance and underscored the invaluable preparation they’ve received for the road ahead. “Their resilience in the face of adversity has equipped them well for what lies ahead,” expressed Bishop Checchio.

In a heartfelt address to the graduating class of Immaculata High School, held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Somerville on May 31, Bishop Checchio encouraged, “Remember what you have learned here at Immaculata and don’t forget to take Jesus with you.”

The recipients of the 2024 Bishop James F. Checchio Award for Religion were also celebrated, including Sharbella Jacobs of Immaculata High School; Jacinta Garcia of St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Victoria Fekete of Mount Saint Mary Academy; and Evan Chin of Saint Joseph High School.

Barbara Stevens, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Metuchen, echoed Bishop Checchio’s sentiments, commending the graduates for their exceptional achievements. “The Class of 2024 has surpassed all expectations despite commencing their high school journey amidst a global pandemic. Their hard work, support from families, and guidance from our educators have led to tremendous success.”

The accomplishments of the Class of 2024 stand as a testament to the enduring value of a Catholic education rooted in faith, knowledge, and service.
 

Academic Achievements of the Class of 2024

Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen

• Co-Valedictorian: Caleb Chendorain will study Quantitative Finance at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
• Co-Valedictorian: Aryan Jeena will study Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
• Total Number of Graduates: 119
• Total Scholarships Earned: $30,000,000
• Total Service Hours: 13,738
• Percentage of Students Receiving Scholarships: 80%
• College Acceptance Rate: 100%

Saint Joseph High School (Saint Joseph) is a private, Catholic, all-boys college preparatory school in Metuchen, NJ. Saint Joseph is operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, who have been active in American education since their arrival from Lyons, France in 1847.

Immaculata High School, Somerville

• Valedictorian: Sharbella Jacobs will pursue biomedical engineering at Rutgers University School of Engineering and Honors College in New Brunswick, NJ.
• Salutatorian: Maya Mathews will study Business at Villanova University in Villanova, PA.
• Total Number of Graduates: 138
• Total Scholarships Earned: $42,000,000
• Total Service Hours: 18,551
• Percentage of Students Receiving Scholarships: 84%
• College Acceptance Rate: 100%

Immaculata, a Roman Catholic parish high school in the Diocese of Metuchen, promotes and offers an environment of learning and mutual respect in which faith, integrity, and Christian ethics are the moral guides of daily life.
 

Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung

• Valedictorian: Nina Helm will pursue Strategic Management at the University of Notre Dame, IN.
• Salutatorian: Lillian Del Rossi will study Business Analytics at the University of Notre Dame, IN.
• Total Number of Graduates: 69
• Total Scholarships Earned: $24,800,000
• Total Service Hours: 125* (*this year only)
• Percentage of Students Receiving Scholarships: 95%
• College Acceptance Rate: 100%

Mount Saint Mary Academy is a Catholic, independent college-preparatory school affiliated with the Network for Mercy Education and International Partnership of Secondary Schools, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
 

St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison

• Valedictorian: Annika Schmidt will focus on Statistics at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
• Salutatorian: Marissa Neieves will pursue a degree in Neuroscience at Rutgers University.
• Total Number of Graduates: 132
• Total Scholarships Earned: $16,422,780
• Total Service Hours: 12,427
• Percentage of Students Receiving Scholarships: 70%
• College Acceptance Rate: 100%

Founded in 1969, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School is a private, coeducational college preparatory school of the Diocese of Metuchen.

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Metuchen are now enrolling for fall 2024. With outstanding academics and well-rounded programs, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Metuchen offer a faith-filled environment where every student is known by name. 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.

Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, graduates process in the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield, where their May 19 Baccalaureate Mass and commencement ceremony were held. (Gerald Wutkowski / Diocese of Metuchen)


Salutatorian May Karina Mathews and Valedictorian Sharbella Jacobs lead the Immaculata High School Class of 2024 out of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Somerville after Commencement Exercises on May 31. (Gerald Wutkowski, Jr. / Diocese of Metuchen)


Graduates of the Class of 2024 of Mount Saint Mary Academy sing a tribute to family and friends during commencement exercises on June 1 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the Mount's campus in Watchung. (Gerald Wutkowski Jr. / Diocese of Metuchen)

Graduates of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Class of 2024 celebrate outside the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield after a Baccalaureate Mass and commencement ceremony were held on June 6 (Gerald Wutkowski, Jr. / Diocese of Metuchen)