MSR's Alumnae Spotlight - Fall 2017

The Sister Regina Martin Scholarship Fund

2017 Gala Evening of Celebration and Recognition

Sports Update

The Sister Regina Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund

Sister Regina Martin, our beloved principal, was a true reflection of the words: “What a beautiful difference one single life made.” Through her humble life, Sister Regina created a legacy that lives on in those she has left behind.

The Sister Regina Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in Sister Regina’s honor in order to provide outstanding young women with the opportunity to learn in a place where excellence in academics, personal growth and service to others is not only expected but practiced. She made it her life’s mission to ensure that the girls who walked “these halls of truth and knowledge” did so in both a nurturing and richly diverse community.

Since its inception in December of 2014 - the one year anniversary of Sister Regina’s entering into eternal life - the fund has distributed 115 thousand dollars to girls that qualify for the scholarship. This scholarship fund ensures that this loving legacy will continue to be passed along to future generations of young ladies.

Assistance is awarded to outstanding incoming freshmen. Students must achieve at least a B+ average in all subject areas in order to maintain their scholarship into the following year. Through your generosity, many girls have been able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

We wanted to highlight two of our current students who have benefited from the Sister Regina Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. We hope you enjoy meeting them and we thank you in advance for your continued support of this vital scholarship campaign!

Meet our Recipients: Jillian Frost Class of 2018 As a Sister Regina Scholarship recipient, Jillian realizes how it brought motivation and encouragement to her at MSR. Beyond the financial assistance, she found the reward of being a Seton Scholar allowed her to study Latin as a Freshman which she perceived as a grand puzzle and a view into the Roman Empire. She admits the scholarship also gave her a sense of responsibility to live up to the standards it requires to maintain her eligibility. Jillian is not going to fall into the Senioritis trap but soak up every last bit of education available to her here.

Her joy of learning finds Jillian in AP English, AP US History II, AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Biology and the five year math program led by Sister Jacquelyn. A member of both the Math and Science Leagues, Jillian is also on the Executive Board of the Student Council and is its Publicity Chair. She was one of the leaders decoding and resetting the school’s lockers and served on the Junior Prom committee.

Jillian received the Bausch and Lomb Science Award from the University of Rochester which includes a scholarship, but she has her eye on early decision at MIT to pursue her study of pure science for its real world implications.

An admirer of Paul Simon, Jillian plays acoustic guitar and studies with a teacher who has connections to her musical idol. On her electric guitar she prefers Stairway to Heaven. She also studies Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is on our school’s softball team playing either pitcher or her power position, third base.

Jillian’s sister, Amy Frost, is a Class of 2008 Mother Seton graduate, and together the sisters are the first generation in their family to attend college. Amy is a Steven’s Institute graduate and now a mechanical engineer working for the Port Authority. Jillian will certainly use her intelligence and well rounded personality to create her scientific future. Clearly, she is a stellar beneficiary of the Sister Regina Scholarship.

Meet our Recipients: Katherine Blum - Class of 2018 Another grateful Sister Regina Martin Scholarship recipient, Katherine’s favorite subject is English. She credits Rick Riordan’s, Percy Jackson Series with turning her on to literature. An avid reader, she claims Edgar Allen Poe as her current favorite author.

The scholarship allowed Katherine to be a Seton Scholar and that led her to Freshman Latin, which opened many opportunities. Katherine now competes in an annual Foreign Language Poetry Contest at William Paterson College where she is graded on her memorization, expression, and pronunciation of a poem in Latin, her language of choice. She has recited poems by Virgil and others.

An active scholar, Katherine is a math tutor and mirrors Sister Jacquelyn’s Algebra I and II classes as her model for explaining concepts. Now in AP Spanish, AP Calculus, AP History, AP English and AP Physics, she still has time to be Student Council President, a Recruitment Ambassador, and be on the Math League and the Challenge Team. Katherine enjoys the Challenge Team and its Jeopardy like broad topics to encompass her vast interests. Katherine is also on the MSR Tennis team and was the other leader of the decoding and resetting locker squad. Does she look familiar from last spring’s Easter Egg Hunt? She should! Katherine did a wonderful job as the Easter Bunny and is hoping to reprise that performance in her Senior spring.

Katherine is looking forward to studying business in college with an eye to International Business Major to fuel her wander lust. She has applied to Boston College, early decision and is considering Fordham and Northeastern. Katherine has visited many European countries. She vividly remembers watching Bastille Day 2016 fireworks light up the Eiffel Tower. She and her father had a bird’s eye view from a high point in the City of Lights while a terrorist attack marred the same celebration in Nice, France, and abruptly ended their Parisian experience in a frightening way.

Brave and intelligent, Katherine is certain to use her Mother Seton education and Sister Regina Martin Scholarship on her path to new adventures and academic heights.

A Return on Your Investments There Really is a School on the Parkway Circle!!

Have you driven around the Clark circle lately? If so, you’ve probably noticed, for the first time in a long time, that you can once again see Mother Seton Regional High School. Years of growth and Mother Nature had turned the area in front of our school into an overgrown forest that was home to poison ivy, dead trees and limbs. Thanks to your donations, however, it is now beautifully landscaped and manicured.

This is only one of the improvements that have been made possible because of your generosity. Updates have also been made in the music and drama studios, Consumer Science Lab, several classrooms, Guidance, Nurse’s Office and administrative areas.

Drapes and shades that have hung in these rooms for over 50 years have been replaced with new shades that bring a “touch of class” as well as energy efficiency. The smell of paint and shellac flowed through the hallways over the summer as rooms were painted and hard wood floors re-surfaced. There were also improvements made to the restrooms in the gym lobby.

It is important that the school is properly maintained so that it will be here for future students for many years to come. Without you and your kind and generous donations, none of this would be possible.

Thank you for all that you continue to do for our Alma Mater and may God bless you!

2017 Gala Evening of Celebration and Recognition The Mother Seton 2017 Gala was held on September 22 at the Westwood in Garwood. This fundraising event was an opportunity to recognize and honor the accomplishments of a select few who have made a difference in the Mother Seton Community. Accomplishments were awarded in several categories. The Alumnae award was presented to Patricia Dillman, ’67 and Frieda E. Lewis, MD ’92 in acknowledgement of work they have done for the benefit of the human community through professional achievement and significant volunteer initiatives. Patricia Schmidt Campos and Sister Mary Anne Katlack, SC received the Faculty Award which is given to a current or former Mother Seton faculty member who is a Master Teacher, but more importantly, who teaches the meaning of “Seton Spirit” by example. East Orange Catholic High School Alumnae Association was honored with the Friend of Mother Seton Award in recognition of the financial support they have provided to MSR in order to challenge, empower and inspire young women to achieve excellence in academics, personal growth and service to others .

Alumnae Award Pat Dillman ‘67

After Pat graduated from Mother Seton, she earned her BSN at Rutgers University and began what would become her lifelong commitment to caring for critically ill children. She started her career at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey/United Hospitals Medical Center in Newark, directly caring for children while continuing to hone her expertise. Over time, she gradually earned advanced certifications and a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization in Pediatric Critical Care from Seton Hall University. This training equipped her to gradually take on roles with more responsibility such as Nurse Manager, Pediatric Educator, Pediatric Infection Control Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

In 1971, Pat Dillman began her ministry to children and their families at the darkest moments of their lives. Almost five decades later, she has come full circle, working at a Seton-named Institution with Sisters of Charity. We honor Pat’s lifelong gift of herself and her talents as we induct her into the Mother Seton Regional Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Alumnae Award.

Alumnae Award Frieda Lewis ‘92

Frieda Lewis was interested in science even 30 years ago when she first applied for admission to Mother Seton Regional High School. After she graduated from MSR, Frieda majored in chemistry at Rutgers University and was then awarded a four-year scholarship to The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) where she earned her medical degree.

Frieda is now Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is a partner in the Lifeline Medical Associates Group with offices in Parsippany and Sparta, NJ. Later this year, she will be honored by Healthy Living Magazine as one of New Jersey’s top doctors. In addition to her busy medical practice, Frieda is a coach with Girls on the Run, an organization which supports and empowers girls in grades three through eight as they strive to realize their full potential. She also volunteers with her local PTA and serves as Class Mom. In recent years, Frieda has generously given her time and talent to our Alma Mater to help our current students to better understand themselves and their changing health needs as they mature. All the while, at the center of Frieda’s busy life is her family. She makes her home in Sparta, NJ with her husband and three children. We are privileged to induct Frieda Lewis, M.D. into the MSR Hall of Fame as an alumna who truly lives the values of a Mother Seton education in all aspects of her life.

Faculty Award

Patricia Schmidt Campos In 1987, Pat Campos accepted a position in the Social Studies Department at Mother Seton, and fortunately for us, the rest of her career has been devoted to the young women of Mother Seton Regional High School.

She has taught World, U.S., and European History, World Geography, and Reading and Skill Development, and for the last nine years, she has been the go-to technology person on the faculty. She has participated in and moderated numerous extra-curricular activities, and she is remembered by many as a favorite homeroom moderator and a beloved yearbook advisor. Her achievements have been recognized by external groups, her name appears consistently on lists of Mother Seton’s best teachers, and it is a rare graduate of the last 30 years who does not speak fondly and admiringly of Mrs. Campos. Many credit her with cultivating the habits of mind that served them in later academic and professional pursuits. A critical thinker, a lifelong student, a caring mentor, a woman of integrity, and a teacher par excellence, Patricia Schmidt Campos is the embodiment of Seton Spirit. We honor her contributions to hundreds of Mother Seton students and to the fabric of our Alma Mater as we present her with the Faculty Award and induct her into the Mother Seton Regional Hall of Fame.

Faculty Award Sister Mary Anne Katlack, SC A Sister of Charity for 60 years, Sister Mary Anne Katlack has served in a variety of ministries in a variety of settings. She began her service as a fifth grade teacher at St. Peter’s in New Brunswick while continuing her education. After completing her studies in History at the College of Saint Elizabeth, she began teaching History, Economics, and Religion at East Orange Catholic High School in 1964, just five years after its founding. She remained at EOCH for 15 years, taking on the role of Vice-Principal in 1966 and moving to Principal in 1972. Her impact on the young women of East Orange Catholic is clearly evidenced by the number of graduates who maintain contact with her and the intensity of their affection for her. In 1979, she joined the faculty of Mother Seton Regional as a History teacher. She became a well-beloved member of the Social Studies Department during the next nine years before moving back into Secondary School Administration at Marylawn of the Oranges, a Catholic girls’ high school in South Orange. In 1993 she answered a call to enter Congregational government of the Sisters of Charity, serving over the next 10 years as Assistant Provincial of the Southern Province, General Secretary of the Congregation, and Assistant General Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Her duties during this period included representing the Congregation at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and at stockholders’ meetings of various corporations. There she voiced the Congregation’s positions on such pressing social and moral issues as Apartheid and tobacco sales to children. When her work in Congregational leadership was completed in 2003, she returned to Mother Seton, this time as the Director of Campus Ministry, a position she continues to hold. During her years as an educator, she has also taught CCD in various parishes, and she has been a literacy instructor at Josephine’s Place in Elizabeth. As a role-model and mentor, she has involved current MSR students in fundraising, tutoring, and other projects to benefit the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless. Sister Mary Anne's Master’s Degrees in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University and in Theology from the College of Saint Elizabeth provided her with the academic and professional preparation to fulfill the roles she has played in her life, but it is her personal qualities—gentleness, wisdom, faith, sense of humor, compassion, prayerfulness, and more—that have endeared her to so many during her long ministry, particularly at East Orange Catholic and at Mother Seton Regional.

On behalf of all of those she has touched, especially the young women we used to be, we present Sister Mary Anne Katlack with the 2017 Faculty Award and induct her into the Mother Seton Regional Hall of Fame.

Friend of Mother Seton Regional High School Award East Orange Catholic High School Alumnae Association

East Orange Catholic High School was established in 1959 to serve the young women of Essex County. From that time until its closing in 1980, EOCH was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Even though the school no longer existed, its graduates established the official EOCH Alumnae Association in 2000. In an effort to express their gratitude for all that their EOCH education gave them, the members of the group continue to support the educational ministry of the Sisters of Charity: To date, they have collected and distributed almost $100,000 to young women who attend Sisters of Charity high schools in the Archdiocese of Newark.

The students at Mother Seton Regional have benefited enormously from this generous spirit. With deep gratitude, we are proud to name the Alumnae Association of East Orange Catholic High School—our Seton Sisters—as a Friend of Mother Seton Regional High School and to induct the organization into our Hall of Fame.

Welcome New Faculty Members Mr. William Swart Mathematics Teacher Mr. William Swart is our new mathematics teacher at MSR. A graduate of Rahway High School, Will was always interested in teaching math and would help peers when they were having academic difficulties in various mathematics areas. Whether it was working in groups or individually tutoring friends struggling with their own math classes, he really found joy in working with people to help them hone their math skills.

Mr. Swart graduated East Stroudsburg University in 2016 with a teaching degree. He studied both applied and theoretical mathematics and was trained in the Common Core Standards. Will was always involved in the college community participating in the marching band and was an active member of the music fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. Mr. Swart comes from a family of educators. His Aunt, Deanna Swart Malley, is an alumna of MSR. Deanna was part of Mother Seton’s Class of 1968. Mrs. Malley is a retired PreKindergarten teacher from the Rahway Public School District and alerted her nephew, Mr. Swart, to the math opening at our school.

Her daughter, Meghan Paul, is also a current 5th grade math teacher in the same district. His Grandfather, Mr. Joseph Jones, was a foreign language teacher in New York City and Virginia. The family teaching tradition continues.

Mr. Swart enjoys being part of the mutual respect evidenced at MSR. He enjoys teaching our diverse group of young adults. Spirit week was definitely a most memorable experience. It helped him to feel part of this amazing school and learn so much about Seton Spirit - despite his lack of Harry Potter knowledge!

Mr. Swart looks forward to more exciting classes and involvement as a faculty member.

Deanna Swart—Class of ‘68

Welcome New Faculty Members Carolyn DeMaio Teacher of Consumer Sciences The kitchen and sewing room are humming with the energy of Mrs. DeMaio’s expertise. She is graduate of Cook College, Rutgers University with a BS in Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics Option. Mrs. DeMaio comes from a previous career in a pediatrician’s office and conducting nutrition seminars and cooking demonstrations for girls.

For the last ten years, Carolyn worked as a personal trainer and most recently as an Assistant Fitness Manager at a hospital affiliated facility. Her responsibilities included outreach to the community and schools with nutrition seminars.

Stepping outdoors to spread her talents in more ways to our school, Mrs. De Maio is also the Cross Country and Spring Track Coach for MSR. She is the past cheer coordinator of the Saint Francis CYO and is the present co-coordinator of their full program. Surely there will be some cheers for this new track coach and her teams.

A certified Catechist for the Diocese of Metuchen, she has taught 7th grade Religious Education for eleven years at Saint Francis Cathedral in Metuchen.

Married to her husband Chris for 27 years, they have five children. Their youngest, Cara, is a Freshman here at Mother Seton and a Seton Scholar.

MSR is thrilled to welcome Carolyn DeMaio and her gamut of talents to our school as she contributes, in so many capacities, to empowering and encouraging our students as both a teacher and role model.

Carolyn DeMaio, pictured here, along with her children and husband.

Welcome New Faculty Members Mr. Jakubowski Physics and Engineering Teacher We welcome Richard Jakubowski to our science wing with his varied educational and corporate experiences. Mr. Jakubowski holds a BS degree in Engineering from NJIT and a BA in Mathematical Sciences from Kean University.

He spent more than fifteen years instructing electronic technicians at various trade schools where he taught both theory and hands-on laboratory applications. During this time he wrote two text and workbooks on Electricity and Electronics.

Mr. Jakubowski then moved to the public school system where he taught mathematics in both middle and high school for 5 years. Next, he was a Technical Training Specialist for Postal Technicians. Richard was the robotics coordinator for M.E.T.S. Charter School. M.E.T.S. Charter School is an Early College Preparatory school with locations in Jersey City and Newark that utilizes research-based instructional practices to achieve student proficiency in mathematics, engineering, technology and science.

MSR is fortunate to acquire the breath of experiences and techniques Mr. Jakubowski brings to our students.

MSR Volleyball and The Side-Out Foundation Leading the Way

The Mother Seton Volleyball Program joined the Side-Out Foundation and its Dig Pink Initiative to support a clinical trial specifically for patients with stage 4 breast cancer. This is the most advanced form of the disease and the least funded.

Our Varsity, JV, and Freshman teams displayed their spirit and skills as they competed against Edison High School. Mother Seton Alumnae and friends, including many cancer survivors, were part of the cheering section.

Thank you to all the Volleyball team parents who donated their time for the evening. The teams raised $1,500.00 to support October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Seton Spirit wins again.

Upcoming Events at our Alma Mater: Coat Drive - Nov. 27 through Dec 1 Since 2005, MSR has collected new and gently used warm winter clothing (coats, scarves, gloves and hats) and has donated them to the Coalition for the Homeless in Elizabeth, NJ. If you would like to help us in this effort, please bring your donation to the main office during school hours.

Giving Tuesday - Nov. 28 Giving Tuesday is a global event dedicated to giving back. Charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. Please remember MSR on this charitable day and be a part of this global celebration of generosity. We will be raising funds to meet a ‘Matching Gift Challenge’ of 5K to benefit students in need of tuition assistance through the TAP Tuition Funding Program.

Peppermint Boutique - Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 am - 4 pm Mother Seton Regional High School Parents’ Guild is hosting its annual Peppermint Boutique Craft Fair. MSR welcomes artisans and crafters to offer gifts, stocking stuffers and treats. Come out, support our vendors, and begin your Christmas shopping in this cheerful environment.

EOCH On Broadway—Sunday, Dec. 3, 2 pm Bring your family and friends and enjoy a performance of the EOCH Glee Club as they perform Broadway tunes. The performance will be held in the MSR gym. Tickets are $10 at the door and children under 12 are free. We are honored to host these performers as the funds they raise go to the Mother Seton Scholarship Fund.

Elf The Musical—Sunday, Dec. 17 We’re going to see Elf The Musical starring George Wendt at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The bus will leave MSR at 1:30 and arrive back at 9:30 pm. Take in the holiday sights and enjoy a meal before the show.

Contact Laura @ 732-382-1952 x175 OR mrsflammia@motherseton.org if you are interested in joining us.

Upcoming Events at our Alma Mater:

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting - Sunday, Dec. 10, 5:30 pm Please join us for the 2017 Christmas Tree Lighting and Advent prayer service. We invite you to remember those you love by purchasing an ornament in their honor.

The donation for an ornament is $20. Each ornament will be memorialized as you request and you will have the joy of hanging them on the tree. Admission is free and all are welcome!

Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Thursday, Jan. 4, 9:30 am Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the gym at Mother Seton to honor the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Alumnae are invited to attend.

Young Alumnae Reunion - Friday, Jan. 5, 10 am The young alumnae from the Classes of 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 are welcome to join with their classmates at a Mini-Reunion on January 5, 2018. The gathering is open all young alums and will be held in the library. The Mini-Reunion will be held from 10 AM until noon. Light refreshments will be served. This is a great opportunity for friends to gather.

Alumnae Volleyball - Thursday, Jan. 4, 7 pm Gather a team of at least 6 players and create a name for your team! Or join a team when you get here. No volleyball experience is necessary. Sign up and come join the competition. We will provide warm-up time and then on to the games!

Refreshments will be available. Invite your teammates and friends on Facebook.

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