May 25, 2014
Senior Section
The Crusader 9
Hats off to the top two of the Class of 2014 Valedictorian Bailey Schultz Stephanie Todd News Editor Bailey Schultz, the Valedictorian of the Class of 2014, will be attending Stanford University in the fall. In an interview via Facebook, Schultz said Stanford was tied with another school for his first choice and he is excited to be attending the prestigious university in the fall. “I’ve loved the school since I visited junior year. I can’t wait to explore the wonderful opportunities offered, and though I’ll miss my family and friends, I’m ready to start this new stage of my life,” said Schultz. While Schultz is excited for his future, he will also miss certain aspects of Gibbons. “I’m going to miss all the people who make Gibbons such a unique community, especially my teachers and friends who I’ve gotten to know these past four years. The people are really what make the atmosphere at Gibbons so special,” said Schultz. Of all the teachers he has had in the past four years, many have been influential to him, but Dr, John Sprague stood out in his mind. “It’s hard to pick just one teacher, but Dr. Sprague probably had the biggest impact. He took the time to teach me pre-calculus over the summer after my sophomore year, which allowed me to take AP Calculus BC with him as a junior and then Calculus III and Differential Equations as a senior. He truly cares about his students and is a great math teacher,” said Schultz. Throughout high school, Schultz took a total of 8 AP classes with most of his other classes being honors-level. Of these advanced classes, his favorite was Sr. Janet’s AP Chemistry class his junior year. “It really helped me to develop my interest in chemistry, and it was interesting and even fun while quite challenging at the same time,” said Schultz.
Schultz’s interest in science was what led him to join the Science Olympiad his sophomore year through the rest of his high school career. “It has given me the opportunity to explore my interest in science and meet other students with similar interests,” said Schultz. “Another one of my extracurricular activities I enjoyed while at Gibbons was playing in the pit orchestra for musicals like 1940’s Radio Hour and Grease. A lot of my closest friends are involved in drama, so this was a fun way to spend time with them outside of class,” said Schultz. Musicals were not the only times Schultz enjoyed in band, a class he has taken all four years. “There are so many great memories, but I think my favorite would be spending time and enjoying myself while playing in the band during football games,” said Schultz. Looking back as his time at Gibbons comes to a close, Schultz offers one more piece of advice to rising seniors. “Take advantage of the time you have left to figure out your passions and to strengthen your relationships with friends. Though it may not seem like it at first, senior year flies by,” said Schultz.
Salutatorian Sam Rosso Stephanie Todd News Editor Sam Rosso, who will be attending Duke University in the fall, is the salutatorian of the Class of 2014. Duke University has been Rosso’s first choice for quite some time now. “It has been one of my top choices since I knew what college was. I’m really excited for freedom, parties, and basketball games,” said Rosso, in an email interview. Despite the obvious impending excitement for college and the future, Rosso will miss one thing the most about Gibbons: the people. “My friends especially, but also the teachers and general sense of community we have here,” said Rosso. Of the people who helped contribute to the building of the sense of the Gibbons community, many have had an integral role in creating lasting memories for Rosso. The best of Rosso’s high school
memories were enjoyed surrounded by his friends. “What I’ll remember most are the times just hanging out with my friends at football games or pep rallies or prom,” said Rosso. While simultaneously serving as a backdrop for many memories, Gibbons has allowed Rosso to continue with many of his favorite extracurricular activities. “I’m a beach bum at heart so I love surfing and playing beach volleyball, which I’ve gotten to continue at Gibbons. Also, I like skiing, basketball, chilling with friends, and playing FIFA,” said Rosso. In addition to the list of activities Rosso enjoys out of school, he maintained a difficult course load compiled of 11 AP classes over the years as well as Calculus III and Differential Equations. Of all these difficult and advanced courses, Rosso has said that the hardest was Catherine Sokash’s AP English Literature his senior year. “She never stopped challenging me to improve,” said Rosso. Rosso said his favorite classes were Mark DeLaRosa’s sophomore theology class and John Henderson’s AP Statistics this year. “Both teachers knew how to make class entertaining while still teaching well,” said Rosso. Another teacher who Rosso cites as providing an entertaining but stimulating classroom is English teacher Michael Friedman. “He not only taught me to write better, but also just made learning enjoyable and I was never bored,” said Rosso. As for his parting words, Rosso encourages rising seniors to savor their final year. “Enjoy every moment, don’t get too stressed by college applications, and try to do everything you wish you had done the last three years,” said Rosso.
Gibbons athletes to continue play at college level Alvernia University Preston Moser, baseball
Duke University Morgan Reid, soccer
Meredith College Maria Annunziata, softball Rebecca Camak, lacrosse Kaitlyn Peeples, soccer Stephanie Girard, basketball Elizabeth Tracy, soccer
Wake Forest University Chase Rhode, soccer
Guilford College Matt Bowen, lacrosse St. Francis Xavier University Lukas Bowler, football Davidson College Megan Comstock, track & field Danny Davis, soccer University of North Carolina Robert Kelly, tennis Dante DiMaggio, football North Carolina State University Mary Grace Doggett, cross country/ track & field Rachel Bartolomeo, cross country/ track & field Cameron Steele, soccer Ade Taiwo, soccer New Mexico Military Insititute John Kelly, baseball Christian Brothers University Lauren Magdefrau, soccer Marist University Gannon Morrison, lacrosse Christopher Newport University Jackson O’Korn, football Randolph-Macon College Erin Quinn, volleyball Page design by News Editor Stephanie Todd
Dickinson College Moses Romocki, basketball University of Maryland Shelby Scanlin, lacrosse Vanderbilt University Shawn Stankavage, football Wingate University Faith Wilson, soccer Louisiana State University Cheyenne Wood, volleyball
Top photo: (left to right) Seniors Maria Annunziata, Gannon Morrison, Erin Quinn, Shelby Scanlin, and Ade Taiwo all took part in the fall signing day. Middle photo: (left to right) Athletics director Todd Schuler with seniors Rachel Bartolomeo, Luke Bowler, Danny Davis, Robert Kelly, Lauren Magdefrau, Morgan Reid, Chase Rhode, Shawn Stankavage, and Faith Wilson on winter signing day. Bottom photo: (left to right) Seniors Rebecca Camak, Megan Comstock (not visible), Dante DiMaggio, Mary Grace Doggett, John Kelly, Jackson O’Korn, Kaitlyn Peeples, Moses Romocki, Cameron Steele, and Cheyenne Wood took part in the spring signing day. Source: Gibbons Athletics department