College Showcase 2020

MONITOR

THE

Official publication of The Diocese of Trenton

MARCH 2020

MAGAZINE

College Showcase

College Guide

Faith All Along Catholic education key to future growth, college students say

BY DAVID KARAS  Correspondent

T

he graduates of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Trenton who continue their education in Catholic colleges or universities find that choice offers them much more than a rigorous academic journey – it helps them incorporate their faith and service-minded desires into their entire lives.

The Monitor Magazine caught up with three graduates of Catholic high schools in the Diocese who went on to pursue studies in Catholic colleges, learning about their career paths and hearing their reflections on how Catholic education shaped their personal and professional trajectories.

JAMAYRAH MOORE, a graduate of Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, and the College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, is the founder of My Life Movement, which encourages and motivates individuals in Trenton through action while creating positive change. Professionally, she serves as a legal assistant with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, Newark, where she works on re-entry legal services; the children’s Jamayrah Moore representation program, providing support for children with disabilities; and the South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program, supporting those living in the south ward of Newark.

Reflecting on her time at TCA, Moore sees the experience as critical in helping her develop in her faith.

“If I were attending a regular high school receiving a regular education … I would never have understood or [have come to know] God as I know him now,” she said. “My relationship with God has guided me to be where and who I am today.”

The emphasis on service at TCA, she added, helped her to decide to attend a Catholic college, as well.

“I genuinely believe that their commitment to service watered the servant leader seed within me,” she said. “So when choosing my university, I needed a school that would match the growth and nourishment I received while in high school. So

36 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE  March 2020

naturally, I choose a Catholic college.”

Moore’s time at TCA also included founding My Life Movement, which has since attained 501(c)3 status.

“With the help of our seasonal staffers, the My Life Movement hosts coat drives, leadership forums and developmental workshops, and implements after-school mentoring programs in public schools,” she said. “I connect with and aid foster children, children who live with or have been impacted

by AIDS, children who suffered from the loss of a loved one, immigrant children and children who have and are battling chronic diseases.”

James Vicari

Dr. Jeanine Genkinger

JAMES VICARI is a graduate of Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, and Fordham University, the Bronx. He earned a master’s degree in biomedical science last spring. He is now continuing in a doctorate program in biomedical science.

Vicari serves as a researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital, working with compounds that reduce inflammation in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, hemorrhagic stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

“I would not be where I am, or on the path that I’m on, had it not been for the people and advisers I met at Fordham and Donovan,” said Vicari. While attending what was then Monsignor Donovan High School, Vicari said the advisers and faculty he came in contact with were always student-focused; their main goal was to help students reach the next stepping stone.

College Guide In college, Vicari served as a resident assistant for three years, and also tutored students struggling with biology and chemistry. Along the way, he was surrounded by mentors and supporters.

“My mentors truly made my goals a priority and couldn’t have been more supportive,” he said. “I knew that I could turn to them for anything – not only with respect to class work but also what decisions I would have to make for the next steps in my career.”

Catholic education has been key in his growth, Vicari said.

“I think that Catholic education ends up acting as a hub for certain types of people – the kind who care a lot and make it a priority to help and serve others,” he said. “It’s only natural that after being in environments like Donovan and Fordham, your values and goals start to mirror that of your mentors – and having a positive attitude, acting with humility and being a genuine person end up taking you pretty far.”

DR. JEANINE GENKINGER, a graduate of St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind., serves as an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University, N.Y. Genkinger focuses her research on understanding how to prevent and detect early ovarian and pancreatic  “I think that cancer. Her research involves analyzing results of longCatholic education term studies of men and ends up acting as a women who have completed questionnaires, donated hub for certain types blood or saliva samples and are followed over a period of people – the kind of time. The studies are who care a lot.”  conducted around the world and are aggregated as part of a comprehensive study of the rare diseases.

Reflecting on her education, Genkinger said that Notre Dame University played a significant role in her development Continued on 38 

RANKED #1 IN NEW JERSEY “Best Value College” for Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report

DISCOVER YOU • 31 Nationally Acclaimed Undergraduate Degrees

OPEN HOUSE

APRIL 25

• 31 Accredited Graduate and Doctoral Programs • 98% of Graduates are Employed or in Graduate School

RSVP caldwell.edu/visit Caldwell, NJ

March 2020  THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 37

College Guide

T H E U N I V E RS I TY O F S C R A N TO N A CATHOLIC AND JESUIT UNIVERSIT Y

Master of Arts in Theology

Careers built on foundation of faith

The only GRADUATE THEOLOGY program of its kind in the region:

 Continued from 37

and growth.

“I believe I received a great education in the sciences that was grounded in liberal arts. However, one of greatest treasures from my experience is the friendships that I formed while I was at Notre Dame,” she shared. “I still am extremely close to my friends and really value those connections that I built there.”

Her Catholic university education also provided perspective – on what she could do to help others.

“I have always known that I would go into a field that needed to have a direct impact on individuals’ lives, and through public health I am able to do that,” she said.

“I believe it formed the basis for my future studies and my desire to make life better for others,” she said, then added, “I hope that through my work, and also my teaching of students in public health, that I will continue to help others by improving the lives of individuals through nutrition and prevention of diseases.”

• Internationally recognized faculty • Intellectually rigorous environment • Study abroad opportunities • Affordable tuition Among the

“10 top master’s universities in the North” — U.S. News & World Report

For more information visit

scranton.edu/MAtheologyinfo

DISCOVER THE

NU YOU. Master’s Degrees • Accounting • Athletic Training • Education • Nursing

Doctoral Degrees • Organizational and Strategic Leadership

• Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)

• Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• Physical Therapy (DPT)

• Educational Leadership (EdD)

• Sport Business

INFORMATION SESSION: Saturday, March 14, 9:30 - 11:30 AM Rocco A. Abessinio Building

REGISTER AT: www.neumann.edu/infosession 38 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE  March 2020

Respect Integrity Compassion Justice EXPAND Service POSSIBILITY AT

@LAKEWOOD @HAZLET @CUMBERLAND & ONLINE

Apply Today!

georgian.edu/apply

March 2020  THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 39

College Guide

Online program helps TCA students prep for college

BY ROSE O’CONNOR  Correspondent

S

tudents in the Upper School at Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, are receiving a glimpse of college life and beyond by participating in an online program known as OnTrack.

The program is an e-learning college and career readiness program that assists ninth- through 12th-grade students, school counselors, community organizations and mentors in understanding the process of applying to a college, university or other post-secondary education and the ins and outs of being accepted to an institution and financial aid.

“OnTrack was brought to us by an alum of the school, and I wanted to implement the program to work in conjunction with what we already offer our students in terms of their post-secondary planning,” said Michael Knowles, TCA president. “I am thrilled with the program and what it offers so far and plan on using it with more students during the 2020-2021 school year.”

In Trenton Catholic Academy, students use pre-recorded grade-specific video modules filmed by college students and young adults in conjunction with guidance from the Student Services Office to, as OnTrack puts it, take the guesswork out of college planning. The modules are able to be completed out of sequence, and students are asked questions following the com-

pletion of the lesson.

“Students are able to select the modules that interest them, based on where they are in the college application process. As they continue with the modules, they become more intense and more in-depth,” said Upper School teacher Nancy Preston, who has been moderating a junior class since it was implemented in January.

“It has been a real eye-opener for some of the students,” she acknowledged.

Student Francini Cruz agreed. Cruz has been participating in a module on the different types of college admissions, including early decision, early admission and regular admission.

“It’s really informative,” she said. “The modules also help you decide what you’re looking for in a college, things like college atmosphere, the grades you need, the benefits of private versus public college.”

In addition to those questions, student Gianna Gonzalez said the program is helping her think about how to adjust to life in college, too.

Once a student completes all of the modules, they can apply for a scholarship through OnTrack and the Uncommon Individual Foundation. Scholarship opportunities and ways to avoid debt is something Stanley Ihem, who has completed a majority of the modules, can attest to.

“This module is helping students stay out of debt while in college and after graduation,” Ihem shared. “The videos help you not only prepare for college but also for the world after.”

Michael Knowles, Trenton Catholic Academy president, assists an Upper School student with college and career selections using the online OnTrack program. Courtesy photo 40 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE  March 2020