Caleigh Kehoe, front, and Mackenzie Kovic, back, exit commencement exercises June 4 in St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Middletown. Kyle Plumstead photos
Mater Dei Prep MIDDLETOWN
Mater Dei’s Class of 2019 meets
challenges, future head on
By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor
D
uring Mater Dei Prep’s June 4 commencement, class valedictorian Morgan Ryan Hurst urged her 47 fellow classmates to follow their dreams in future endeavors. “We all have dreams. Everyone sitting in front of me has the strength and power to do whatever they want in life. With hard work, dedication and staying positive toward our goals, none of us will fail,” Hurst said to those gathered in St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Middletown. Salutatorian Robert Cassin III, in his speech, referenced the circumstances his classmates were faced with when they entered as freshmen four years ago. In spring 2015, the school was closed due to factors including declining enrollment, but then, at the initiative of alumni, reopened as a private Catholic entity in September of that year. “I would like to thank all those who supported Mater Dei Prep in its time of need,” Cassin said. “Most of us would agree that starting high school is an intimidating task to begin
with … but we held staunch in our faith. “We’ve managed to take on the challenges that high school threw at us head on … now that we’ve passed with flying colors, we’re ready for the next challenges we’ll face in our lives.” Presiding over During the Baccalaureate Mass May 28, Mater Dei Mater Dei’s comfaculty and graduates lift their voices in song. mencement was Father Brian Patrick Woodrow, Kathleen Daly, Mater Dei’s pastor of St. Dominic Parish, associate head of school, said, Brick, and an alumni of the “The Class of 2019... came with school, and Father Richard Osthe spirit of the first independent born, school chaplain and paschool class to enter Mater Dei rochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, ... We are very proud of their Middletown. The Baccalaureate accomplishments. Mass was celebrated May 28 by “This class is a dynamic one Father Osborn. – we know they are going to “We were not just one numaccomplish fantastic things in ber of out of many in a giant the next chapter in their lives,” school where nobody knows she said. your name, but a small, closeVideo from freelance phoknit group who truly took the tographer Kyle Plumstead time to get to know each other, contributed to this and that is what makes our class report. truly special,” Hurst said.
Graduates: 48 Baccalaureate Mass: May 28, 2019, St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Middletown Commencement: June 4, 2019, St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Middletown Scholarships Received: $4,700,000
Valedictorian: Morgan Ryan Hurst
Salutatorian: Robert Cassin III
Religious award recipient: Robert Cassin III Academic Excellence: Bridget Corman, Jacob Callas, Robert Cassin III, Izaiah Henderson, Morgan Hurst, Ishan Sharma, Xuanting (Tyler) Ren, Jeremy Weinstein, Xingquan (Jason) Xi and Haoxuan (Shane) Xiao
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We took the risk on Mater Dei Prep because we knew it would be worth it. We knew it would become the place that meant more to us than anything. Where we would find new friends, and make new memories. It was us, and the support of the families in this room and the entirety of the Mater Dei Community that will continue on the Mater Dei Prep legacy for years to come.” Morgan Ryan Hurst, Valedictorian Speech
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We’ve managed to take on the challenges that high school threw at us head on, and now that we’ve passed with flying colors, we’re ready for the next challenges we’ll face in our lives.” Robert Cassin III, Salutatorian Speech ►A graduate receives his diploma from Mater Dei Prep faculty. A graduate serves as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion during the Baccalaureate Mass.
JUNE 2019 • TRENTONMONITOR.COM •
Class of 2019 • G31