inclusivitycontinues tobe partof theirmission tothis day.e recipient of thisawardis ClaraAinsworth’25.
REMINDERS:
Freshmen: Studentscanrequest tomeet with Mrs. Devinsto review theirPSATscoresandtoreview their academicyear.
Seniors:Justa reminder that your naltranscriptswill besentto thecollegeyouareattendingduringtheweek ofJune 10,2024.
Juniors have metwithMrs.Devinsduringtheir English classtodiscuss theCollege Essay,BragSheet andStudentResume.
Allstudents areencouraged tochecktheGuidance websiteforsummeropportunities andcollege information.
Studentsandparentsare encouragedto submittheir bragsheets tothe GuidanceOfficenolater thanJuly1, 2024.(Classof 2025)
eGuidanceDepartmentwillbehostinga College ApplicationBootCampforseniors. TentativeDate andTime:August19andAugust21,2024–exact timeTBD.
Additionally,there willbea mandatorycollegemeeting for all parents andstudentsofthe Classof 2025on September12,2024at7:00pm in theGraceAnn Café.
Questionsabout workingpapers,course selectionor college optionsshouldbesentto devinse@villawalsh. org. Workingpapersare nowfoundonline.
AWARDS
eAlfredUniversityScholarsAwardisawardedto anextraordinaryhigh school junior whois “outside ofordinary.”LifeatAlfredUniversityis far from ordinaryandthisawardseekstorecognizestudents whohave demonstratedwhotheyare as an individual andhowcantheybringthatsameinspiration to the Alfred University community.Notonlyaretheyone ofthe rsthighereducationinstitutionsintheUnited Statestoadmitwomenintoprograms wherethey tookcourses alongside men,but their commitmentto
eEndicottCollegeBookAwardisbeinggivento celebratetheextraordinaryaccomplishmentsofajunior student. Inrecognitionofyouracademicachievement, dedicationtocommunityservice and interestin experiential learning, thisaward is beinggivento ClaudiaSteinberg’25
eJohnB.StetsonJuniorScholarship isa prestigious awarddesignedto supporthigh-achievinghigh schooljuniorsintheirpursuitofhigher educationat StetsonUniversity.Valuedat$35,000,this scholarship isintended to helpwiththe nancial burdenof educationalexpensesat StetsonUniversity. is scholarshipsigni esStetsonUniversity’scommitmentto recognizingandinvestinginthe academicpotentialand futuresuccessofexceptionalstudents.erecipientsof this awardare NoraDam'25and Kaitlyn Pavagadhi’25.
eSt.BonaventureAwardrecognizes twojunior studentsfortheir academicachievementandservice tothe schoolandtheir community.e Bonnie ScholarAwardquali esawardwinners foran annual scholarshipof$20,000.isyear,theBonnie Scholar Awardisbeinggiven to MadelineKnagenhjelm’25and AudreyWilbanks’25.
eUniversityofRochester presentsthe Bausch& LombHonoraryScienceAwardtoa high school junior whodemonstrates exceptionalpromisein thesciences. Recipients are chosenonthe basis of their high school curriculuminthesciences,academicexcellenceand standardizedtestscores. WinnersoftheBausch& Lomb HonoraryScienceAwardareautomaticallyconsidered for afouryearscholarshiptothe UniversityofRochester whichtotalsat least $20,000. Itisourpleasuretogive this awardtoAnnaCollins’25.
eUniversityofRochester offers eFrederick DouglassandSusanB.AnthonyAwardtoa high schooljuniorwho exhibitsscholarship in arigorous curriculum,a commitment tounderstandingand addressingsocial issues,leadership anddedication to community. Recipientsofthisawardareautomatically consideredforascholarship worth atleast $30,000 over fouryearsofstudyattheUniversity ofRochester. Wearedelightedtopresentthisawardto Miranda Aviles’25.
eEastmanKodakCompanyandtheUniversity of Rochester sponsortheGeorgeEastmanYoungLeaders Award,aninternational programthatrecognizes outstandingachievementbyhigh school studentsin leadership andacademics. Winnersof thisaward areautomaticallyconsideredfora scholarshipworth $20,000overfouryears. Forher academicexcellence andforhercontinuedleadership,itisourhonorto presentthisawardto InesLemee’25.
eXeroxCorporationcombinedwiththefounder’s almamater,UniversityofRochester,present the Xerox AwardforInnovationandInformationTechnology to ajuniorwho exhibits astronginterest in innovation and anappreciationforthepossibilitiesoftechnology.e recipientofthisawardwillbe eligiblefor a scholarship ofatleast$20,000overfouryearsat theUniversity of Rochester.We are pleasedto presentthisawardto Malia Nugent’25.
eYaleClubof CentralNewJerseygrants the Yale BookAwardtoa juniorwhodemonstrates intellectual promiseandacademic excellence,exemplaryserviceor extracurricular activities;andexceptional character and integrity.isyear’srecipient of theYaleBookAwardis CierraWolckenhauer’25.
eUniversityofPennsylvaniaBookAward isoffered throughtheeffortsofthe AssociationofAlumnaeandis awardedto ajuniorstudentoftruemerit,which,inthe wordsofUPenn’sfounder,BenjaminFranklin,re ects, “Aninclination joinedwithanabilitytoservemankind, one’s country,friendsandfamily:whichability isto beacquiredorgreatlyincreased bytruelearning:and shouldindeed bethe greataimandendofall learning.” erecipientofthisawardis IsabellaPizzo’25.
ePrincetonBookAwardforSecondarySchools ispresentedbythePrincetonClubto outstanding studentsat theendof theirjunioryear atpublic and private secondaryschools across thecountry. e
awardrecognizesoutstandingpersonalcharacter and intellectualpromise.eaward’spurposeistohonor localstudents,andrecruit thebestandbrightest studentsto theUniversity.isyear’s recipient is KatherineZiwot’25
For morethan85years,RensselaerPolytechnic Institutehasawarded the RensselaerMedal Award torecognizethe superlative academic achievement ofyoungmenandwomen,andtomotivatestudents towardcareersinscience,engineeringandtechnology. is $25,000peryear meritscholarshipisguaranteed for fouryearsfor eachmedalist who applies,is accepted,andchoosesto enrollatRensselaer. Itis awardedto promising secondary school studentswho have distinguishedthemselvesinmathematicsand science,andweareproudto presentthisawardto NoraKra’25.
NATIONALMERITAWARD:
Morethan1.5 millionjuniorsenteredthe2024National Merit Programby takingthe 2022PSAT.Fromthisgroup oftest-takers,34,000students wererecognized fortheir exceptionalacademicpromiseandnamedNationalMerit CommendedStudents. Wecongratulatethe following studentsforbeingnamedNationalMeritCommended Students: LaurelHamilton’24 and HollySmitreski’24.
Memorial Dayisa dayforhonoringandmourningtheU.S. military personnel who diedwhileservingourcountry. Villa Servesobservedthe four-day holiday andcommemoration withtheplacement of red, white andbluepinwheelson campus.
Seventhgraderswere able towrap uptheschoolyear by celebrating ChristmasinMay! In thelasthoursofthis school year,the7th gradeclass cutoldChristmas cardsandmade tags to beusedforourChristmas gi-giving. A specialthank youto Sister JosephinePalmieriforcollectingandsharingthe beautifulcards.
OperationSmile
JesseKramer’24iscontinuinghercommitmentto Operation Smileandis travelingagain toprovidetreatmentforchildren withcle palates. is summershewillbejoininganother teamin Koforidua,Ghana whereshe willbe doinga surgical programandthen,who knows! Wewill besaying“Wherein theworldisJesseKramer?” ankyou,Jesse,forrepresenting VillaWalsh andforall thegoodthatyou do!
DiversityCAFE-withCAFE standingforCulturalAwareness For Everyone -wishestocongratulateourgraduating Executive Boardseniorsandthankthem fortheir helpinful llingour missionto raiseawareness of othercultures andother people.
WewouldalsoliketowelcomeournewExecutiveBoardfor 2024thatincludes MirandaAviles’25,InesLemee’25,Clodagh Bateson’26, AnneRionda’27andEmmaMurphy’29.
EarlyinMay,PopeFrancis proclaimed a worldwidejubileefor 2025thatwill begin on ChristmasEve,2024.Inhisproclamation, Pope Francisexpressedhisdesire for allpeoplesto participate inarenewalof hope,a fruit andvirtueborneoffaith,inacts of worship,pilgrimage,and inworks ofcharity. To honorandmore fullyparticipate in this year of jubilee,VillaWalsh’sstudents andfaculty selectedPsalm71:5,“ForYou,OLord,aremyhope,” whichwillserveasourtheme for theacademicyear2024-2025.
On May28,theSeniorclassenjoyedtheir annualretreatatSt. James Parish inBaskingRidge.e day’sthemewas“Moving Forward,”led bySr.Helen,theireologyInstructor,andMs. ColetteGeraghty,theCampusMinister.Usingice breakers, conferences,andre ections, thestudentsinteracted onhow their spirituallife willbe impactedonacollegecampusaswellasthe gratitude theyshouldexperienceforthemany blessingsthey have received andcontinueto have.eirday wascomplete with time for ConfessionandEucharisticLiturgy.Aspecialthankyoutothe pastor,Msgr. Cronin andFr.Ariel whoprovided hospitality and spiritualgracesthroughthe sacraments.
ough theweather interferedwith Villa’snewtraditionof hosting theannual MayCrowningoutsideinthegarden,we wereblessedwiththe beautyof St.LucyChapelto honorOur LadyonMay10th byonceagain gatheringtopraythe rosaryina varietyoflanguages. DelaneyCaughey’24, assistedby Claudia Aragon’24 crowned thestatueofMaryaer leadingtheirClassof 2024classmates toplace owersin thevasebeforeher.
ankyouto NicoleMuniz’24,Colleen(Jackie)Walsh’24,Holly Smitreski’24,BlytheDudley’25,MadelineKnagenhjelm’25, GiselleScannella’26,KayleyBascom’26,AmeliaKleinle’26,Ava Sansano’27,KatherineTreacy’27,andEmmaMurphy’29 for leadingopeningandclosingprayersorintroducingthemysteries oftherosary.ankyou to SophieLewandowska’25andElla Trzesniowski’27 (Polish); InesLemee’25 (Tagalog); Maria Costello’25 (Spanish); MirandaAviles’25 (Italian); Leah Costa’25 (Portuguese); BeatriceCrucs’24 and Laurel Hamilton’24 (French); SamanthaInnella’28 (Latin) and LynetteGao’25 (Mandarin)forsayingtheHail Marys. e Chorus,led byMr.Paul Daher,sangbeautifully,with Cierra Wolckenhauer’24 offeringamagni centperformance oftheAve Maria.
VillaWalsh Academy’sClass of2025hosted the annualJunior/ SeniorPromforthe graduatingclassof2024onursday,May 23rdattheOlde Mill Inn in BaskingRidge.
ePromCommittee,juniors ClaraAinsworth’25, AmaliaHronides’25,ElizabethKandziolka’25,Madeline Knagenhjelm’25,LeiaLange’25,AgustinaMartinezFerretti’25,AveryPoruczynski’25,AudreyWilbanks’25, CierraWolckenhauer’25,RoisinYosh’25,andKatherine Ziwot’25 beganmeetingin latewinterto planthe evening’s events,menu,anddecor. e Committeeselected“Sunseton theBeach”fortheProm’stheme,andtheir ideasfor beachydecor werebrought tolife bytheever-talentedMrs.StaceyGrabowski, alongwithMrs. VanessaSchiroand Mrs. LauraWilliams,anda teamofsophomoreparentswhohelped setup theevent.
Specialthanksto Mrs.MariaandMr.MikeManleyandOfficer Steve Summererforalso servingaseventchaperones,andto Sr.ElaineBebyn,Sr.LauraBezila,Sr.HelenSanchez,Mr.Owen Busler, Mrs.Karen Cunico,Mrs.KimCheifer,Mr.PaulDaher, Mrs.JaniceFiga,Ms.Colette Geraghty,Mrs.LeeAnneNugent, andMrs.Elena Priceforjoiningthereceivinglineto greetthe girlsandtheir datesat thebeginningofthenight.Asalways, thanks toMr.Dave Kramerforcommemoratingtheeveningwith photos.
VWA’s Sisters1st FIRSTRoboticsCompetition(FRC)Team8513 tooka roadtripwithRiRitothe R.Seelaus& Co.Headquartersto celebratetheir trip tothe WorldChampionshipinApril!
R.Seelaus&Co.,a women-owned businessenterprise,is one ofSisters 1st’slargest donor.eir unwaveringsupportand constantencouragementfacilitatedSisters 1st’strip to theWorld Championship forwhich theVWA communityisverygrateful.
egirlsexplainedtheir variousroles within theteam,from engineeringandcoding,todesign-thinkingandcommunity outreach.eyalso demonstratedtheincredibleattributes of RiRi tothe employees,whowere allimpressed bythe agility andprecision oftherobot.Ahighlightofthe daywas acareer discussionwiththree femaleexecutiveswhosharedwords of wisdomwiththe studentsas theybegin toformulatetheir future career paths.e girlsendedthedaywith aspecial treat!A special icecreamsundae named‘Scream forVillaWalsh Robotics’ was created fortheteambythe ‘ScreamTruck’,a favorite icecream truckoftheR.Seelaus employees. It wasasweet celebration for all!
LacrosseVarsity
Varsitylacrosse endedtheseason4-14with ahardlossagainstOur LadyofMercyinthe Prep BStateLacrosseTournament.While theirrecorddidnotre ectthetalent,the lacrosse team continued todemonstrategreat sportsmanship gameaer game.eir peers recognizedtheireffortson the eld,andthe team wasawarded the NJGILLSportsmanship Awardfor ourconference,Independence Blue.Congratulationstoourgraduatingseniors, Lilianna Wendorff’24(co-captain),NadiaPinsonault’24 (co-Captain), ReeseMcChesney’24,MeaghanO’Malley’24,NataliaTole’24, and LaurelHamilton’24 LaurelHamilton’24,onthelastgame of herhighschool lacrosse career,talliedthe 400thsave of hercareer.
LacrosseJV
eJVVillaxseason nished againstWestMorris Centralona beautiful,sunny dayonCunninghamField.eir 2024record standsat 3wins, 8losses, and3tiegames.Althoughourseason waschallengingattimes, theathletesproved tobea stronggroup ofyoungwomen.Every one of ourplayershasshownsigni cant growth throughout the2024 season.eobstacles,such as postponed games,onlypushed the girlsto workharderwith each practice andtobethatmuchstronger bythenext competition.We areallincrediblyproudofhowfartheseathletes havecomeand lookforwardtohowmuch furthertheywillgo in 2025.
GolfVarsity/JV
egolfteam nished the lastmonth oftheseason withthree winsand two lossesinmatchesandhadastrongshowinginthe NJACConferenceChampionship.e teamdefeatedMadison, Randolph,andPequannock,droppingawaymatchesto division co-championsMorristownBeardandChatham.Ledbyteam MVPRebekahSaxon’27,theteam nishedthirdoverall in the NJACConferenceTournamentagainsta eldoftwenty teams. RebekahSaxon’27shota season-best44 to nishthirdoverall,
twoshotsbehindthewinner.Co-captain NoraDam’25 and Bridget Drew’26 both playedwellinthetournament.Overall,theteam nished theseasonwith7 winsand8 losses in matches this season. Rebekah Saxon’27 wasnamed 1stTeamAll-Conference, NoraDam’25 was named 2ndTeamAll-Conference,and graduatingco-captain Holly Smitreski’24wasnamed Honorable Mention.
SpringTrack&Field
AttheMorris CountyChampionships,BlytheDudley’26 earned silver medalsinthe 1600and3200.In the3200,sherana newpersonal bestof 10:56.43. MargaretBoler’25placed5thinthe1600, Azariah Andrews’27 placed5thinthelongjump (with ajumpof16’6”),and JesseKramer’24earned 6thplacein thediscuswith athrowof 97’10”.
AttheNJISAA“PrepB”Meet on May20,Villawasthe runner-up behindMorristown Beard.Bothteams willsquare off again atthe nalbigmeetoftheseasonfortheentire team,theNon-Public B GroupState Meetat StocktonUniversity,onJune7 andJune 8.e top2performersineach meetwill qualifyfortheMeetofChampions onJune 12,2024.Come andcheer on ourathletes this weekend!Go Sprack!
Soball
ebeginningofMaywas lled withsoball fun!eteamplayed Madison High SchoolonMay1 andSummitHigh Schoolon May 8.egirlsworkedhardagainstbothteams! esoballseason endedonMay14 withacelebration of theseniors, Colleen(Jackie) Walsh’24,GraceMesce’24,SarahChambeau’24,Catherine(Katie) Lane’24,andCatherineCollum’24.egirlsshowcased theirsoball skills,winningagainstMorristown Beard,10-8!eseasonconcluded withacelebratorydinner andawardson May29th.Congratulations toColleen(Jackie)Walsh’24,KaitlynPavagadhi’25,Claudia Steinberg’25,RoisinYosh’25, andJaneGuarnier’26ontakinghome theawardsforthis season!Everyathlete on therosterplayedanintegral rolein thesuccessandfunofthisseason!eteamlooksforwardto reunitinginMarch 2025 for anotherfantasticseason!
AthleticLeadershipCouncil(ALC)
elastALC meetingof theyearwasheldonMay 30.We celebrated ourseniors withaspecialgi andthankedthem fortheiryears of service.eoutgoingExecutiveBoard awardedALCpinsto the underclassmanmembers.Special thanks toPresident Delaney Caughey’24,Vice-PresidentLiliannaWendorff’24,Secretary Emily Poruczynski’24,Treasurer JaneDufner’24,VillaNation ChairLaurel Hamilton’24,andMembershipChairMarthaSmart’25 fortheir leadership andserviceon theExecutiveBoard!
VWABoosterClub
eVWA Booster Clubheldthe JunemeetingonMonday,June3,to celebratethesuccessful year!e celebrationwas heldintheSDLAC withdeliciousfoodfromMexicanSpice.Mrs.Fleuryexpressed gratitude toallvolunteers,especially theseniorparents,fortheir4or6 yearsofdedicationandservicetothe BoosterClubandVWAthletics. Specialrecognitionwasgivento thosegraduatingsenior parentswho have goneaboveandbeyondin their commitmentandservicetothe VWA BoosterCluboverthepastfouryears- Mrs.LynneConnor, Mrs. Loren Hamilton,Mrs.Tricia Brancatella,andMr.andMrs.Davidand JenniferKramer.
eboutiqueis openonlineeverydayforyourshopping convenience: stores.villawalsh.com
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