92 Hopmeadow St, Weatogue, CT 06089 Ph: 860-325-5096
Stellar student spotlight
Aaron B. Northwest Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from Northwest Catholic High School? I plan on attending American University in Washington, D.C. with a major in journalism.
What do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? I plan on taking a route in photojournalism, mixing both of my skills and passions. My dream career after college is becoming either a national/international correspondent, a news anchor at mainstream media outlet (CBS, NBC, ABC for example), or a sports commentator.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? Through my Catholic school education, I have been positively guided both academically and ethically. Having gone through three Catholic schools, I have always been encouraged to do my best in the classroom, on the golf course, and in my service to others through altar serving.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? My AP U.S. History teacher, Mr. Drew Mitchell, inspired me to dive deeper into my passion for U.S. History and his teaching style encouraged my already passionate work ethic. His constantly engaging classroom setting and willingness to sit with me after school to review homework and assessments made me a much more attentive student and a critical thinker and reader who efficiently took in information.
What will you miss most about your school? What I will miss most about Northwest Catholic is the close-knit community that welcomed talents of all kinds. For me, it was the fact that my peers embraced my work as I began getting into photography and graphic design and their continuing support through junior and senior year.
Makayla B. St. Paul Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from St. Paul Catholic High School? I plan to study Political Science at Sacred Heart University.
What do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? I am planning to major in Political Science, but minor in history and possibly Spanish. My real dream is to go on to law school and become a lawyer. I would like to pursue a career as a prosecutor.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? I received many blessings from my Catholic school education, but the biggest one is to always trust in God’s plan. I have been blessed with an excellent education, amazing friends, and a supportive family because of God’s plan for me. He has helped me to develop these relationships, and He has helped me to figure out what I want to do in the future. I am eternally grateful for all of God’s blessings and I am excited to see what plan He has for me in the future.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? I have had numerous teachers that have inspired me throughout my academic career, but Dr. Gnoza, my sophomore year history teacher, truly helped me to recognize my love of history. Whenever I was in his class, I was always so excited to learn and knew that I wanted to pursue it in the future.
My senior year history teacher, Mrs. Kelly was also a major academic influence on me. She teaches AP Government and Politics, and that class is something that I really enjoyed. It helped me to understand how important it is to be educated in civics and politics.
This class also helped me understand the judicial branch, and how I wanted to be a part of it in the future.
Additionally, my Spanish teacher, Señora Lebron-Rojas, has had a deep impact on my academic career. She has taught me the wonderful language of Spanish and has shown me how important it is to learn a different language. Her class was something I always enjoyed. She not only taught me so much about the language of Spanish, but showed me whole new cultures as well.
What will you miss most about your school?
High school was the best four years of my life. I met so many wonderful people, learned so much about myself and the world, and created so many memories I will cherish forever.
Unfortunately, all great things must come to an end. What I will miss most about Saint Paul Catholic High School is the close knit community I had been a part of. I will dearly miss coming to school everyday and seeing my friends. They were the best part of school. I will also miss being a part of the Debate Club and competing every month, but I know that our team has a bright future!
Elizabeth M. East Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from East Catholic High School? I am thrilled to attend Salve Regina University in the fall, where I will pursue studies in biology and compete in both Women's Basketball and Women's Volleyball. I also intend to explore all the clubs and organizations the university offers. I eagerly anticipate immersing myself in the wealth of opportunities available both on campus and in Newport.
What do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? My academic focus in college will be biology on a pre-med track. Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, ideally in a program within Connecticut. My career aspiration is to work as an orthopedic physician. For my first job. I hope to be located in the Hartford/Manchester area to remain close to my family while pursuing my career.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? One of the biggest blessings I've received are the people that I've met. From students to teachers and coaches, the focus has always been on building relationships. I'm surrounded by people who push me to become the best versions of myself while encouraging me to keep going. The diverse group of people that I've been able to bond with has been crucial to my academic and sports journey. I've had the blessing of being able to grow such a strong support group who I know can help me be successful. The people you meet at East Catholic are always able to help and assist you whether it's a teacher, coach, or student. The community is a blessing and everyone single person is a part of that blessing.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? My religion teacher, Mrs. Quackenbush, has been an invaluable resource. Whether I came to her with personal matters or academic concerns, I always felt like I could talk comfortably to her. Her knowledge and approachable demeanor allowed me to discuss any situation, and she always offered guidance on different ways to handle those situations. Beyond teaching curriculum, she has taught me different life lessons that I can apply to my everyday. After having her as a teacher for two years, I always knew that if there was anything that I needed help with, Mrs. Quackenbush would be there to guide me through it.
What will you miss most about your school?
What I will miss the most about East Catholic are the extracurricular and student life experience. In particular, I will miss being a part of the girls' basketball team. Over the years, the team has become like a second family, playing a crucial role in my development as a person. Being a part of the team was a privilege, and the opportunity to create and deepen relationships significantly enriched my connection to the school. Through the triumphs and challenges of being part of such a remarkable team, I was always able to find joy in the experience and in my team.
Samuel P. Northwest Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from Northwest Catholic High School? After graduating from Northwest Catholic High School I will be attending the University of Scranton, a Jesuit university in Pennsylvania.
If attending college, what do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? At the University of Scranton, I was invited to join the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and I will be a member of the varsity swim team. At Scranton, I plan on majoring in both Environmental Science and Philosophy. After graduating, I’m interested in becoming a Jesuit volunteer and traveling somewhere helping those who need it the most. After that my dream job is either to become a teacher or to work in environmental sustainability.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? I have received many blessings from my 13 years of Catholic school education. I think that the most important blessings I have received are the ability to learn more about my faith while also deepening it and becoming a better Catholic. I have also been able to go on life changing experiences such as the Kairos retreat run by Northwest Catholic’s Campus Ministry and the trip my Honors Institute for Leadership & Learning class took to Washington D.C. Furthermore, I have greatly appreciated the ability to go to school with the same handful of individuals from kindergarten to our senior year of high school which was very special.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? My high school religion teacher and campus minister Mr. Christopher Haddad has definitely had a great impact on my education. Mr. Haddad helped me recognize what I am really passionate about, which is serving others. The programs that Mr. Haddad has run through Campus Ministry, such as regularly volunteering at the Hartford Catholic Worker or the Kairos retreats, have helped shine a light on what is important in my life.
What will you miss most about your school? Most of all I will miss the school spirit of Northwest Catholic. Some of my fondest memories are cheering on my fellow classmates at basketball or football games, or my teammates at swim meets. I will also miss the ability to get to know my entire grade and be able to develop strong connections with teachers around the building.
Zola C. St. Paul Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from St. Paul Catholic High School? I am a student athlete. I play both volleyball and basketball. I plan on continuing my basketball career and hope to play at the collegiate level. I will go to a university that has a good reputation for both basketball and academics. I value my academics and also want to excel in college as well as my athletics.
If attending college, what do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? I want to earn a medical degree and pursue an ambitious career after college. My dream career after college is to become an oncologist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. I want to help people with cancer, mentally and physically. I knew many people who had cancer and some who died because of it. My father was diagnosed and succumbed to cancer after a 7 year battle. That is where my drive comes from. You need a bachelor’s degree and several years in medical school. Courses I would take in college include psychology, anatomy, and biochemistry. I believe I can do it with the education and perseverance I have learned from attending St. Paul Catholic High School.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? I have been blessed just to be able to go to St. Paul’s. My whole time as a student has been wonderful. The teaching style is excellent and informative. The community is very supportive. I have received blessings such as learning the St. Paul core values. One of the most important values to me is service. I have learned to help others over myself because of St. Paul’s ethics. Service is very important and will help me in the future when attending college or applying for a job.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? A teacher that has helped me at St. Paul is Mrs. Kromidas, my English teacher. She helped me to assess my writing and understand grammar. This will help me in the future, no matter where I go. It will help me with job interviews, resumes, and papers in the future. I am grateful for her teaching and for helping me understand my work. She inspires me to do the best I can.
What will you miss most about your school? One thing I will miss most about my school is all the people who will go through the journey with me. My classmates and friends support each other through our high school careers, academically and athletically. I am thankful I am in such a wonderful group that is like family. I would also like to thank FACS for giving me the opportunity to attend St. Paul and become the best person I can be.
Jade C. East Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from East Catholic High School? Proceeding to follow my dream career path, after graduating high school, I plan to attend the University of New Haven.
If attending college, what do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? By attending the University of New Haven, I plan to study Forensic Science with the end goal of either becoming a crime scene investigator or a detective further on in my career path.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? I believe my Catholic school education has brought me an abundance of blessings. Allowing students, like myself, to broaden their opportunities academically to further their studies with discipline, study habits and a better understanding of religion in the real world.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? There are two teachers who I believe have helped me in my academic career since attending Catholic school. Both teachers have helped me further my interest in the subject of science as well as enhanced my abilities studying the subject. These two teachers include Mr. James Robert as well as Mr. Noah Leonard.
What will you miss most about your school? From the last four years of my experience at East Catholic High School, I believe the thing I will miss the most about school is the sense of community. I loved having a community of teachers who I could rely on to help me in a time of need. No matter what, they welcomed me with open arms and ears to hear whatever I needed help with and give me their best educated opinion on it.
Aubrey D. East Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from East Catholic High School? Upon graduating from East Catholic High School, I plan on going to college and enrolling at the University of Rochester.
If attending college, what do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? At U of R, my intention is to pursue studies in either psychology or biology with a
pre-med focus. Entering the medical field has long been an aspiration of mine, with my ultimate aim being to specialize in mental health and recovery as either a forensic psychiatrist or a practitioner in the field colloquially known as "shrinks."
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? Having attended Catholic school since second grade, I've been immensely fortunate to nurture both my faith and intellect. Choosing an educational institution where academics are highly esteemed was crucial to me, but the chance to cultivate my character by embracing genuine values and morals has been an invaluable experience that I deeply treasure. Every day, I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunity to attend East, as well as my previous schools, as I genuinely believe they have played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. These blessings are truly priceless to me.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? One educator who has been a source of inspiration throughout my academic journey is Ms. Lisa Kirsche, my English teacher. Over the years, Ms. Kirsche has not only equipped me with the necessary skills for AP exams and college applications but has also provided invaluable support both mentally and academically. Her presence radiates positivity, creating an atmosphere that is irreplaceable. Ms. Kirsche has stood by me during both joyful and challenging times, lifting me up when I was down and sharing in the excitement of achievements. Her ability to bring a smile to anyone's face is truly endearing, and I am profoundly thankful for the privilege of being her student not just once, but twice.
What will you miss most about your school? To be frank, what I'll miss most about East Catholic High School is the genuine sense of community it fosters. From the moment I stepped into freshman year, it was evident that East is a place where everyone is embraced, regardless of their differences or limitations. Now, as a senior, I can attest that this sentiment still rings true, with individuals on campus consistently supporting one another and demonstrating genuine concern toward the wellbeing of others. East stands apart from any other institution I've had the privilege of attending, and the thought of leaving evokes a sense of reluctance that's hard to shake.
Nikita A. Northwest Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from Northwest Catholic High School? I plan on working a lot at my summer job (I started a landscaping business) to make enough money to help pay for my college tuition as well as save for college expenses such as books and other supplies. I will be attending Bryant University this fall.
If attending college, what do you plan to study in college and what is your dream career after college? I plan on studying finance as a business major during my time at Bryant. My goal is to someday work in the corporate world after I earn my bachelor’s degree.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you?
Some of the blessings include the strong bonds made with many of my teachers as well as the lifelong friendships formed with some of my peers during my time at Northwest Catholic. I had the opportunity to play varsity hockey while a student here and was a captain during my senior year.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? Yes our school’s Dean of Students, Mr. Fitzpatrick helped and supported both me and many other students at Northwest by always being available to listen to and support us no matter how busy he might have been or what day it was. He is a great role model.
What will you miss most about your school? I will miss my friends as well as the friendly and supportive environment. Everyone here was focused on helping me to realize my dreams and goals.
Emma T. St. Paul Catholic High School
What do you plan to do once you graduate from St. Paul Catholic High School? I am a current junior/rising senior from Saint Paul Catholic High School. Once I graduate next year I plan to attend college and receive at least a bachelor’s degree and possibly master’s afterwards. I plan to study within the realms of either English or art, which reflect my dream careers; ideally, I would become an author, but I am also interested in screenwriting or character design for film. Film, writing, and art have always been huge in my life, and it would be amazing to build a career in one of these fields.
What blessings have you received from your Catholic school education and how have those blessings helped you? When I chose to come to St. Paul rather than my local high school I was blessed with a loving, welcoming, close-knit community, supportive teachers, and an amazing group of friends. With these I was able to grow as a student and a person overall. My education here has also provided me with knowledge I wouldn’t have otherwise through college-level courses, accelerated academics, and excellent teachers.
Is there a teacher that has inspired you or helped you with your academic career? How? There are several teachers that have inspired me here at St. Paul, including my art teacher and director of the Drama Club Mr. Mazzarella, my geometry teacher Mr. Longmore, my English teacher Mrs. Greger, and so many more. In their own individual ways, each teacher has aided me in my academic career, whether it’s by providing me with countless opportunities, challenging me, or encouraging me.
What will you miss most about your school? The thing I will miss most about my time at St. Paul’s is definitely the community. Because of my classes and my personal experience in the Drama Club I’ve created positive relationships with my teachers, fellow students, and I have been able to build an amazing group of best friends. My friends at school are an enormously important part of my life and I will forever miss them when I graduate next year. I will always remember the loving family I have found at St. Paul’s, and forever identify as a Falcon flying high because of them.