Trinity Academy Class Of 2019 Celebrates Commencement

CALDWELL, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Trinity Academy. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Trinity Academy graduated 16 eighth graders during its 28th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m., at St. Aloysius Parish in Caldwell.

The eighth graders began their graduation day in the morning with a special Baccalaureate Mass at St. Aloysius, where the graduates gathered with their families and the entire student body to celebrate Mass for the last time as Trinity Academy students. A special breakfast for the families followed the Mass, provided by the Home & School Association.

During the formal graduation ceremony that evening, Administration and Faculty led the procession of the Class of 2019 graduates. Family and friends in attendance watched with joy as the eighth graders received their diplomas, symbolizing the end of one chapter of their lives and the beginning of another. Mr. Patrick Russo, a beloved former staff member of Trinity Academy returned to address the graduates as a surprise guest speaker. He expressed his love of the class, remarking on their collective consideration and empathy for others, and their many talents, having seen most of them grow from Kindergarten students to graduates. He encouraged each of them to “continue to be the wonderful individuals they are, and do great things in the world.”

Fr. Thomas Dente, Pastor of Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell, Msgr. Robert E. Emery, Pastor of St. Aloysius and Fr. Antonio L. Ricarte of Blessed Sacrament, Roseland, presented the many class awards and diplomas to the class, led by Linda Payonzeck, Trinity Academy principal.

“It is an honor to be with you all today, and a pleasure to see the spiritual, academic and emotional growth of each young man and woman throughout the year,” said Ms. Payonzeck. “While it is difficult to watch each student leave what we all consider a 'second home,' it is with great pride and confidence in their abilities and accomplishments that we do so.”

The exciting graduation festivities actually began on Tuesday, June 4th with a fun filled field trip to Hershey Park, PA. Followed on Thursday by the traditional “Clap Out,” an emotional and heart-warming annual event in which the entire student body, grades Pre-K through grade 7, line the halls and "clap-out" the Trinity graduates as they leave the building on the last day of scheduled classes. The graduates also gathered at the Essex Fells Country Club on June 6 for the Annual 8th Grade Social, which included dinner and dancing.

The Trinity Academy graduates have been accepted to and have received in excess of $248,000 in academic scholarships to top Catholic private high schools including Mt. St. Dominic Academy’s Siena Scholarship to Amanda Rohde and Veritas Merit Award winners Julia Camporeale and Kaitlin King; Head of School Award to Oratory Prep winners Eric Perez, Matthew Gupta and Justin Smith; Seton Hall Prep Headmaster’s Scholarship to Mathew Gupta; and Angel Sullivan Scholarship winners Amanda Rohde, Katie King, Anabella DiGiovanni, Ava Racioppi, Elizabeth Blenden, Julia Camporeale and Ruby Faust to Mt. St. Dominic Academy.

In addition, two students, Amanda Rohde and Katherine Gupta, were awarded certificates of merit and purple ribbons for achieving perfect scores on their National Latin Exams. Only 462 students out of over 22,000 who took the exam, achieved a perfect score.

The entire Trinity Academy class of 2019 will be continuing their education at private Catholic institutions including: Mt. St. Dominic Academy, Seton Hall Prep, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, Morris Catholic, DePaul, Don Bosco Prep, and Oratory Prep. Graduates have also been invited to participate in honors classes in English, Math, Biology, History, World Language and Theology.

Trinity Academy administration, faculty and staff, and the families of the eighth graders are proud of the students' accomplishments and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

For more information about Trinity Academy, visit www.trinityk8.com, or call 973-226-3386.

The Trinity Academy Class of 2019 (alphabetical order)

Elizabeth Blenden, Little Falls

Marcus Brozon, Caldwell

Julia Camporeale, Caldwell

Anabella DiGiovanni, Essex Fells

Ruby Faust, North Caldwell

Katherine Gupta, West Orange

Matthew Gupta, West Orange

Cameron Haughton, Roseland

Kaitlin King, Essex Fells

Eric Perez, Clifton

Ava Racioppi, Roseland

Amanda Rohde, North Caldwell

Justin Smith, North Caldwell

Anna Stiesi, West Orange

Christian Turner, North Caldwell

John Turner, North Caldwell

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