Ceremonies for the 69 graduates of MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology were held Wednesday morning on Pershing Field in historic Fort Hancock, as 100 per cent of the members of the graduating class are heading for college or military academies later this year.
Addressing the cloudy skies and high winds, Principal Earl Moore good naturedly welcomed the crowd to the outdoor ceremony with a “Welcome to another Bad Hair Day at Sandy Hook.” The principal praised parents of all MAST students, recognizing the sacrifices they make in time, transportation and at-home nurturing to ensure “these amazing” students attend one of the highest ranked high schools in the nation. Moore also thanked the students for teaching him “insight, wisdom, your appreciation for freedom and democracy” and noted that while they are facing an unknown future they “are grounded in the realities of time.”
Dr. Charles R. Ford, Jr., Ed.D,, superintendent of the vocational school district for Monmouth County, also congratulated the students, though he said in jest he does not visit the school between November and April because of the weather the small peninsula faces during winter months. Dr. Ford advised the graduates not to be afraid, and “go out there and make me proud.”
Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, (USN Ret.)Senior Naval Advisor for MAST, read a letter to the graduates from Commissioner Lillian G. Burry who was unable to attend the ceremony she has spoken at for 17 years while at home recuperating from an illness.
Seven members of the class received scholarships to continue both education and military careers, with Mary Catherine Harvey, Loch Arbor, receiving an appointment to the US Naval Academy and Jenna Lewandowski of Ocean, an appointment to the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Ct.
James Abbes of Lincroft, was presented with a Marine Option Scholarship to Texas A&M, Aislinn Crowe of Brielle, awarded an NROTC scholarship to The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Olivia Bonforte of Oakhurst, an NROTC scholarship to George Washington University, April Ivan of Aberdeen, an Army ROTC scholarship to Hofstra University and Conall Dougherty of Brielle, an Army ROTC scholarship to Villanova.
Representatives of each of the branches of service or universities was at the ceremony to make the presentations.
The NJROTC Marine Academy Color Guard presented colors for the ceremony with Cadet Grace Decker leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Cadets Olivia Reier Isabella Taborda and Oseph Villanueva singing the national anthem.
Senior Class President Kyle Gavlick addressed his classmates, reviewing the lessons they learned at MAST together with the unusual times and challenges they faced throughout their four years. Graduating senior and NJROTC Sergeant at Arms Owen McCaffrey lead the class in the ceremonial changing of the tassels on their graduation caps, and Daniel Vadon advised his classmates to go forward with “an open mind and growing heart.”
Students displayed a variety of honors each has received and maintained during their high school years, including National Honor and Spanish Honor societies. Harrison Adler was a member of the Technology Student Association Honor Society as well as the Spanish Honor Society, and Emma McPolin and Isabella Taborda each received the Seal of Bi-literacy in addition to the National and Spanish Honor societies’ commendations
