Stark gives back through grief
October 9, 2020
“It has been said that grief is the final act of love,” says Ryan’s Love of Life Foundation and its co-founder, senior Brooke Stark of Manasquan, “and we’ve chosen to channel our grief into healing.” Stark began Ryan’s Love of Life Foundation in January along with her mother as a tribute...
Music to their ears: Jodry uses her musical talent to give back
June 12, 2020
Instead of opening dozens of presents from family or celebrating with friends, freshman Mary Jodry of Neptune City has spent her last three birthdays using her musical talent to raise money for One Life to Love, a charity devoted to helping disabled and orphaned children in New Delhi, India. While h...
Peng’s art gets regional acclaim
May 8, 2020
“I don’t really like most of the things I draw,” said junior Alexis Peng of Marlboro. Two weeks prior to this interview, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, “one of the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition programs for creative teens,” nominated Peng for a national m...
1 in 300: Williams tunes into passion
March 9, 2020
Junior Madeline Williams of Wall began playing the cello when she was just nine years old. Although it may be an unusual choice for a fourth grade pastime, she was inspired by her mother. “My mom played the cello, so she really wanted me to play it too,” Williams said. However, she quickly devel...
Cohen lives and leads in faith
January 17, 2020
Despite growing up in Marlboro, junior Abi Cohen’s roots tie back to Israel, where she was born. Cohen moved to the United States as a baby, but with the majority of her extended family still living in Israel, she and her family make efforts to visit almost every year. Though she no longer lives in h...
Viggiano speaks fluently in five digital dialects
Kaitlyn Delaney and Timothy Wilburn
November 15, 2019
Like many young boys, freshman Mark Viggiano of Ocean spent his time in elementary school playing Minecraft with his friends. But, in fifth grade, the world of building digital homes and villages unexpectedly allowed Viggiano to “level-up” from a zombie-fighting gamer to a coding expert. In 2014,...
Lin makes a splash in competitive diving
September 13, 2019
After injuring her elbow from gymnastics in 2016, junior Melody Lin of Freehold Township found herself in search of a new sport to occupy her time. Though Lin lost interest in gymnastics, she explained that she always enjoyed the “flipping around.” So, she searched for a sport where she could do...
Shubov dances her way to international success
May 10, 2019
Standing behind the stage on which hundreds of people would watch her perform, freshman Renee Shubov of Marlboro practiced her solo over and over. After her final run-through, she fixed the ribbons of her pointe shoes and stepped in front of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) audience and judges. ...
Liam Umbs hits the right notes at Carnegie Hall
March 15, 2019
At the age of four, sophomore Liam Umbs of Monmouth Beach sat at the piano and plucked random notes, acquainting himself with the keys in front of him. Much to the surprise of his parents, Umbs quickly taught himself how to play nursery rhymes like “Old MacDonald.” Umbs’ mother realized her sel...
Toman adventures across both sides of scouting
January 25, 2019
Finding someone who has met the producers of Tarantino movies, explored Czech graveyards and swam with barracudas is not easy to come by. But as a Girl Scout for 13 years and a Boy Scout for five, senior Clare Toman of Spring Lake Heights has lived a multitude of experiences. Toman joined the Girl Scouts when she was on...
Megerle hits her stride in cross country career
November 21, 2018
Growing up, senior Colleen Megerle of Colts Neck watched her parents and older siblings run. Now, her family returns the favor as she prepares for state championships. Megerle has been running since the seventh grade and now runs for her home high school, Colts Neck. She has won many awards, both in...
Martin pursues passion for medicine in Nigeria
September 14, 2018
“There is a child running around Nigeria with a scar because of me, so that’s great,” senior Connor Martin of Spring Lake Heights said while recounting his trip. Despite what his story implied, Martin had only good intentions when he stitched up the child’s wound. In the summer of 2017, he tra...