To our students: Congratulations on your last day of classes! Good luck on your upcoming exams and have a safe and restful summer. Go Stanners!
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
The Class of 2026 has officially graduated! On May 31st, 357 Stanners gathered at St. John’s University’s Carnesecca Arena to celebrate this milestone achievement, moving their tassels from right to left and beginning the next chapter as proud Molloy alumni. | PHOTO GALLERY (Graduation Ceremony photos by Sal Graffeo ’01)
This year’s Salutatorian, Isabella Fortunato ‘26 (pictured above, bottom right), spoke to her fellow Stanners about the importance of never letting failure hold you back. “Trying and failing is significantly better than never living life at all,” said Isabella. Valedictorian Sofia Crino ‘26 (pictured above, bottom left) reminded her classmates, “What you give is what you get.” She said, “The kindness we show to others can ultimately have a ripple effect, and small good things can make a big difference in someone’s life.”
The graduation ceremony also featured the presentation of Academic Awards, along with three other prestigious honors. Aine Harkins ’26 (pictured above left) )received the Br. Leo Richard Pillar Award for exemplifying the Marist Pillars, Elizabeth Canty ’26 (pictured center) was presented with the Louis E. Willett Award for her service and regard for others, and Isabella Fortunato ’26 (pictured above right) earned the Archbishop Molloy Alumni Medal in recognition of her outstanding character, academic achievement, and school spirit.
On Monday, June 1st, the Class of 2026 returned to Molloy as official members of the alumni community in celebration of the annual Senior BBQ! Our graduates were welcomed back to Stanner Field one last time before moving on to college. | PHOTO GALLERY
Attendees set up picnic blankets and spent the afternoon signing each other’s yearbooks, thanking their favorite faculty and staff members, eating lunch, and winning prizes!
While the Senior BBQ may mark the end of their time as students, it is also the beginning of their lifelong connection to the Molloy community. We can’t wait to see members of the Class of 2026 at future alumni gatherings, from the Thanksgiving Liturgy and Theater Reunion to meetings of our Buzz Words Book Club and beyond!
On behalf of the entire Molloy community, we wish the Class of 2026 the very best as they embark on this exciting new chapter. Remember, no matter where life takes you, you will always have a home at Molloy!
Congratulations On Your Retirement, Mr. Frank Gambino ’74!
Today, Mr. Frank Gambino ’74 concludes his 45 year teaching career at Archbishop Molloy High School as he begins his retirement! Over the decades, Mr. Gambino has filled the roles of teacher, coach, mentor, and friend, enriching the lives of countless Stanners along the way.
Mr. Gambino was honored at our most recent Commencement Ceremony for his outstanding dedication and service as an educator. Today, students, faculty, and staff lined the halls outside his last class to clap and cheer as he exited the classroom for the final time. Mr. Gambino’s wife, Karen, was also in attendance to accompany him down the hall.
We wish you all the best in retirement, Mr. Gambino! You will always be a part of the Molloy family, and we will miss seeing you each day!
Academic Awards Night Recognizes Outstanding Students
On June 4th, Molloy welcomed students and their families to Academic Awards Night, where freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were recognized for their hard work and achievements! Members of Molloy’s Administration awarded Principal’s List medals to students who earned an average of 99% or better throughout the school year, as well as Academic Excellence medals to students that earned between 95% and 98.99%.
The program began with the National Honor Society (NHS) ceremony, as 106 juniors were honored with induction! Members of the National Honor Society embody Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character, represented by multi-colored candles that were lit by new NHS Vice President Seoul Otoba ‘27. After receiving their gold graduation hoods, the juniors were led in reciting the inductees pledge by new NHS President Katelyn Remon ‘27. Molloy’s NHS chapter is named after Private First Class Louis E. Willett ‘63, a Stanner Hall of Famer and a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient who reflected the values of NHS.
Later in the program, Administrators announced special awards and scholarships, presented to outstanding students who met certain criteria set by prestigious colleges and universities including The University of Rochester, St. Bonaventure University, and The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The evening then concluded with the presentation of medals to students who achieved the highest GPA in each academic subject, as well as the highest overall GPA in each grade level.
On behalf of our Administration, faculty, and staff, congratulations to our newest members of NHS and to all 2025-26 award recipients! | FULL PHOTO GALLERY
Clubs Enjoy Culinary Field Trip to Flushing
On June 5th, members of SMILE, Multi-Media Club, French Club, and Asian Club went on a field trip called “Food, Fun, and Frolicking in Flushing.” They enjoyed a stop at Bao’s pastry on Roosevelt Avenue and visited classic dumpling houses as well as French bakeries, showing the shared culinary influences of France and several Asian countries. The final destination on the field trip was the Tangram Mall, including its epic food court, collectibles shops, and cat cafe. “We look forward to making this an annual tradition and inviting even more clubs,” said Mr. Dougherty ’91, moderator of SMILE and Multi-Media Club.
Students Recognized for Service by InnerView
Molloy is excited to announce 149 students have been recognized by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and InnerView in the Annual Community Service Impact Awards! The Community Service Impact Awards program connects student service to real-world outcomes, skill development, and community needs.
Schools with a collective student impact above 2,000 hours of service are recognized with a School Impact Award. We are thrilled to acknowledge students from Molloy have accumulated a total of 17,000+ hours in community service needs!
The three-tier award program recognizes levels of sustained impact: Merit (40 hours), Honor (60 hours), and Ambassador (100+ hours) of service during the school year, along with special recognition for efforts addressing Zero Hunger and Zero Waste. Beyond recognition, students gain a digital service impact resume to showcase their impact, skills, and commitments for college and career opportunities.
We are so proud of our Stanners for following in the footsteps of St. Marcellin Champagnat and continuing to be agents of justice and service.
Marist Leadership Retreat
On Tuesday June 9th, nearly 40 Stanners participated in an after school retreat run by Campus Ministry. The theme of the afternoon was Marist Leadership. The students who attended are preparing to take on leadership roles in the Molloy community, more specifically preparing to lead our incoming freshmen on their “We are Marist” one-day retreat this coming September. Students took part in games and challenges throughout the afternoon to explore various aspects of leadership. They also shared prayer and reflections to further explore leadership through the Marist lens. We are so excited for our Stanners to continue growing in their leadership role, and for the opportunity to show our incoming freshman class of 2030 what is means to be Marist and to make Jesus known and loved!
Marist Youth Gathering
Earlier this spring, 28 Molloy students attended the annual Marist Youth Gathering, a four-day youth festival which brings together young people from our Marist schools and parishes from around the United States, and even some Marist schools from neighboring Provinces. The program is sponsored by the Marist Brothers Province of the USA.
Young people and adults participating in the Marist Youth Gathering develop a wider sense of the Marist mission while building a global family spirit. Family Spirit is one of the pillars of our Marist family. The activities which make up the program – talks and workshop presentations, interactive games and initiatives, discussion and reflection groups, prayer and worship experiences, social and community building events – are meant to transmit a sense of Marist heritage, inspire, motivate, and build confidence in youth who want to take up leadership roles in their school and the local community.
In addition to our students, Molloy was represented by an amazing group of young adult alumni including Mary Haynes ’23 and Abigail Man ’23, Kumi Afful ’24, Joseph Castaño-Medina ’24, Bailey Meier ’24, Dierdre O’Toole ’24, and Michael O’Toole ’24, and Alyssa Bisono ’25. “These amazing young people are not the future of the Church; they are Church now. They lead by spreading joy and in doing so, making Jesus known and loved. Their faith is palpable and they serve as amazing role models to our current students,” said Mr. Richard Costa, Director of Campus Ministry & Marist Mission “We are thankful that between our students and alumni, Molloy was well represented at the Gathering, and we are grateful for the graces we received.”
**Closing Soon! Register by June 19th!**
Follow the Marists of Champagnat on Social Media!
Marists of Champagnat USA is a community of lay women and men and consecrated religious brothers who together are living out the Marist spirituality inherited from St. Marcellin Champagnat. All Marists of Champagnat seek to grow in communion, following Mary’s example of making Jesus known and loved in our world. We support each other through continual formation experiences that allow anyone who wishes to be “Gathered Around the Same Table” to find a place.
If you have been inspired by St. Marcellin and the Marist Brothers and want to play a part in strengthening their charism in our world, the Marists of Champagnat encourage you to follow them on social media! Click the buttons below to visit the MoC Facebook and Instagram pages. If you would like to learn more about joining the program, visit maristusa.com/laymarists.
Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic – All Photos Now Available!
Archbishop Molloy High School is excited to share that all photos from this year’s 40th Annual Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic are now available! Please click the buttons above to visit each photo gallery. Photos from cocktail hour and dinner are included in the North Hills photo gallery.
It was a wonderful day full of camaraderie, fun on the courses, and money raised for Molloy’s scholarship program. Golfers enjoyed gourmet meals and prize/contest holes throughout the day, and everyone gathered at North Hills Country Club in the evening for an amazing dinner. During the dinner program, Molloy was proud to honor past Golf Chairs, past Honorary Chairs, board members, and special guests in recognition of their dedication to the outing over the past 40 years.
Those who were recognized included Steve Bianco ‘70, Carol and Denise Gibbons (family of John Gibbons), Kevin Gordon ‘01 (son of Joe Gordon ‘64), Joe Howard ‘79, Jim Kinnier Jr. ‘81 (son of Jim Kinnier), Billy Rose ‘96 (Honorary), Jerry Schumm ‘68, Joe Tarantino ‘76, and Brendan Twomey ‘74. Each honoree then received a handshake and thank you from Matthew, an 8th grader from St. Helen Catholic Academy in Howard Beach, and Eleanor, an 8th grader from PS49 in Middle Village, who are the latest students to receive scholarships through the Golf Classic. Matthew and Eleanor are set to be part of Molloy’s Class of 2030.
Congratulations to all of the day’s winners, including our raffle and auction winners*, and our sincerest thanks to all golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and friends for another wonderful outing!
*All winners have already been notified.
Paul Zwolak ’17 Ordained as a Priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn
With gratitude, we share the following information provided by the Diocese of Brooklyn. Learn more via the news stories linked below.
Paul Zwolak ’17 was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn.
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn which includes Queens, presided over the Mass of Ordination
Fr. Zwolak, 27, attended elementary school in his parish of Our Lady of Hope (2013), and graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School (2017) and St. John’s University. He completed his seminary formation at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers
During his years at Molloy, Fr. Zwolak competed in cross country and track. An avid runner, he continues to run eight to ten miles regularly. His parents Jacek and Krystyna Zwolak immigrated from Gdańsk, Poland to Middle Village in the 1990s.
Congratulations, Fr. Paul Zwolak!
Congratulations to Anthony Russo ’17 and Victoria DeBlasi (St. Francis Prep Class of 2017), who were married on May 30, 2026 at Russo’s on the Bay! The couple met during their freshman year of high school and have been together ever since. Anthony and Victoria attended both Molloy’s Junior Prom (2016) and Senior Prom (2017) together! Joining Anthony and Victoria were many members of Anthony’s classmates including: Antonietta Capone ’17, Joseph Casillo ’17, Christian Cirillo ’17, Nicholas Deodato ’17, Arianna Forteza ’17, Ramin Mahdavi ’17, Gianna Petraglia ’17, and Andrew Sapia ’17. Also in attendance was fellow Stanner Vincent Napolitano ’84, who is Anthony’s uncle!
Pictured: Anthony and Victoria at Junior Prom, Senior Prom, and at their wedding with the aforementioned Stanners.
Congratulations to Peter Maisano ’16, who recently graduated from University of Pennsylvania Dental School! Peter is pictured with a group of Stanners, including his siblings Charles Maisano ’16 and Rose Maisano ’16.
Dr. James Lynch, MD, ’83 recently connected with Peter Hoey ‘77 on June 10th. The two Stanners met up during a 5K on “a muggy night in Eisenhower Park.”
Please join us in prayer for Gerard Nolan ’83, who is currently in medical recovery.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of James Handy ’62 (June 3, 2026). James was a beloved longtime actor known for his work in films including Arachnophobia, Jumanji, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Logan, and Top Gun: Maverick, as well as TV roles on series including Criminal Minds, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, The West Wing, Murder She Wrote, and many more. We remember James in gratitude for the joy he brought to so many through his work. | Click Here for Memorial Page
Please pray for the repose of the soul of George P. Gleixner ’82, who passed away on June 1, 2026. | Click Here for Memorial Page
We were recently informed of the passing of John A. Campanella ’54 on February 26, 2026. John enjoyed a long career in education, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal in the Wappingers Central School District, later serving as interim principal in Arlington Central School District and at Red Hook High School in Brooklyn. He was also proud member of the Knights of Columbus. Please pray for John and his loved ones. | Click Here for Memorial Page
