“A Hole in One”
After months of preparation and hard work, the 26th Annual Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic turned out to be one of the most successful outings in recent memory. Over 275 golfers teed off under sunny skies at North Hills and Plandome Country Clubs on Monday, May 7th. Each golfer represented a member of the Stanner community dedicated to supporting Archbishop Molloy High School and its scholarship program. Stanner Golf Classic scholarships directly impacts deserving students in extenuating circumstances by affording them the opportunity to attend or remain enrolled at Molloy. While the day is filled with fun, excitement, prizes and more, the Classic culminates in a tremendous act of giving to those who need it most.
Before the Stanner community would meet its latest scholarship recipients, there were scorecards to pencil in. The day began with freshly prepared breakfast selections at both courses including salads, pastries, and rolls with eggs and waffles to order – just to name a few. Breakfast gave golfers the opportunity to meet up with their teammates and chat with other foursomes while looking over their newly acquired door prizes, which included golf balls, Molloy polo shirts, hats, tees and ball markers. Golfers then took some practice swings just outside the clubhouse before loading up their golf carts and heading out to their first hole. To help our golfers along, the North Hills and Plandome courses were both liberally supplied with ice cold coolers stocked with water, soda and adult beverages. Cigars and money holes also greeted foursomes frequently throughout the day in addition to several contest/prize holes. These included closest to the pin, longest drive, and hole in one; the latter offering a Mercedes Benz courtesy of Mercedes Benz of Massapequa as the grand prize. Many came close (and many not so close), but by the end of play the car remained unclaimed – an indication that the Classic is competitive for both experienced and beginning golfers. Despite the elusive hole in one, smiles and laughter abounded through the final swings of the day.
Golfers finished up their games and made their way back to North Hills Country Club for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. As the Stanner community came together, Alumni Relations Director Maria Ford greeted all in attendance and thanked them for their support of the Stanner Golf Classic. Maria introduced Molloy President Richard Karsten ’81, who thanked the many alumni, parents, family members, corporate sponsors and volunteers on hand. Karsten was also thrilled to mention that his promise of a sunny day the previous year turned out to be right on the money. President Karsten introduced the extremely gracious John Gibbons Memorial Scholarship recipient Mikayla Roberts and Jim Kinnier Scholarship recipient Jake Mella, both of Our Lady of Hope parish. Both students are looking forward to achieving academic success as well as getting involved in numerous athletics and after school activities at Molloy.
Following the cocktail hour, dinner offerings included gourmet salads, appetizers, pastas, seafood and a carving station. There was truly something for everyone, which also applied to the wide array of silent auction items up for bidding. Autographed and authenticated sports memorabilia (Marshall Faulk/Erick Dickerson football, David Wright/Darryl Strawberry baseballs, NJ Jets Team Football, etc.), event tickets (Centerstage with Michael Kay, NY Mets/NY Yankees tickets, WWE Raw, etc.), vacations (Weekend getaways at Woodloch Springs and Catskill Mountains), premiere alcohol selections (Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon, Stolichnaya Gift Box, Glenfiddich Gift Box), and even a professional photography session were available to the highest bidders. Perhaps the most sought after prize, Lunch for 5 with New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ’59, was also available in the silent auction. A live auction was conducted by Jerry Schumm ’68, who found the highest bidder in Lou Milo ’78 for a trip to Dublin, Ireland. The second live auction item, a gourmet dinner prepared by President Richard Karsten, was won by none other than the Stanner Alumni Center’s own Craig Katinas ’93, also the school’s Alumni Development Director.
Before all was said and done, raffle tickets were drawn and some of the biggest winners of the evening were announced. Third prize, a 40” Aquos Sharp TV, was ticket #00791. Second prize, 4 Days / 3 Nights in Las Vegas for Two (airfare and hotel included), was ticket #49479. First prize, Two Super Bowl Tickets (airfare & hotel included), was ticket #69173. All other winners of auction items and course prize holes were announced as guests finished their desserts. This brought a close to what was a very eventful and exciting day.
The 26th Annual Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic was truly remarkable. Buzz for the event was at an all time high, and it truly delivered. Alumni Relations Director Maria Ford and all of us at the Stanner Alumni Center would like to thank all alumni, corporate sponsors, administration and faculty, Stanner family members and the many volunteers who took part in this year’s Stanner Golf Classic. Click below to access our photo gallery from the day or this year’s Golf Journal.
26th Annual Jim Kinnier Stanner Golf Classic Photo Gallery
Download the Stanner Golf Classic Golf Journal (PDF Format)
Around the School
Louisville Star Visits Molloy
If you watched any NCAA action this past March, you probably recall the name Russ Smith (pictured center) being mentioned quite a bit. Russ, class of 2009 at Molloy, is finishing up his sophomore campaign at the University of Louisville. Once a member of Coach Jack Curran’s Stanners, Russ has made a tremendous impact on the Cardinals including helping to propel them to the Final Four during the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season. The 6’0″, 160 lb guard out of Brooklyn was at his peak, providing dynamic performances throughout the tournament. His success became nationally recognized, with coverage pouring in from numerous media outlets including USA Today, CBS Sports, and Sports Illustrated. Although the Cardinals did not win the championship, their efforts remain respected throughout the basketball world. Russ was fortunate enough to be right in the middle of it all. He credits much of his success to learning from Coach Curran at Molloy, and he has not forgotten his past. The Cardinal made a recent visit to Molloy to workout with members of the boys freshman, JV and Varsity teams after school. Russ performed the same drills as the current Stanners, showing them how practice, passion and commitment to the game at all times can truly pay off. When asked about Louisville’s appearance in the Final Four, Russ was humble. “It wasn’t a championship, but it almost felt like one,” he said. “I’m proud of the team.”
Smart Start Scholarship Winner
Sean Ramzan ’12 may be the most excited senior of this year’s graduating class. Why? Sean was recently awarded the Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship sponsored by J.P. Morgan Chase. He will be attending the Polytechnic Institute of NYU thanks to this tremendous honor. Working closely with Molloy’s college guidance department, including Mr. Ted McGuinness ’81 and Mrs. Christine Loo, Sean worked hard on his application and never doubted himself. In the end, his determination has paid off. The Smart Start Scholarship Program has benefitted over 450 graduating high school seniors since 1992. Students are given the opportunity of their top choice from a group of prestigious universities including Columbia, NYU, Fordham, St. John’s and Pace among others. In addition, winners are awarded a paid internship with JP Morgan Chase throughout their 4 years of college. The internship includes specific work assignments, on-the-job training, a support network of mentors, career planning and development and a schedule tailored to their academic demands. Sean met every requirement for the scholarship, including academic achievement (top 15% class rank, strong recommendations, minimum SAT/ACT scores), motivation, maturity, initiative, leadership, communication skills, and multi-tasking. The college-bound Stanner will have every opportunity to earn a full-time position with Chase upon graduating from Polytechnic, but he will have to maintain his due diligence in earning that right. That is no small task, but Sean is quite confident that he will impress!
Take Advantage of Special Poland Spring Offer!
There’s still time to take advantage of the special offer presented to Stanners by Poland Spring. Molloy recently established a partnership with Poland Spring, who donated 50 cases of water to be sold at recent events. Poland Spring is dedicated to being active in the community while minimizing their carbon foot print on the environment, improving recycling processes, and reducing the amount of plastic used in packaging. The company did a fantastic job in connecting with Molloy and benefitting the local community in the process. Poland Spring is offering a special discounted offer for its Nestlé Waters home delivery service. For every new home delivery account opened on this page by Molloy alumni, family members or families of current students, Nestlé Waters will donate $100 to the Fund For Molloy, the school’s annual fundraising campaign. This offer will be valid through June 30th. Thanks very much to Ed Cappetta and the entire Poland Spring team for their generosity and commitment to Archbishop Molloy High School and its community.
Sports Update
Our Stanners have been performing exceptionally this spring! Boys Varsity baseball is winding down its season while hoping to make the playoffs next week. They are currently tied for third in Brooklyn / Queens. JV Baseball is in the same exact situation as Coach Curran’s squad. Girls Varsity softball is gearing up to play in the diocesan Finals on May 21st, where they will face off against St. Francis Prep in a best of three series. The JV softball team went an incredible 9-0 in the league and will enter the playoffs on May 19th as the winner of their division. The boys tennis team is currently 5-3 and in third place with 2 games remaining. Varsity handball finished the season at 9-5 while JV finished at 10-3. Both are headed to the playoffs next week. The boys and girls Varsity outdoor track teams both achieved Brooklyn / Queens Diocesan Championships. Just as well, the boys and girls freshmen outdoor teams also won Brooklyn / Queens Championships. They will compete for the City Championship on May 26th. The golf team went a stellar 11-1 this season and won their division for the 12th straight year. And last but not least, Girls Lacrosse finished up their first season at Molloy. While their season did not go as well as they may have hoped, it was valuable experience for the lady Stanners, who are looking to make an impact next year. (Photo courtesy of the Yearbook Staff)
Upcoming Events
Molloy Alumni Happy Hour
There’s still time to register for this Friday’s event! Thanks to the efforts of Steve Bisciello and Daniel Moore, class of 1995, on Friday, May 18th, all Molloy alumni (of legal drinking age) are invited to attend a special Happy Hour event at Still Bar, located at 192 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. For just $30, an open bar will be available for alumni from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Space is limited, so please RSVP to alumni@molloyhs.org
Day at the Vineyard
Register Online Now! On Saturday, June 9th, from 1pm – 5pm, Stanners (of legal drinking age) are invited once again to come out to the award-winning Diliberto Winery in lovely Jamesport, Long Island for a day of wine, food, entertainment and more. Last year our Day at the Vineyard had a great turnout and received rave reviews from Stanners and friends who were not only impressed by the quality of the wine, but the gourmet local food selections as well. These great offerings, combined with good company and beautiful weather, will provide nothing short of a stellar day. Sal ’63 and Maryann Diliberto are expert winemakers who display their heritage everyday through their Italian red wines and their impressive accommodations, and they would be thrilled to have you visit their vineyard on June 9th. Single admission to this event will be $45 while admission for a couple will be $80. RSVP to alumni@molloyhs.org.
Derek Moccia ’03 graduated from the Harry Wendelstedt Professional Umpire School in 2012. Derek ranked in the top of his class and was 1 of only 14 graduates out of 140 to be sent to the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) evaluation course. According to Derek, “PBUC is the entity that hands out contracts and supervises umpires through all ranks of the minor leagues. I was offered a contract for the 2012 Gulf Coast League season, so I will be starting at the “rookie ball” level, which is right before ‘A’ ball.” By working hard and gaining a better understanding of his responsibilities in being a model citizen for players and other umpires, Derek looks forward to his progression through the ranks. Derek worked in the NYCBL (NY Collegiate Baseball League) in 2011 as well as in independent baseball leagues to gain the experience he needs to succeed. His recent work also includes umpiring in local high school (including Molloy) and college games when he hasn’t been on the road.
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Congratulations to Carissa ’04 and James Jordan ’01, who officially tied the knot on March 31, 2012 in beautiful Turks and Caicos. Carissa’s sister, Angela Peluso ’12, was the maid of honor while James’ brother Jonathan Jordan ’05 was the proud best man. Other Stanners that were members of the happy couple’s wedding party included Jaclyn Pizzo ’04, Christopher Rosenberg ’01 and Jeffery Gangi ’99.
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Arthur Tringali ’79 informed the Stanner Alumni Center of the recent passing of his brother Ezio Tringali ’67 on March 30, 2012. According to Arthur, “Not only did my brother graduate from Molloy in 1967, but as a child he boarded and attended Mount St. Michael’s and later graduated from Marist College in 1971.” Please say a prayer for Ezio and the Tringali family.