Welcome to The Beehive!
Dear Stanners, Families, and Friends,
Welcome to the summer edition of The Beehive, Molloy’s community newsletter! We also welcome the Class of 2029 and their families, who are receiving The Beehive for the first time today. Every two weeks, we share news and notes from around Molloy by way of The Beehive, including academic and athletic achievements, details about upcoming events, alumni updates, and more. Readers are also invited to share suggestions for news and notes by contacting us at beehive@molloyhs.org. We hope you enjoy today’s newsletter, register for some of our wonderful fall events, and stay updated throughout the 2025-26 school year. We look forward to another great year together and hope to see you soon!
— The Beehive Team
JOIN US – Stanners, families, and friends: please join us this fall as we celebrate the following community events! Your presence at and support of our events is deeply appreciated. We look forward to seeing you!
CONTACT – Questions? Please contact Alumni Development Officer Sarah Quispe ’19 at squispe@molloyhs.org or call the Stanner Alumni Center at 718-441-9210 to inquire about our events.
*LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!*
*REGISTER EARLY! TICKETS GO FAST!*
Stanners Attend Networking Reception at Venable LLP
At the beginning of summer, on June 18th, Molloy alumni gathered for an evening of networking hosted by Venable LLP, Matthew McLaughlin ’87, and the Stanner Alumni Center. Held at Venable LLP’s New York office, the event featured distinguished speaker Jen Daskal, a partner at Venable LLP and national security expert. It was a wonderful opportunity for Stanners to reconnect, exchange ideas, and celebrate the strength of their alumni network in an inviting, professional setting.
The Stanner Alumni Center plans to create more opportunities that foster meaningful connections and support alumni throughout their professional journeys. Your feedback is key to shaping future events—please take a moment to complete the brief survey linked below and let us know how we can better serve you and the entire alumni community.
Molloy’s Summer Enrichment Program
Molloy’s 3rd Annual Summer Enrichment Program was a huge success! During the weeks of June 27th – July 3rd and July 14th – July 18th, rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders had the opportunity to participate in fun and exciting classes facilitated by Molloy’s faculty and staff.
This year, participants took classes such as Programming and Game Development, Chess, Sculpture and Design, Theater, African Drumming, Principles of Rocketry, Broadcast Journalism, Web Design, and more! Each student chose one “major” and “minor,” attending these two classes throughout the week. In between their major and minor courses was a group recreation period where students played games, solved puzzles, and had the chance to befriend other participants!
We hope to see our program participants again for the 2026 Summer Enrichment Program, or walking the halls of Molloy as students one day! Go (future) Stanners! Visit www.molloyhs.org/summerenrich to learn more.
Members of Class of 2029 Experience Freshman Camp
One of Molloy’s most beloved traditions is our annual Freshman Camp! Members of the incoming freshman class have the opportunity to spend a week at the Marist Brothers’ Center in Esopus, NY, meet fellow Stanners and future teachers, and participate in fun activities!
This summer, the Class of 2029 spent the week of July 6th – July 12th hiking, playing games, meeting in small groups, swimming, going on field trips, and learning how to play Flag! Current Stanners volunteered as counselors and welcomed the incoming freshmen with open arms, showcasing the family spirit that Molloy is known for.
Mr. Dan O’Reilly ’14, English teacher and head of Kitchen Crew at Freshman Camp, shares, “Camp was full of warmth and positive energy. The freshmen were receptive to all activities throughout the week, the kitchen crew were industrious, and the counselors were all ideal role models. This week is a labor of love of dozens of faculty, staff, and alumni; it simply could not happen without them.”
Thank you to all who make Freshman Camp possible each and every year!
More News & Notes
| Congratulations to softball player Kimmy Piazza ’27 (P/OF), who was selected as a 4th Team New York State All-Star! |
| Congratulations to softball player Victoria Barrientos ’28 (INF), who was selected as a 5th Team New York State All-Star! (pictured holding softball) |
| In late June, Mr. Dougherty ’91 and Ms. Rosamond organized an end-of-the-year Peer Group reunion at La Bergamote, a French bakery/restaurant in Manhattan owned by one of our Stanner families! Our Stanners enjoyed a great experience, which included a visit from owner, baker, and Stanner parent Mr. Willemin. Ms. Rosamond shares, “We felt so welcomed. It was an unforgettable day!” |
Cayla Kumar ’20 Crowned Miss Connecticut, Will Compete for Miss America
Congratulations to Cayla Kumar ’20, who was crowned Miss Connecticut on June 28, 2025! As Miss Connecticut, she has qualified to compete in the national Miss America pageant in Orlando, Florida in September!
Cayla, who was crowned Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen in 2018 while she was a student at Molloy, has participated in pageants throughout her life. At Molloy, Cayla was disciplined in her studies, fulfilled the role of reporter for The Stanner newspaper, and served as a passionate volunteer. She logged over 4,000 service hours as a high school student, including raising $25,000 for cancer research as a youth ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. In 2017, she founded The Gold Ribbon Project, a non-profit that works to promote positively impacting the lives of children through building childhood cancer awareness and advancing research efforts. After Molloy, Cayla attended Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she studied biomedical sciences (master’s program).
Cayla entered the Miss Connecticut pageant as Miss Hamden and competed as one of 11 hopefuls for the crown. She impressed the judges with her performance in a series of segments throughout the competition. Cayla commented on the impact of AI during the “Hot Topic” segment, and she later channeled her lifelong dancing experience by performing a Bollywood fusion dance. Throughout the pageant, Cayla’s ingenuity and poise made her stand out and ultimately earned her the title of Miss Connecticut!
In an interview with her college newspaper, Quinnipiac Today, Cayla cited her confidence, willingness to embrace being a leader, and leading with purpose as some of the strengths that brought her to this moment. You can read more of that interview and view some of her recent TV appearances by clicking the button below.
Cayla, we are so proud of all you have accomplished! Molloy is rooting for you every step of the way!
Photos courtesy of Cayla Kumar ’20.
Molloy Basketball Legends Featured in Online Articles
NBA legend Kenny Anderson ’89 was recently featured in two articles published by Sports Illustrated! In the first article, Kenny reflects on his Molloy legacy, being mentored by Coach Jack Curran, what he has learned throughout his career as a player and a coach, and his goals coaching at Georgia Tech. In the second article, SI ranks the top 50 greatest high school point guards of all time (not limited to NYC). Click the buttons below to read the full articles. Congrats, Kenny!
In addition, yardbarker.com published an article listing their picks for New York City’s all-time greatest high school basketball players. Kenny Anderson was again featured, this time alongside fellow Molloy legends Kevin Joyce ’69 (Olympian) and Kenny Smith ’83 (2-time NBA Champion). Click the buttons below to check out the articles.
Fr. Peter Purpura ’99 Sworn in as FDNY Chaplain
Congratulations to Fr. Peter Purpura ’99, Pastor of Our Lady of Home RC Church in Middle Village, on being sworn in as a Chaplain of the NYC Fire Department! The ceremony took place on July 24th on Staten Island. As a FDNY Chaplain, Fr. Purpura will have a number of responsibilities, including offering spiritual support and counseling to firefighters, administrative employees, and their families. FDNY Chaplains can also be called upon for their support during emergencies. Click the button below to read more from QNS.com. Congratulations, Fr. Purpura!
Recent graduate Camille Munoz ’25, who ended her high school tenure as the most decorated female student-athlete in Molloy history, reported to the U.S. Naval Academy in July. Camille will continue to compete in her signature sport, Track & Field, while diligently working toward a career in public service. Go Cami!
Congratulations to Phil McBride ’73, who was honored by St. Andrew Avellino parish for 50 years of dedicated service as a CYO coach! Phil was also spotlighted in an article published by The Tablet newspaper in July, further recognizing his decades of selfless service to CYO sports. Click the button below to read the article by Jim Mancari. (Photo courtesy of St. Andrew Avellino CYO)
Mike Jerzembeck ’91 and family celebrated earlier this summer when Mike’s son Eli was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Draft! Eli Jerzembeck, of the University of South Carolina, was selected by the Cubs in the 11th round with the 331st overall pick. Of note, Mike Jerzembeck briefly pitched for the New York Yankees back in 1998, and Eli is a right-handed pitcher—just like his dad!
James Hollywood ’85 was recently featured by the publication City & State New York as a New Yorker dedicated to serving those in need. James serves as the Vice President of Residential Treatment at Samaritan Daytop Village. The publication highlights James’s over three decades of work in the social services sector. Click the button below to read more. (Photo courtesy of James Hollywood)
Back in June, Dominic Marino ’83 completed a Virtual NYRR Global Running Day 5K race! During the nearly six mile run, Dominic passed Molloy, stopping to snap a couple of quick photos!
We are saddened to share the passing of James E. Slevin Jr. ’69 on August 1, 2025. Jim is remembered by Molloy’s baseball alumni community as a wonderful friend and teammate. Notably, Jim was a member of Molloy’s 1969 City Champions. Please keep Jim and his loved ones in your prayers. | Click Here for Memorial Page
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Gerard J. Lanning ’59, who passed away on July 16, 2025. | Click Here for Memorial Page
We are saddened to share the passing of Joan Gambino (June 7, 2025), mother of five Stanners: Steven ’72, Donald ’75, Michael ’78, Richard ’79, and Daniel ’81. Joan passed away peacefully at the age of 92 surrounded by family. Daniel Gambino shares, “As a single mom, she saw the need for a strong paternal presence and did whatever she could to put her children through formative and exemplary schools. She loved Molloy and was always proud to have been part of its extended family.” Joan is survived by her Stanner sons, her daughters Joanne Gucciardo and Susan Beddia, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Please join us in prayer for Joan and her loved ones.
