Molloy Welcomes New Principal, Faculty, and Students as 2015-16 School Year Begins!

The 2015-16 school year is underway! We’re ready for another exciting year in academics, athletics, faith and service here at Stanner High. As you know, there is never a dull moment in Briarwood, and we encourage our community to follow each story throughout the year in The Beehive. There has been a great deal of activity during our first two weeks, with freshmen getting adjusted to their new surroundings, seniors already preparing for college visits, and some teams already beginning their fall seasons. There are also a few new faces (and some familiar ones) joining our administration and faculty. In today’s issue, we would like to introduce our new colleagues to you.

In July, President Richard Karsten ’81 announced that Mr. Darius Penikas (pictured below) had been appointed as the new Principal of Archbishop Molloy High School. He succeeds Br. Thomas Schady, who was selected to serve as the Director of Marist Education alongside the new US Marist Provincial, Br. Patrick McNamara. Mr. Penikas brings a level of experience, skill, and enthusiasm that makes him a perfect fit for Molloy. A native of East Norwich, NY, and a resident of Queens for the past 16 years, Mr. Penikas holds several degrees: a BA in Economics and History from Binghamton University, a Master’s in teaching (social studies instruction / secondary education) also from Binghamton, a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from St. John’s University, and an Advanced School District Leader certificate from St. John’s. In addition, he is in pursuit of an Ed.D degree, also at St. John’s.

As a teacher, Mr. Penikas taught a wide variety of social studies courses for 12 years, including several forays into economics courses. “I particularly loved teaching AP American History and Economics,” said Mr. Penikas. He also enjoyed many years as an assistant and head coach at St. John’s Prep in Astoria, working with their JV and Varsity basketball and baseball teams. After his years as a teacher and coach, Mr. Penikas accepted the position of Assistant Principal for Curriculum Instruction and Student Activities at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip, which he enjoyed most recently before joining the Molloy family.

“Over the years I have learned firsthand how important education is at the high school level. These four years are a tremendously formative experience, and a great education now can pay huge dividends for the rest of your life,” said Mr. Penikas. “I have also come to realize that the way we deliver education will change dramatically over the next 20 years. There will of course be a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), but I believe a greater emphasis will be placed on collaborative learning environments. We’re going to have to find different ways for students to feel comfortable channeling their creativity and problem solving together.”

Mr. Penikas elaborated on the idea of collaboration, noting that it is a big part of his approach in working with faculty and staff. “The importance of having great teachers cannot be overstated. The impact that they have, and the ideas they often bring to the table, can revolutionize many of our programs. I will do everything I can to support them.”

Asked about his opinion of Molloy as it currently stands as a top-tier college preparatory school, Mr. Penikas quickly answered, “Molloy is a great experience. The typical classroom provides rigorous and challenging coursework, and students leave with confidence and abilities that translate well to college. When students graduate from Molloy they are proficient in their academic skills, but they have also gained a broader view of the world, which in turn drives them to help others in the Marist way.” Mr. Penikas also noted Molloy’s 100% college acceptance rate and the over $90 million in college scholarships awarded to the Class of 2015 as examples of the impact Molloy has on its students. “Though the school has been successful in that regard, we have to continue to keep our finger on the pulse of what colleges are looking for,” he added.

Mr. Penikas has been quite busy so far getting to know teachers, students, and parents. “I look forward to getting into classrooms to learn from and work with students and teachers to help them achieve their goals. I also look forward to working with our parents. They are crucial collaborators in the education process, and working with them provides the best experience for students.” In addition, Mr. Penikas has also already met many alumni during his brief tenure at Molloy. “I’ve met a ton. They’re everywhere. They’re the leaders of every industry and organization you can think of. I’m excited to continue hearing their stories and exchanging ideas with them.”

Joining Molloy’s social studies department this year is Catherine (Catie) Massowd ’07. Catie holds a BA in history and a Master’s in secondary education with an extended certificate in special education from Adelphi University. She previously taught history at nearby Forest Hills High School. Now she will take on Global 1 and 2 for freshmen and sophomores here at her alma mater. “My approach in the classroom is student-centered inquiry based learning,” explained Catie. “My goal is to make students more responsible for learning the material rather than simply ‘spoon feeding’ the information. They have to really put in extra effort to learn and apply the class material.” Catie is very excited to return to Molloy to teach. “I enjoyed my experience at Molloy as a student, and I decided back then that I wanted to come back someday to provide the same experience to future students.” Her transition back to Molloy should be smooth, as she is already well versed in the Marist Mission and knows many of her new colleagues. She previously volunteered with Br. Pat Hogan and Chris Dougherty ’91 through the St. Marcellin Champagnat Society, and she also served as an assistant JV softball coach to Lou Santos. A former softball player at Molloy herself, Catie continues to love the sport and looks forward to serving as assistant coach to Maureen Rosenbaum and the Varsity team. “We have some great players returning from last year’s state championship team. I think it’s going to be a great year for us.”

John Kramer joins Molloy’s religion department full time in 2015-16 after subbing during parts of last year. The Queens native and Stanner parent has taught religion at the parish level for 20 years. Though he actually holds business degrees in accounting and finance, he has enjoyed switching career paths to education. He is currently working toward obtaining a Master’s of Theology degree. In addition to teaching, John has also served as a track and field coach (jumps) at Molloy for the past 12 years. A Holy Cross alum, he was initially encouraged to coach at Molloy by friend Joe Dombrowski. John has since built a strong relationship with Molloy, coached many outstanding athletes, and enjoyed a great deal of success. “I’m very proud of our jumping program over the past decade,” said John. “We’ve definitely been one of the most successful schools in the league. I am also very proud when our athletes set or break records. Sometimes they break each other’s records! It’s fun to be a part of.” On teaching at Molloy, John expressed his excitement. “It’s a great opportunity – one I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I will bring my passion for teaching into the classroom and hope that my students respond by being motivated and enthusiastic. It’s the same way I coach too.”

Two familiar faces have also returned this fall. Br. Ken Hogan rejoined the guidance department, lending a hand while Br. Eugene Birmingham is away on sabbatical. And Br. Roy George ‘62, who last served as Principal of Molloy in 2008, has returned to teach. Anyone who knows Br. Roy is well aware of his passion for science, and it is with great joy that Br. Roy will teach several Chemistry classes this year. From 2009 to June 2015, Br. Roy had served as the Vice Provincial to Br. Ben Consigli ’80 on the Marist Brothers’ US Province administrative team based in Bayonne, NJ. In that role, Br. Roy supported Br. Ben in representing the Marist Brothers in the US Province and abroad, working to ensure the “life, animation and ministry of all Marist works.” Everyone at Molloy is happy to have Br. Ken and Br. Roy back in Briarwood.

Judging from the comments of our new administration, faculty, and coaches, it’s going to be another wonderful year at Molloy. Check out some photos from the first two weeks below:

Open House & Volunteer Opportunities

Archbishop Molloy High School will host its fall Open House on Sunday, October 18th from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Open House is an opportunity for prospective students and their parents to tour our school, meet our faculty and students, and learn about what makes being a part of the Molloy family one of the best experiences of any high school in New York City. The staff at the Stanner Alumni Center invites alumni who plan to visit with their child to stop by room 124 and say hello. Volunteers opportunities are also available for alumni, parents and current students. Volunteers are asked to perform duties such as working as a greeter, a tour guide, or simply making visitors feel welcome and comfortable throughout the campus. All volunteers will be prepped prior to the start of the Open House. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please email admissions@molloyhs.org.

Molloy Boasts 86 AP Scholars

PRESS RELEASE – Briarwood, Queens – 86 Students at Archbishop Molloy High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams in the 2014-2015 school year. 55 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams and receiving scores of 3 or higher. 19 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award, by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. 12 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The total 86 students receiving awards for the 2014-2015 school year included seniors who graduated in June 2015 and current seniors who will be graduating in June 2016. Current seniors have an opportunity to complete more AP courses and earn a higher level AP Scholar Award.

Recognized as AP Scholars among our current seniors:

Maria Aliberti, Jack Mangin, Shibangi Saha, Jordan Fierek, Alessandro Markovic, Harmanveer Singh, Maria Gulino, Michael Najac, Laksumi Sivanandan, Lucia Lin, Austin Pizzella, Peter Stiglmayer, Peter Maisano, Samantha Racan, Brendan Woods, Rose Maisano, Konstantina Raptis, Matthew Zwolak.

Recognized as AP Scholar with Honor among our current seniors:

Stacy Kanellopoulos, Harris Mohsin, Emily Peckham.

The AP exams are developed by a committee of university faculty and AP teachers. Exams are devised to align with the same high standards expected by the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. Over 3,800 colleges and universities receive AP scores annually.

Graduates of June 2015 named AP Scholars for 2014-15 Year:

Isabelle Artes, Mary Angeline Bacani, Bianca Basone, Julius Bautista, Matthew Capp, Mary Serene Carino, Angelica Carpenter, Sebastian Chamorro, Alwin Joshua Chico, Daniel Corridan, Enrica Cortellessa, Tina Dantono, Orlando Diaz, Lauren Durante, Vida Ekhlas, Gerard Fernandez, Matthew Gardner, Kelly Grogan, Carla Hanna, Zachary Kurre, Stefani Lercara, Margarita Lopez, Ambrielle Manchuca, Kaitlyn Mahon, John McCoy, Kary Mihailides, Jared Muscovic, Sotiria Pateroulakis, Joseph Savastano, Abhimanyu Sen, Nicole Teta, Christopher Tong, Joanna Troyanos, Giovanni Vittozzi, Lindsay Wynne, Alexandra Yule, Claudia Zurek

Graduated seniors from June 2015 named AP Scholars with Honor:

John Boyle, Gabriella Bruno, Gabrielle Casimiro, Ewa Gerlak, Patryk Jakubowski, Deanna Lucci, Mary Louise Mora, Stephanie Nonaillada, Valerie Rico, Joseph Schauer, Robert Spitz, Katlin Stath, Joseph Sullivan, Stephanie Toma, Julia Watters, Stephanie Yost.

Graduates of June 2015 named AP Scholars with Distinction:

Daniel Aguirre, Jafar Ali, Izidora Bozic, Justin Esposito, Tahina Felisca, Raphael Jafri, Maria Kasper, Liana Liang, James McGuire, Andreea Muntean, Joelle Tirado, Kangyo Zhao.

Upcoming Events

Molloy Oktoberfest – REGISTER NOW!

• When: Friday, October 9, 2015
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: All Alumni, Parents & Friends (Ages 21+ Please)
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

Come out to Molloy on Friday, October 9th to enjoy brats and brews with classmates, family and friends! Our annual Molloy Oktoberfest is open to ALL members of the Stanner community. It will feature classic Bavarian style food, music, and décor as well as a prize raffle that all attendees will be entered in! This is a fun, relaxing evening with classmates and friends.

Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run

• When: Sunday, October 4, 2015
• Mass Start: 8:00am
• 5K Race: 9:00am
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

Just two weeks left to register for this year’s Andrew Harvey Memorial 5K Fun Run. The Fun Run is a family friendly race here in Briarwood that pays tribute to the memory of Andrew Harvey ‘98, a student who tragically passed away during his junior year. The event features a 5K race and also includes a One Mile Race and “Little One’s Dash”, providing fun for the whole family and runners of all skill levels. All participants will receive a shirt (please include shirt size for ALL of your ticket holders when registering). Coffee, cake, juice and other refreshments will be provided following all races, while medals will be awarded to the top finishers. For more info please contact Frank Gambino ’74.

Baseball Reunion – Next Week!

• When: Saturday, September 26, 2015
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: All Former Baseball Players & Families
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

Molloy’s Baseball Reunion is just one week away! We’re expecting a large turnout as many of our former baseball players have already signed up. It only takes two minutes to register! It is poised to be a great day filled with food and beverages, as well as lots of laughs with former teammates. The event will include a BBQ style tailgate adjacent to Stanner Field. The hat pictured to the right, which pays tribute to the late Jack Curran, will also be available for purchase ONLY at this event. Please share this information with your former teammates! For more details please contact Matt Rizzotti ’04.

Stanner Alumni Reunion

• When: Saturday, November 7, 2015
• Where: Archbishop Molloy High School
• Who: Classes of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 & 2010
• Pricing Information: Available at www.molloyhs.org/events
• REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

The Stanner Alumni Reunion is just over two months away, but we’re already seeing a great response from this year’s anniversary classes. If your class year ends in 0 or 5 (excluding 2015), you are invited to join us on Saturday, November 7th, here at Molloy for one of our biggest annual events! Invitations have been mailed and should arrive in your mailbox very soon (pictured)! Past reunions have seen upwards of 600 alumni return to Molloy for the Reunion, and we’re expecting another large crowd this year. Space does become limited, so we recommend registering early.

For those traveling from out of town, a discounted hotel rate is being offered by the Courtyard Marriott at Laguardia Airport. Details are available on your event registration page. Your help is needed! Please spread the word and create a buzz for this year’s reunion. If you have any questions please contact Matt Rizzotti or the Stanner Alumni Center at (718) 441-9210.

On July 17th, Molloy’s own Matt Rizzotti ’04 married classmate Christina Del Maestro ’04 during a ceremony at The Royalton at Rosalyn Country Club. The couple enjoyed a perfect weather day with family and friends, including a long list of Molloy staff and fellow Stanners. The special day was practically a mini Molloy reunion, as celebrating along with Matt and Christina were (we apologize in advance for missing anyone): Patrick Rizzotti ’01, Eric Stolze ’86, Maureen Rosenbaum, Lou Santos, Ken Auer, Chris DeSarno, Will Armstrong, Mike Arlotta ‘04, Mike Dietz ‘04, Joe Papavero ’04, Robert O’Connor ’04, Edward Ragusa ‘04 Jacqueline Klein ‘04, George DeVardo ‘04, Chris Rice ‘04, Sean Kearney ‘04, Pat Manning ‘04, Brendan Cloonan ‘01, Matt Lavanco ‘04, Jessica McEntee ‘05, R.P. Denezzo ‘74, John Waters ‘70, Jim Faro ‘70, James Faro ‘04, Dan Hurley ‘96, and Kevin Morgan ‘00.

Robert Pozarycki ’98 is the editor-in-chief for the Queens Courier (northern Queens), the Courier-Sun (southern Queens), Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times (central Queens and Bushwick), and a number of other local newspapers owned by Schneps Communications. “We publish all of our stories daily on queenscourier.com, and I still do a lot of writing,” explained Robert. “Our print content is largely driven by our web stories and other special features. Stories are published in each paper based on region, but a few are published in all issues. There are some exciting new developments being planned for our websites too so stay tuned.” Special thanks to Robert and his staff for working with Molloy to publish numerous Stanner-centric articles in local papers over the past several years!

Paul Galbraith ’74, who was recently featured in Stanner Life magazine for his upcoming cameo on the TV show Mysteries at the Museum, has received a call back to portray another historical figure on the show. Paul, who portrayed Otto von Bismarck in his recent work with the series, will now portray Hazan S. Pingree, former Mayor of Detroit (1889-1897) and Governor of Michigan (1897-1901). The segment will focus on Pingree’s efforts to convert empty urban lots into garden farming centers, which earned him the nickname “Potato Patch Pingree.” The Otto von Bismarck episode is slated to air this October (Fridays at 9PM on Travel Channel), while Paul’s portrayal of Hazan S. Pingree will air in mid-2016. We hope you’ll tune in and support Paul!

One more note from Paul, he recently enjoyed Family Day at Esopus on August 30th. He shared the below photo from the fall of 1977 taken during a senior reunion (featuring other Marist schools too). Paul is in the second to last row center. A few other familiar faces: Frank Gambino ’74 is far left in plaid. Anthony Nicolini, a former guidance counselor and religion teacher at Molloy, is in the last row featuring a goatee. Fr. James O’Brien, who celebrated many senior liturgies, is in the third row with glasses (next to the fellow with his arms raised).

Robert Pasqual ’77 and classmate Mike McHugh ’77 both ran the very tough Catskill 100k Road Race & Relay on August 17th. The only 100k relay race in the northeast, the CMRR challenges runners with an extremely tough landscape that runs through the Catskill Mountains of Ulster and Sullivan Counties, NY. Rob shared the accompanying photos from the race. Congratulations, Rob and Mike!

We are saddened to share the passing of Deborah McGuinness, wife of James McGuinness ’57, on August 4th. Please keep Deborah and the McGuinness family in your prayers.