Reese Delaney Biggerstaff is a West Essex High School graduating senior.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, and Rho Kappa. Reese was on the WE basketball team all four years. She was a captain of the freshman team and the JV team and is also a three-year varsity letter recipient.  Reese also enjoyed playing on the WE field hockey team for three years and was a captain on the JV team her junior year.  She also enjoyed participating in several clubs throughout her years at West Essex.

For Reese’s Senior Service project, she will be going to Disney with a volunteer group from WEHS to work with Give Kids the World, where she and other WEHS seniors will assist children and their families that are living with life-threatening illnesses. Through their service, they will help these children and their families make lasting memories at the private park that Disney has set up just for them. Reese has also enjoyed volunteering her time to help the homeless at the H.E.L.P. Center of Newark, a single men’s and women’s shelter for which she organized a Covid essentials donation drive and also bakes cookies and brownies for its residents. She plans to further her volunteer service with the H.E.L.P. Center in the future.

Reese enjoys hanging out with friends and family, traveling, spending time in New York City, and working her jobs at the Verona Inn and On Bloom boutique. Reese is excited to attend the University of Florida in the fall.

 

Katie Butler is a senior graduating from Winston Preparatory School. She will be attending Cazenovia College in the fall. Katie swam on the West Essex varsity swim team for two years and appeared in the West Essex Masquers productions of Clue, The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling. She also worked on stage crew for their production of Vintage Hitchcock.  Throughout both middle and high school, Katie was active in the St. Peter’s Church Youth Group (SPY). 

 

Katherine Chodorcoff is graduating from West Essex High School and will be attending Wake Forest University next year. Katie was involved in competitive cheerleading at Star Athletics and was a member of the National Honor Society, the STEM Club, and many other clubs at West Essex. She has volunteered at Toni’s Food Kitchen in Montclair throughout her high school experience and is planning to study psychology and business in college. Katie is looking forward to the next four years in North Carolina, meeting new people, and making more memories while always valuing the ones she’s made at West Essex.

 

Connor Coughlin is a West Essex High School graduating senior. During his time at West Essex, Connor was a member of the National Honor Society and Chinese Club and played saxophone in the Concert Band. He was a four-year varsity lacrosse goalie and was a captain during his senior year.  Connor was also a member of the varsity swim team for four years.  Connor is looking forward to attending Stevens Institute of Technology in the fall, where he will be a business major and play lacrosse.

 

After attending Essex Fells Elementary School through fifth grade, Nathan has been at Newark Academy for the last seven years, where he will be graduating in June. He will be playing golf at Princeton for the next four years, where he plans to major in either math or astrophysics.

 

Abby is graduating from The Academy of St. Elizabeth.  Over the last four years, Abby has been busy with various sports as well as fun, charitable, and academic clubs at her school.  She will be attending Providence College in the fall, where she will major in elementary/special education. 

 

James is graduating from Seton Hall Prep, where he was a starting varsity tennis player and member of the National Honor Society. He was a volunteer tutor for the St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary school, a member of the Stock Market Club, Future Business Leaders and Future Lawyers Clubs, and Fishing Club. James continues to be an EF Junior Firefighter and a lifeguard at Fellsbrook Club. James will be pursuing his studies at Northeastern University in the fall. Go, huskies!

 

Colin Hutchinson is a graduate of Winston Prep.   He is the school president of the Student Council and a member of Winston Prep Golf Club and Community Service Club.  He has many fond memories of high school with both his classmates and teammates. He is the team captain for the Winston Prep Varsity Basketball Team and a Cross Country Team Member.  He was a four-year varsity starter in both sports for the Bulldogs. In the fall, Colin will attend Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL.

  

Parker LoCascio is a graduating senior at Barnstable Academy in Oakland, NJ.  As a member of the varsity soccer and varsity basketball teams, he has enjoyed the benefits of competitive team sports.  Also, Parker has been an actor in their Performing Arts program, participating in not only formal Barnstable Got Talent Shows, but also informal, coffeehouse, student-led performances.  He enjoys volunteering his time to help those in need of a sustainable food source, having participated in the community service projects offered at Eva's Kitchen, as well as those with disabilities in need of companionship, even during his free time in the summer, through A Better Day Foundation.  Parker recently has been taking guitar lessons to complement his voice talents.  He also has adventured into surf lessons this past summer, from which he intends to continue his pursuit of catching "the perfect swell."

 

Parker summers in Ocean Grove, where he is a member of the summer staff for the Ocean Grove Beach Office and a past junior lifeguard.  He enjoys traveling; his top spots within the United States to frequent on school breaks include Surfside Beach, FL, and Hilton Head Island, SC.

 

After being an honor student, Parker plans to attend and enjoy residence life at Kean University as a Liberal Arts major in the fall. He knows traveling and music will continue to play a part in his future success, as well as maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

 

As a student at West Essex High School, Stefan Lopez enjoyed playing football (#9) and lacrosse (#24) all four years.  In the winter, Stefan likes to snowboard.   During the summers, he can be found at the shore or lifeguarding at Fells Brook.  Stefan’s love of warm weather will continue when he attends Florida State University in the fall.  He plans to study science and pursue a career in health care.

Bella Masella is a Montclair Kimberley Academy graduating senior. While at MKA, Bella was a four-year varsity swimmer. Her hard work and dedication culminated in her being named captain in both her junior and senior years. She was a member of the Safe Zone Club for mental health awareness and action. She was also a member of the Oasis Club for women and children, which focuses on helping to provide a safe community for hard-working single mothers and independent teens. Bella will be attending Tulane University in the fall, where she plans on majoring in marketing with a minor in psychology.

Tess McKiernan is graduating from Mount Saint Dominic Academy.  Over the past four years, she has been on the field hockey, swim, and lacrosse teams, as well as the paddle team.  Tess was an active member of Student Council and the Peer Leadership program at the Mount.   She is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the National Honor Societies for Spanish, science, and art.   Tess is looking forward to majoring in data science at the University of Michigan this fall.

 

Joseph Mihalik is a senior graduating from West Essex High School. Over the past four years, Joe has participated in the Italian Club and was inducted into the English, Italian, and National Honor Societies. Joseph was also a pitcher and middle infielder for the West Essex Baseball team. In addition to school, he has spent time volunteering with the youth group at Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell. Joe enjoys biking, weight lifting, and spending time with friends. He is proud to be a West Essex graduate and is looking forward to pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Rowan University this fall. 

  

Callum Reddington has been a four-year member of the MKA Ice Hockey team.  He also plays on the baseball team and enjoys his role as sports editor of Academy News, MKA's student newspaper. When not at school or on the rink, Cal is an avid fisherman. He will be attending the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the fall.

 

Mia will be attending the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State next year. During her time at West Essex, she played for the soccer team on varsity since freshman year. Mia also was a member of various clubs and honors societies, including Chinese Club, Key Club, Cooking for a Cause Club, Pre-med Club, and science, math, Spanish, and art National Honors Societies. In college, she looks forward to trying out for the women’s soccer team while also pursuing a biology major with a pre-med track. She’s beyond excited to become a Nittany lion and spend the next three years with her older sister at Penn State!

 

Andrew Shih is a West Essex High School graduating senior.  Over the past four years, Andrew has been a student government treasurer, officer of the National Honor Society, president of his Language Club, and participant on the West Essex football, lacrosse, and swim teams.  In addition, he has spent time volunteering at the Essex Fells Junior Fire Department program as well as working part-time at Shake Shack.  Andrew enjoys traveling, the Jersey Shore, and spending time with friends and family.   He is looking forward to attending New York University in the fall, where he plans to pursue an international business program in Shanghai.

Molly is a West Essex High School graduating senior. Molly played four years of varsity soccer and four years of varsity lacrosse at West Essex. She was named a junior and senior captain for the lacrosse team and a senior captain for the soccer team. Molly was also named U.S. Lacrosse Academic All American and will be furthering her lacrosse and academic career at Wesleyan University this fall. At West Essex, Molly wrote for the Wessex Wire, the school newspaper, for four years and is the arts and culture senior chief editor. She is also a part of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, and the National Spanish Honor Society. As a senior, Molly was awarded the Shoprite Star for Leadership and was a peer leader for the freshman class. Outside of West Essex, Molly played club lacrosse for STEPS for seven years and played club soccer for TSF Academy for seven years. She plans to study economics at Wesleyan and cannot wait for the next chapter of her life to begin.

 

Isabel Smith will be attending Boston College next fall, planning to pursue a major in finance. Isabel is a graduate of Kent Place School and has loved her time being a peer leader and running the World Culture Club there. She is also a part of the Latin National Honors Society. Isabel dedicated the last five summers to working at the Kent Place Summer Camp and has cherished her experience there. She cannot wait to continue her academic career in Boston next year.

 

Lauren Tedesco will be attending the University of Miami in the fall. Over the past four years at West Essex, she played on the field hockey and lacrosse team, as well as served as a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society. She also is a contributor to the magazine. Lauren plans on studying communications and could not be more excited!

 

Emily Zarr will be attending Boston College in the fall and majoring in elementary education. Emily has been active in the arts for West Essex since her freshman year, participating in the girls' acapella group and the musical, as well as performing at all of the fall and spring showcases. Emily is also the secretary of her school’s GSA and a member of the National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society. She is extremely excited to start college next year and looks forward to her time at BC.

 

Ethan participated in various clubs throughout his years at West Essex, including Art Club, Cooking for a Cause, Roundtable, and Debate Club.  He was inducted into the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, and Rho Kappa.  Ethan continued to horseback ride as well as teach himself digital art and 3D animation.   He plans to attend the Fairleigh Dickinson University Honors Program on a Merit Scholarship, studying animation and screenwriting.