Archbishop Molloy High School

On the evening of May 28th, seniors and their families attended Molloy's Graduation Liturgy at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church. This annual Liturgy invites all in attendance to gather and reflect on how far they have come, as well as the start of a new journey ahead.

During his homily, celebrant Fr. Nicholas Colalella acknowledged that leaving for college can be stressful, including for parents, but he encouraged our soon-to-be graduates to seek the presence of Jesus in those stressful times. Whether in a church, chapel, or wherever they might be, centering one's self with Jesus will help them through any challenges ahead.

Several awards were presented during the Liturgy, including the St. Marcellin Champagnat Awards, recognizing outstanding service, and the Pillar Awards, representing each of the five Marist Pillars: Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work, and In the Way of Mary.

Congratulations to the Champagnat Award winners (larger group pictured): Shane Campbell, Sofia Crino, William Fogarty, Bridget Guaman, Vanessa Guilfoyle, Aine Harkins, Jillian Kahn, Xavier Lopez, Elizabeth Meade, Kaylani Ramirez, Caterina Romano, Colin Sweeney, Edmundo Tochimani, and Olivia Ventura!

Congratulations to the Pillar Award winners (smaller group pictured): Gabriel Gonzalez (Presence), Daniel Del Toro Devia (Simplicity), Giulian Della Pollo (Family Spirit), Rinat Moshel (Love of Work), and Alexander Lopez (In the Way of Mary)!

Thank you to our Junior/Senior Chorus (joined by alumni and faculty!) for leading us in song, and thank you to all who attended the Liturgy!

On Thursday, May 21st, Molloy’s junior class gathered for their Junior Leadership Liturgy & Ring Ceremony, marking an important milestone as the Class of 2027 officially stepped into their new role as leaders of the school community. Held in the Jack Curran Gymnasium, the event brought students together to celebrate Mass, reflect on the meaning of leadership, and receive their class rings and leadership pins.

Senior Edmundo Tochimani ’26 opened the ceremony by speaking to the juniors about the excitement and responsibility that come with senior year. Symbolically “passing the torch,” he reassured the Class of 2027 that the current seniors would continue to support and guide them along the way.

The liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Nicholas Colalella, who encouraged students to think deeply about what it truly means to lead. “Being a leader is about who you are deep down,” he shared. He continued, “Anyone can wear the mask of a superhero, but not everyone will actually take up the mantle and be one. Yes, any senior can don the senior polo, but real leadership is being faithful to who God has called you to be.” Junior Natalie Carrillo-Rojas ’27 also addressed her classmates, encouraging them to use all of “their gifts and talents to uplift themselves and others.”

Each junior received a leadership pin during the ceremony, while class rings were also distributed to members of the Class of 2027. Students were encouraged to wear their pins proudly on their lanyards as a symbol of their new role within the Molloy community. Principal Dr. Darius Penikas concluded the program by reminding students that they each possess “unique gifts given to them by God,” and that they are now called to “use them to serve others and make the world a better place.” Congratulations, Class of 2027!

On Memorial Day, we remember the sacrifices of the many brave members of our armed forces. In a special way, we pray for our Stanners who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Each year, the Class of 1963 upholds a long-running tradition in observance of Memorial Day. Members of the class donate a floral wreath to honor their classmate, Private First Class Louis Willett '63. PFC Willett was mortally wounded on February 15, 1967 in Kontum Province, Vietnam as he intentionally drew significant hostile fire away from the other members of his platoon. This enabled the platoon to safely retreat from the area, avoiding further casualties. PFC Willett and his selfless acts of courage would be formally recognized when he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation states the medal was awarded "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” PFC Willett was also later inducted into the Stanner Hall of Fame. Thank you to the Class of 1963 for helping Molloy honor and share PFC Willett’s legacy and place in history.

We also pray for all our Stanners who gave their lives in the line of duty during the Vietnam War. A plaque in the halls of Molloy memorializes their names: Herbert H. Dilger ’60, Charles V. Donohue ’60, Cosmo F. Pacetta ’63, John T. Reilly ’63, Peter M. Roche ’63, Louis Willett '63, Peter R. Martin ’64, Gerard F. Paulsen ’64, James E. Stolz ’64, John F. Downey ’65, Kevin R. Hoag ’65, and Bruce N. Sweeney ’66.

*full story at www.molloyhs.org/news* On May 19th, Molloy hosted its annual Athletic Awards, recognizing the accomplishments of our stellar student-athletes! Family and friends gathered to celebrate the achievements of both individuals and teams throughout the 2025–2026 school year, highlighting the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship that define Molloy Athletics.

During the event, Athletic Director Mr. Mike McCleary presented the Coaches and Team MVP Awards. Other awards presented throughout the night include the Senior Scholar Athletes Awards, which recognize seniors who excelled in the classroom and on the field of play, and the Firefighter Timothy Klein ‘08 Awards, which provides tuition assistance and to rising seniors who have played their respective sport for three years and are in good academic standing. Thank you to the Klein family for sponsoring this award!

A highlight of the night is the announcement of Molloy’s new CHSAA Captain’s Club members. The CHSAA Captain’s Club was created to help keep Catholic values within high school athletics. Eileen Henning ‘26 and Colin Sweeney ‘26, last year’s captains, were thanked for their service and then asked to pass the torch to our newly appointed representatives: Madde Sepe ‘27 and Nolan Gomez ‘27!

The night came to a close with the presentation of the Jack Curran Outstanding Senior Athlete Award, which is presented to the top male and female athlete in the graduating class. The 2026 recipients of this prestigious award are Christina Kyrou ‘26 and Ayden Roman ‘26!

Congratulations to each and every one of our stellar athletes!

To kick off the Class of 2026’s last week of school, seniors participated in College Sweatshirt Day, celebrating the next chapter of their academic journeys! They wore sweatshirts and t-shirts representing the colleges and universities they will be attending in the fall, filling the hallways with excitement for their bright futures!

Some schools that were highlighted by the graduating class included Columbia University, Barnard College, St. John’s University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Purdue University, the University of Michigan, Hunter College, the University of Delaware, the United States Naval Academy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Fordham University, Syracuse University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Scranton, Boston College, and many more!

The day was a special opportunity to recognize our students’ hard work and dedication to their studies. We are so proud of the Class of 2026 and can’t wait to see where the future takes them! Go Stanners!

On Wednesday, May 6th, computer science teacher Ms. Destiny Barbery accompanied 11 Stanners to the St. John’s Hack-a-Thon! There, students competed in a hack-the-box tournament, using their cybersecurity skills to work through simulations on lab machines to solve complex problems. In addition to the competition, they also had the opportunity to tour St. John’s homeland security and cybersecurity labs, gaining valuable insight into the field and its real-world applications!

Wishing our Stanner family a wonderful Mother's Day!

Last week, students in Ms. Espinal’s Spanish class traveled to Washington Heights to visit KIPP Elementary School, where they spent time reading with a kindergarten class. As part of the visit, Molloy’s Stanners created bilingual children’s books in English and Spanish, which they proudly shared with the younger students.

Ms. Espinal described the experience as “exceptionally meaningful,” noting that it “helped break language barriers that many students and their families face.” She added, “By creating bilingual books, we were able to provide something that students can take home and read with their parents, allowing families to connect and enjoy the stories together.”

The trip offered a powerful opportunity for our students to see the real impact of their work while giving back to the community in a thoughtful and lasting way. Go Stanners!

As we continue our celebration of 25 years of women at Molloy, we proudly recognize the silver 25th anniversary of Molloy Softball. Molloy presents, in collaboration with our softball community, a special documentary highlighting the program’s rich history and lasting impact.

"Something Bigger Than Yourself: The Story of Molloy Softball" - Watch the full documentary now at www.molloyhs.org/softball

That tradition of excellence continues today. Our 2024–25 Varsity team earned the prestigious Easton NFCA Top Team GPA Award, finishing with an outstanding 4.0 team GPA, a true testament to their commitment both on the field and in the classroom.

This year’s squad continues to excel, as the team was ranked 3rd in New York State (Class AAA) as of May 5, 2026. Our senior class has demonstrated remarkable dedication and success, with three student-athletes committing to continue their softball careers at the collegiate level: Kimberly (Kimmy) Piazza (St. John’s University), Alicia Acevedo (John Jay College of Criminal Justice), and Megan Chelius (Union College). In addition, junior standout Diem Nenadich has already committed to Hofstra University.

This season is shaping up to be another memorable one, as our JV team holds an impressive 10–1 record, while Varsity stands at 16–1 overall. As we cheer our teams to victory, we recognize how we got here. Please enjoy this special presentation.

The legacy continues! Go Stanners!

Wishing a very Happy National Nurses Day to Molloy’s school nurse, Ms. Maria Gallagher! We’re so grateful for the care, compassion, and dedication you bring to our community each and every day. Thank you for always looking out for our students and staff and for all the ways you help keep Molloy a safe place!