Demarest, NJ: Academy of the Angels seniors who demonstrate excellence in social studies and service to others have been accepted to the Alice Paul Chapter of the Rho Kappa National History Honor Society. Thirty-three Angels were honored at the induction ceremony, which was held November 12.
The latest inductees are Olivia Arrigoitia of Dumont; Christina Bagin of Glen Ridge; Lauren Behrens of Moonachie; Angelina Busetto of Pomona, New York; Amy Cami and Camila Correa of Demarest; Bridget Clark, Shannon Garrity, and Shannon Klein of Old Tappan; Julia Farah of Pearl River, New York; Colleen Farrell of Hillsdale; Katherine Gazzini of Ridgewood; Kayla George of River Vale; Kaitlyn Guintu and Lola Samiian of Englewood; Annabel Hazrati of Little Ferry; Madelyn Holmes of Blauvelt, New York; Meredith Joseph of Suffern, New York; Chaiyon “Chennie” Kim of Englewood Cliffs; Donatella Leon of Cliffside Park; Sophie Miles and Jordyn Solages of Chestnut Ridge, New York; Audrey Miller of Glen Rock; Julia Mohr of Maywood; Morgan Morrissey of Saddle River; Nora Pav of Westwood; Julianna Pomerico of Hasbrouck Heights; Joanna Scorese of Mahwah; Nicole Tasca of Leonia; Emily Taufield of Tenafly; Olivia Toutounjian of Teaneck; Grace Winiarski of Wyckoff; and Olivia Yun of Closter.
AHA Social Studies Department Chairperson Gail Fair and faculty members Jennifer Cucchisi, Megan Delasandro, Patrick Dunne, Jamie Dykes, and Christopher Petrozzo hosted the ceremony. AHA Principal Jean Miller and Academic Dean Francesca Tambone-Puzio were on hand to congratulate this year’s honorees and present them with their Rho Kappa certificates.
Petrozzo led the students, family members, friends, and faculty in a prayer written by AHA Religious Studies Department Chair Carol Fay. In his introductory remarks, Dunne noted that Rho Kappa refers to head and hand, a reminder that knowledge without service is useless.
Inductees promise to serve Holy Angels and the greater community, “for true scholars of the social studies lead by example.” Educators from the department also lit white, green, gold, and blue candles that symbolize truth, knowledge, wisdom, and service.
Inductees each receive a yellow rose pin, a reminder of the flowers worn by those who supported Alice Paul’s fight for women’s suffrage.
AHA named its Rho Kappa chapter for Paul in recognition of her dedication to the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
As she addressed the inductees, Fair pointed out the importance of taking action at every age. She highlighted the accomplishments of Ruby Bridges, Greta Thunberg, Malala, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Abigail Adams.The National Council for the Social Studies established Rho Kappa in 2011.
Holy Angels received a Rho Kappa Charter in 2012, and installed its first members the following year.Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County.
While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious high school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals.
Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics.
The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.