Campus News

Values Reinforced at Alumni/Parent Panel

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Members of our extended Crusader community came back to campus for an inspiring panel discussion. Students in our Catholic Social Teachings class had the opportunity to hear from Michael Mallory ’12, David Manzo ’72, Scott Ouellette ’97, Mayor Paul Pernerewski ’79, and Marissa Shaker, who shared insights from their professional journeys and reflected on the importance of social responsibility, respect, and giving back. Their experiences brought classroom lessons to life, reinforcing the core values at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching

Holy Cross Student Theater to Present Little Shop of Horrors

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

The Holy Cross Student Theater will present Little Shop of Horrors with music by Alan Menken and books/lyrics by Howard Ashmen as this year’s spring musical. Performances run on Friday, April 24 at 7:30pm and Saturday, April 25 at 2:30pm and 6:30pm. This production, directed by Sean Lewis, is presented with special permission by Music Theater International. Tickets ($15.00 for adults and $10.00 for senior citizens and students) can be purchased at the door.

Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of shy, struggling florist Seymour Krelborn (Connor Hodgkins ‘28), who works in a failing flower shop and secretly loves his kind but insecure coworker Audrey (Ciara Proulx ‘28). After discovering a mysterious plant during a solar eclipse, which he names Audrey II (JC Hernandez ‘26), Seymour brings unexpected fame and success to the shop. However, he soon learns the plant thrives on human blood, and as it grows, it begins to speak and manipulate him with promises of wealth, success, and Audrey’s love. Driven by desperation and ambition, Seymour is pulled deeper into feeding the plant, even as its demands become more sinister. What begins as a chance for a better life turns into a moral crisis, as Audrey II’s true goal to take over the world becomes clear, Seymour is left to confront the consequences of his choices.

Cast members include: Connor Hodgkins ‘28, Ciara Proulx ‘28, Dominik Sudol ‘28, Royce King, ‘27, JC Hernandez ‘26, Mia Longo ‘29, Brooklyn Leary ‘28, Alana Ingram ‘28, Bella Henao ‘26, Giada DiMaria ‘29, Emma Bugnacki ‘26 (student choreographer), and Danei Pittman ‘27.

Brianna Mowad ‘27 serves as stage manager. Lighting and Sound will be executed by Isabella Oliver ‘28 and Jayden Lewis ‘28, respectively.

According to Mr. Lewis “It’s a fun show to do. It has been around since the early 80s and is a much loved musical. It has a smaller cast but you can make it as big as you want, and is very entertaining. It is one of those shows where there's no deeper meaning other than to be entertained.”

Holy Cross High School Announces Honor Roll for Third Quarter of the 2025-2026 School Year

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Holy Cross High School is proud to announce that the following students have achieved honor roll status for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Senior Class

First Honors: Virginia Akide Ndunge, Sara Audie, Vienna Baker, Erin Barry, Gina Barry, Quinn Barry, Mary Benvegnu, Mari Berardis, Arianna Berrios, Adriana Brammer, Aidan Brown, Sophia Brown, Samoi Bryan, Emma Bugnacki, Cheyenne Burgess, Isabella Cacnahuaray, Matthew Collins, Jr., Milana D'Amelio, Laila Daniels, Lily Dardis, Braydon Dion, Lauren Fischer, Bella Henao, Jeancarlos Hernandez, Anthony Laribee, Antonella Livolsi, Reese McGarrity, Skyla Mendez, Marley Mestek, Darby O'Connell, Tiago Oliveira, Tyler Onze, Gianna Palladino, Anastasia Papanicolaou, Oreanna Paris, Tiago Pereira, Kaylie Perry, John Petrokaitis, Gianna Purcaro, Alina Rodrigue Echevarria, Victoria Rosado, Michael Rosario, Alexa Ruggia, Camden Sannasi, Gionel Santiago, Benjamin Serenson, Mia Shaker, Savannah Skipwith, LillianTorrance, Kylie Villa & Evin Williams

Second Honors: Ardi Beshi, Carmine Cuevas. Justine DiPasquale, Dorina Dobruna, Sofia Fidanza, Natasha Foldvary, Edion Frangu, Elizabeth Gambini, Kayla Gunnoud, Matthew Holland, Austin Kasarda, Timothy McGrath, Tressa Montesi, Ray O'Connell, Carlos Poveda-Sanabria, Danny Prodani, Giovanni Velez & Connor Walker

Junior Class

First Honors: Daniella Alvarez-Rivera, Gabrielle Basse, Maria Bueno, Luciana Calderon, Devin Cavanagh, Jenna Cronan, Thomas Cruess, Christopher Cugliari, Peter DeLuca, Ava DePaulo, Victoria DiMatteo, Meghan Donnelly, Sabrina Egan, Riley Fenn, Alana Ingram, Brady Lombardo, Nicholas Martinez-Miranda, David Mecca, Aniyah Miller, Amelia Mowad, Brianna Mowad, William Mulhall, Hope Murray, Aiden Nelson, Whitney Olsen, Joshua Oun, Danei Pittman, Reia Prevalla, Elizabeth Pronovost, Julianna Razza, Mikayla Robinson, Madeline Saunders, Robert Schnaars, Madelyn Scully, Addison Sonsini, Surya Thapa, Anthony Vasilakos & Ruoxi Zeng

Second Honors: Sofia Alonzo, Giselle Berberi, Anthony Caras, Luca Ciriello, Ryan Clapes, Liana Couto, Nina DelPriore, Savannah Flach, Henry Fontaine, Ryan Gabriel, Griffin Gould, Terrell Inabinett, Makayla Malagutt, Caleb Miller, Daniel Monteiro, Cole Phelan, Jayda Priester, Savanna Quinn, Sophia Serrano, Ariana Sims, Mackenzie Solla, Sofia Tata & Riya Thomas

Sophomore Class

First Honors: Maria Baraviera, Elijah Brown, Jordy Calle, Marcello Ciriello, Nolan Corriveau, Ian Costa, Annie Curran, John DaSilva, Nellina DaSilva, Vincent Giampetruzzi, DyllonGray, Rylee Gray, Nora Grealis, Isabella Guzman, Leah Gwiazdoski, Mohammad Hafez, Kayla Hein, Connor Hodgkins, Michael Hoxhallari, Iris Hysenllari, Brooklyn Leary, Kadence McDivitt, Chase Morin, Lily Murphy, Samantha Myers, Isabella Oliver, Gabriella Raad, Alana Rodgers, Giuliana Silva, Dominik Sudol, Audriana Tessier, Madeleine Uluski, Sadie Villa, Rayne Washington & Michael Worobel IV

Second Honors: Elvi Beshi, Caleb Corriveau, Tavis Currier, Derek Distier, Cecilia Dupree, Owen Gould, Austin Hebb, Tyler Inman, Carlymay Kerrigan, Colin Lanese, Ahsyah Long, Joshua Lozano, Cooper Manna, Emma Moran, Alana Moses, Maggie Mulla, Jacob Paternostro, Ciara Proulx, Nicholas Santos, Angela Shivas, Alina Sims, Sawyer Spence, Tyler Touponse & Sophia Vargas

Freshman Class

First Honors: Quinn Brophy, Ella Indira Charles, Mila Cowell, Domenic DeFranzo, Donald Hickey, Asia Ho-Sue, Ethan Krok, Andrew Lame, Jayden Landeen, Carter Lasky, Benjamin LaTorraca, Mia Longo, Madeline Mitchell, Maya Monteiro, Brianna Moore, Audrey Ortiz, Sophia Palladino, Nico Perrotti, Oleksandra Petryshyn, Jacob Planeta, James Regan IV & Aaliyah Zebrowski

Second Honors: Darly Belot, Ronan Cavanagh, Harold Corker IV, Mason Dailey, Thea DelPriore, Giada DiMaria, Mia Galiette, Lucien Gambini, Ely Hernandez, Isabella LeRoy, Isabella Pabon, Brynne Phelan, Jaxson Ryan & Shaelyn Walsh

Freshman Jacob Planeta ’29 Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

To become an Eagle Scout is already an impressive accomplishment. For Jacob Planeta ’29, earning scouting’s highest honor as a freshman in high school makes it even more incredible.

A member of Troop 92 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Jacob began his journey in Cub Scouts before officially joining Boy Scouts in sixth grade. From the start, he developed a passion for the program’s outdoor adventures and close-knit camaraderie. “I immediately loved the outdoor activities and seeing cool things on trips,” he said. “I also made a lot of great friends.”

Scouting runs in the family as well — his uncle is an Eagle Scout, helping to inspire Jacob’s own goal.

Over the years, Jacob challenged himself with increasingly demanding experiences, including a High Adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. During the nine-day expedition, he climbed the ranch’s tallest peak and strengthened his love for the outdoors. Summer camp also played a key role in his progress, where he earned up to five merit badges each year. “I did everything I could to achieve that,” he said.

Determined to complete the requirements early, Jacob balanced scouting with another passion: baseball. “As I get older, I’ll become more involved with practices, games, and tournaments. I wanted to get my Eagle Scout so I could focus on that. It’s been a dream I’ve always wanted to achieve.” Looking ahead, Jacob has his sights set on attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Jacob gave back to his school community at Dodd Middle School. He designed and built helmet and bat racks to help keep the baseball dugout organized, with shelves for helmets and storage underneath for bats. Although he did not have carpentry experience, a teacher stepped in to mentor and guide him through the process.

“I never thought I could get Eagle Scout in the speed that I did,” Jacob said. “I learned that if you put your mind into something, you can get it done. That’s something my dad instilled in me. I had a great support system.”

Now in his first year at Holy Cross High School, Jacob says the school community has already made a strong impression. “I know everyone says it, but it’s just like a family. Everybody is cool with everybody. It’s easy to interact with everyone. Here, you really get to know people well. There are teachers and counselors who are there to help you.”

Although he has reached the pinnacle rank in scouting, Jacob is far from finished. He plans to remain active with his troop, pursue additional merit badges including Military Service and Metalworking, and continue exploring the outdoors. This summer, he is looking forward to water rafting and kayaking in Acadia National Park.

College Acceptances for the Class of 2026…So Far

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Here are the college acceptances for the Class of 2026 — so far.

At Holy Cross High School, college preparation begins in freshman year. Students work closely with their counselors to challenge themselves academically while building the skills and confidence needed to navigate the college search and application process.

We are proud of our students and look forward to celebrating even more great news in the months ahead.

Adelphi University

Albertus Magnus College

Anna Maria College

Appalachian State University

Babson College

Binghamton University

Bridgewater State University

Bryant University

Central Connecticut State University

Clark University

Clarkson University

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina University

College of Charleston

Dean College

Dominican University of California

Drexel University

Duquesne University

East Carolina University

Eastern CT State University

Eckerd College

Emmanuel College

Fairfield University

Fisher College

Fordham University

Franklin Pierce University

High Point University

Hofstra University

Holy Cross College

Iona University

Ithaca College

Jacksonville University

Johnson and Wales University

King's College

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Maryland

Manhattan University

Manhattanville University

Marist University

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Mercy University

Merrimack College

Morgan State University

Mount Saint Mary College

Muhlenberg College

New York Institute of Technology

Northeastern University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Pace University

Penn State University

Plymouth State University

Post University

Providence College

Quinnipiac University

Regis College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhode Island College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Roger Williams University

Rutgers University

Sacred Heart University

Salve Regina University

Santa Clara University

Sarah Lawrence College

Seton Hall University

Siena University

Simmons University

Southern CT State University

Springfield College

St. Edward's University

St. John's University

St. Joseph's College of Maine

St. Joseph's University (PA)

St. Mary's College

Stetson University

Suffolk University

SUNY Plattsburgh

Temple University

University of Alabama

University of Bridgeport

University of Connecticut

University of Hartford

University of Louisville

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Boston

University of Massachusetts Lowell

University of Mississippi

University of Mount Saint Vincent

University of New England

University of New Hampshire

University of New Haven

University of Notre Dame

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rhode Island

University of Saint Joseph

University of San Diego

University of South Carolina

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Texas Arlington

University of Toronto

University of Utah

Villanova University

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Western Carolina University

Western Connecticut State University

Western New England University

Westfield State University

Xavier University

as of January 30, 2026

Dr. Raymond Deshaies ’79: Seizing a World of Possibilities

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

World-renowned biochemist, Dr. Raymond Deshaies ’79 returned to campus to speak with students including members of Holy Cross High School’s Science Academy about his journey from Waterbury to the forefront of biomedical research.

Raised on High Street in Waterbury, Dr. Deshaies followed his brother Richard ’72 to Holy Cross. Today, he is an internationally recognized biochemist and cell biologist, serving as Professor and Executive Officer of Molecular Biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is also the co-founder of biotechnology companies Proteolix and Cleave Biosciences and has held senior leadership roles in global research at Amgen.

Durng his visit, Dr. Deshaies shared how a series of pivotal moments and influential mentors helped guide his path. One of the earliest was Dorothy Hall, a tenant in his parents’ three family home. She encouraged his curiosity and introduced him to new ideas. With her guidance, he applied to Cornell University, earning a scholarship to study horticulture in the College of Agriculture.

While at Cornell, Dr. Deshaies gradually shifted his focus from plant science to biology at the cellular level. He emphasized that the diversity of people and perspectives he encountered there was just as important as his coursework. Initially planning to pursue medicine, he reconsidered after discovering a love for laboratory research during a summer research position.

“I realized I loved the research process, working with my hands and solving problems,” he said.

That epiphany led him to graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. and developed a passion for full-time research. He went on to complete postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco, before joining Caltech as an assistant professor in 1994, a place he described as a “citadel of science.”

Dr. Deshaies’ research focuses on understanding how cells regulate proteins, particularly how unwanted proteins are tagged with ubiquitin and destroyed by the proteasome. This work has led to the development of new drug strategies that harness the cell’s natural protein disposal systems.

Throughout his presentation, Dr. Deshaies encouraged the Crusaders to remain open to unexpected opportunities, seek out mentors, and embrace lifelong learning. “Surround yourself with great people, take risks, and keep learning,” he said. “This school prepared me extremely well. The world is full of possibilities. Be ready to seize them.”

Holy Cross High School Announces Honor Roll for Second Quarter of the 2025-2026 School Year

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Cross High School is proud to announce that the following students have achieved honor roll status for the second quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Senior Class

First Honors: Virginia Akide Ndunge, Sara Audie, William Barnes, Erin Barry, Gina Barry, Quinn Barry, Mary Benvegnu, Mari Berardis, Arianna Berrios, Adriana Brammer, Aidan Brown, Sophia Brown, Samoi Bryan, Emma Bugnacki, Cheyenne Burgess, Olivia Carolan, Matthew Collins, Jr., Milana D'Amelio, Laila Daniels, Lily Dardis, Braydon Dion, Justine DiPasquale, Sofia Fidanza, Lauren Fischer, Natasha Foldvary, Kayla Gunnoud, Bella Henao, Jeancarlos Hernandez, Matthew Holland, Justin Karagianes, Anthony Laribee, Antonella Livolsi, Reese McGarrity, Timothy McGrath, Skyla Mendez, Marley Mestek, Jazlyn Muniz, Darby O'Connell, Tiago Oliveira, Tyler Onze, Gianna Palladino, Oreanna Paris, Tiago Pereira, Kaylie Perry, John Petrokaitis, Gianna Purcaro, Alina Rodriguez Echevarria, Victoria Rosado, Michael Rosario, Daylen Roscoe, Alexa Ruggia, Camden Sannasi, Gionel Santiago, Benjamin Serenson, Mia Shaker, Savannah Skipwith, Lillian Torrance, Giovanni Velez & Reagan Zupkus

Second Honors: Vienna Baker, Ardi Beshi, Isabella Cacnahuaray, Dorina Dobruna, Brenna Finley, Ashton Gilbert, Austin Kasarda, John Lacush, Ray O'Connell, Anastasia Papanicolaou, Carlos Poveda-Sanabria, Danny Prodani, Kylie Villa, Evin Williams & Dantae Yannantuono

Junior Class

First Honors: Sofia Alonzo, Daniella Alvarez-Rivera, Gabrielle Basse, Maria Bueno, Devin Cavanagh, Jenna Cronan, Thomas Cruess, Christopher Cugliari, Peter DeLuca, Ava DePaulo, Victoria DiMatteo, Meghan Donnelly, Sabrina Egan, Riley Fenn, Brady Lombardo, Sonia Magalhaes, Nicholas Martinez-Miranda, David Mecca, William Mulhall, Aiden Nelson, Joshua Oun, Bella Pelosi, Danei Pittman, Reia Prevalla, Jayda Priester, Elizabeth Pronovost, Julianna Razza, Mikayla Robinson, Robert Schnaars, Madelyn Scully, Addison Sonsini, Sofia Tata, Surya Thapa, Riya Thomas & Anthony Vasilakos

Second Honors: Giselle Berberi, Leah Brenneman, Luciana Calderon, Luca Ciriello, Ryan Clapes, Liana Couto, Savannah Flach, Henry Fontaine, Ryan Gabriel, Griffin Gould, Aaden Hall, Alana Ingram, Makayla Malagutti, Aniyah Miller, Caleb Miller, Daniel Monteiro, Amelia Mowad, Brianna Mowad, Hope Murray, Whitney Olsen, William Perez, Cole Phelan, Savanna Quinn, Madeline Saunders, Sophia Serrano, Ariana Sims & Ruoxi Zeng

Sophomore Class

First Honors: Maria Baraviera, Jordy Calle, Marcello Ciriello, Annie Curran, John DaSilva, Nellina DaSilva, Dyllon Gray, Rylee Gray, Nora Grealis, Isabella Guzman, Leah Gwiazdoski, Kayla Hein, Connor Hodgkins, Michael Hoxhallari, Evan Hughson, Iris Hysenllari, Tyler Inman, Carlymay Kerrigan, Brooklyn Leary, Kadence McDivitt, Emma Moran, Maggie Mulla, Lily Murphy, Samantha Myers, Isabella Oliver, Gabriella Raad, Alana Rodgers, Giuliana Silva, Audriana Tessier, Madeleine Uluski, Sadie Villa, Rayne Washington & Michael Worobel IV

Second Honors: Elijah Brown, Ella Brown, Caleb Corriveau, Nolan Corriveau, Ian Costa, Tavis Currier, Juliana Delgado, Cecilia Dupree, Mohammad Hafez, Colin Lanese, Carmine LaVorgna, Ahsyah Long, Joshua Lozano, Cooper Manna, Xavier Miller, Chase Morin, Alana Moses, Bella Parker, Jacob Paternostro, Billie Perrotti, Ciara Proulx, Gabriella Rosado, Nicholas Santos, Angela Shivas, Alina Sims, Sawyer Spence, Dominik Sudol & Tyler Touponse

Freshman Class

First Honors: Quinn Brophy, Mila Cowell, Domenic DeFranzo, Asia Ho-Sue, Ethan Krok, Jayden Landeen, Carter Lasky, Benjamin LaTorraca, Mia Longo, Madeline Mitchell, Brianna Moore, Sophia Palladino, Nico Perrotti, Oleksandra Petryshyn, Jacob Planeta & Aaliyah Zebrowski

Second Honors: Darly Belot, Christopher Cappelletti, Ronan Cavanagh, Ella Indira Charles, Giada DiMaria, Mia Galiette, Lucien Gambini, Donald Hickey, Andrew Lame, Isabella LeRoy, Maya Monteiro, Audrey Ortiz, Isabella Pabon Erick Palchizaca, Brynne Phelan, James Regan IV & Aiden Soriano

Remembering James Cunningham and James Harris

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Cross High School is saddened to learn of the passing of James Cunningham and James Harris on Monday, December 29, 2025. Both were strong pillars in the Crusader community, making a difference in their student's lives whether it be in the classrooms or on the courts and fields. We keep their families and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

James Cunningham

James began his teaching and coaching career in 1964 at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, New York. There, he taught Physical Science, Biology, and Physical Education, served as assistant football coach (later junior varsity coach), and was head track coach. He also established the school’s first-ever wrestling program.

In 1971, James moved to Wolcott, Connecticut, where he accepted the position of Athletic Director at Holy Cross High School. In addition to his director duties, he taught Physical Education and served as assistant football and track coach. Continuing his legacy of program building, he established Holy Cross High School’s first wrestling program.

In 1989, James retired as wrestling coach but continued coaching field events in both winter and spring track. After 40 years in education, he retired from Holy Cross High School in 2004, yet remained active by continuing to coach field events in spring track. From 2005 to 2014, he served as an assistant wrestling coach at Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut. In 2016, James was among the first class of inductees into the Holy Cross High School Crusader Hall of Honor.

James Harris

Jim Harris began his career at Holy Cross High School, when the school opened in September of 1968. He was employed at Holy Cross for 41 years. In his early years, Jim taught Physical Science before becoming a Physical Education teacher. After leaving the classroom, he assumed the position as Director of the Physical Plant. He and his staff took great pride in the upkeep of the interior and exterior of the Campus. One of Jim’s greatest accomplishments at Holy Cross was the starting of the Annual Alumni Golf Tournament. Over the past 30 years, this event has raised a substantial amount of money that assists students with their tuition costs.

While at Holy Cross, Jim was instrumental in the development of the athletic programs. Jim started and was the first head varsity football and baseball coach. He was lucky to have coached many great student-athletes, that went on to compete at the collegiate level. Jim’s baseball teams won over 300 games and won multiple City and NVL Championships during his tenure. In 1992, Jim was named Connecticut High School Baseball Coach of the Year. Jim was inducted into the Holy Cross High School Crusader Hall of Honor in 2023.

Joseph Sauvageau ’75: From Waterbury to the Stars

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +0000

When Joe Sauvageau ’75 watched the Apollo missions as a boy in Waterbury, he dreamed about space, but he never imagined he’d one day help design the instruments that explore it. Today, as a System Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Sauvageau stands at the forefront of aerospace innovation.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how things work,” he says. “At Holy Cross, I took every science class available. That foundation carried me through everything that followed.”

Sauvageau entered Fairfield University planning to study medicine, but a passion for physics, the seed of which started while at HCHS after watching Star Trek episodes on television, soon took over. After earning his degree in physics and mathematics, he pursued graduate studies in applied physics at Stony Brook University where he received a MA and Ph.D.. There he discovered his true calling: experimental physics and engineering.

“Hands-on science excited me,” he recalls. “I wanted to build things, not just study them on paper and make things which benefit society.”

That hands-on approach defined his career. Beginning at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO, Sauvageau worked on cutting-edge infrared detector technology. However, unlike many colleagues, he left government research for industry, eager to see science translated into real-world applications using the tools of engineering.

Over the next three decades, Sauvageau’s career spanned start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and entrepreneurial ventures. He served as a Chief Technology Officer, Vice President of Engineering, and even co-founded companies of his own. His work always pushed boundaries from lasers and photonics to advanced satellite payloads.

One highlight: serving as Chief Engineer on the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) Program, where he led the design and launch of a wide field-of-view sensor for the U.S. Air Force. The project showcased his technical expertise and his ability to unite and inspire highly skilled teams.

Since 2014, Sauvageau has been at JPL, a place of his boyhood dreams, leading development of next-generation sensors and instruments for NASA missions. His portfolio includes technologies for Mars exploration, space telescopes, and instruments designed to detect chemical signatures on distant worlds.

“Much of my career has been about one big question,” he says. “Are we alone in the Universe?” The search for life and biosignatures in our solar system and galaxy forms a major interest to NASA and the larger science community. This sits on top of a passionate interest in understanding nature at the deepest level.

Sauvageau returned to Waterbury this past spring for his 50th reunion. The experience reminded him how deeply Holy Cross High School shaped his journey. “Holy Cross prepared me for college and beyond,” he reflects. “The teachers cared. They inspired curiosity, discipline, and a love of learning. They shaped minds and cultivated our hearts. That foundation made all the difference.”

From the classrooms of Holy Cross to the laboratories of JPL, Sauvageau has lived a career defined by innovation, leadership, and an enduring sense of wonder. His journey is proof that early inspiration, nurtured by great teachers, can reach all the way to the stars.

Career Exploration Day: Students Connect with Alumni and Community to Discover Future Paths

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Alumni, parents, former faculty, and friends returned to campus to share their expertise with students across a wide range of fields—from law and medicine to the arts, nonprofit work, science, and more.

The day began in the Timothy J. McDonald Gymnasium, where students circulated among the presenters and engaged in one-on-one conversations with our special guests. Students then participated in smaller breakout groups, offering a more in-depth look at each guest’s career path, professional experiences, and insights. This enriching event gave students a firsthand understanding of the many opportunities that lie ahead.

“We have always welcomed guest speakers to share their experiences with our students,” said Jodie LaCava McGarrity ’93, Director of Counseling. “It’s so important that we expose them to insights that go beyond classroom discussions and textbooks. We are thankful to have an engaged alumni community that is eager to offer our students firsthand advice. This is the first of many Career Exploration Days, and we look forward to continuing this new tradition.”

Veterinarian Rich Gruszka ’72 sees great value in days like this. “It gives them an opportunity to look at different options for their future. Hopefully, we can convey something to them that clicks. I spoke to almost thirty kids today. If I convinced two of those kids to pursue a career in medicine, I’ve done my job.”

“These kids are so much further ahead than any of us were at their age when I went to school here,” said Brian Koeller ’81, a faculty member at Bentley University. “The kids were engaging and curious. They asked really good questions.”

Zorri McRay ’19, now working in admissions for the Griffin School of Allied Health’s LPN programs, had long hoped to return to her alma mater to speak with current students. “The kids were so polite. It was really nice getting to meet them,” she shared.

For Zorri, it was a welcome homecoming to a familiar yet evolving place. “It’s so different. I walked around every corner and was like, ‘Well, this wasn’t here when I was here.’ The school has made so many changes. It is great. I love it.”

Guest presenters included:
Roger Caramanica, Lisa Carrozza, Kaitlin Ciarleglio ’08, Sara Ciarlo Miceli ’08, Anthony “Tony” Ciriello Jr. P ’27 & ’28, Eileen Cornacchia P ’20 & ’24, Ken Curran ’93, Jeremy D’Amico ’07, Dr. Salvatore Diaz, Sara DiGiovanna P ’24, Casey DiZinno ’15, Danielle Dolan Dipisa, Eamon Downey ’08, Julia Dzinski ’19, Ryan Gilland ’11, Rich Gruszka ’72, Jacob Hogrefe ’20, Allegra Itsoga ’98, Michael Keating ’17, Brian Koeller ’81, Alexandra Koulouris ’18, Amanda Langner, Jason Malagutti ’94, Jonathan Martin, Lisa Matrella ’05, Zorri McRay ’19, Tony Omega, Rachel Milo Jakoboski ’11, Michelle Morcey ’84, Alex Nesta ’12, Antoinette Padula ’95, Joe Rainone ’88, Dan Remiszewski ’10, Chuck Senich ’80, Mary Sharnick, Frances Simon-Nixon Hollon ’14, Diane Vagnini, and Kevin Zupkus ’78 & P ’19.