THE FA LCONVolume LX, Issue I I Visit Our Editions Archive H ere Winter 2020

REPRESENTING THE SA INT JOSEPH COM M UNITY SINCE 1961®

John Nolan, Sr . Takes the Lead as New Saint Joseph President

Interviews w ith Both Mr . Nolan and Jeffrey Lance: Pages 1-2

Keeping in Touch w ith Alumni: Pg 3-4

Virtual Reunion

Mr. Eppensteiner's Return

Winter in Photos: Page 5

Saint Joe's Men Give Back

Mr. Fowler's Time in the Military

Helping the People of Belize

Covid Sparks Creativi ty for Saint Joe's Junior : Pg 7

Bence Kovacs Recent Invention

Winter Spor ts : Page 8

Contents

BY GIOVANNI YOUNG-ANNUNZIATO '21

Editor-in-ChiefThe arrival of a new school president heralds

exciting change at Saint Joseph High School. Despite his first year being perhaps one of our school?s most trying due to Covid-19, Mr. John Nolan has seen past present uncertainties and has clear visions of its future.

Mr. Nolan?s relationship with Saint Joe?s began long before he enrolled his son, always trusting its environment would positively influence John Jr.?s character. A testament to the charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, he gratifyingly finds

that Catholic values continue to guide our school. As religious communities dwindle, Mr. Nolan

predicts another essential aspect of Saint Joe?s, the brothers themselves, will eventually vanish. He feels their personal virtue enriches campus culture, however, he is committed to ensuring that their legacy will stay central to the message of Saint Joseph. He especially stresses the Coindre Leadership Program?s importance in preserving their principles.

Nolan is determined to maintain Saint Joe?s high educational standards, hoping to attract students dedicated to our school?s values.

(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Click the image above for a video of the full interview with Mr. Nolan.

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 2

NOLAN (continued from page 1)

The Falcon: Good afternoon, Jeffery. Thank you for agreeing to join us for an interview regarding your position as Student Council President!

Jeffrey Lance '21: Of course! Thank you so much for having me today.

As this school year is like no other, how do you plan on making this year memorable for all of the students at Saint Joe's?

Given the circumstances due to COVID-19, the Student Council has recently held meetings about what we can do to make up for the events that were canceled. We are going to be very active in the spring, as we expect the warmer weather to assist us in our planned outdoor activities.

Speaking of the pandemic, what initial concerns did you have stepping into the new position at the beginning of this school year?

I was definitely concerned that we may potentially be closed at a moment's notice, and although that is still a possibility as we speak, I do not expect it to happen. A lot of my concerns have been quelled by the fact that we are planning events in the spring, and a vaccine is likely to begin being distributed widely in the near future.

How has your experience at Saint Joe?s prepared you for the position of being the student-leader of the school?

I always try to contribute to the community whenever possible. Outside of the Student Council, I am also heavily involved in Campus Ministry, which has expanded my leadership skills.

Since we are all currently enduring a confusing period, what advice would you like to give the freshmen who are currently half-way through their first year?

When I was a freshman, I was terrified when I came here, mostly because I did not know many people and because Saint Joe?s is a totally different environment than my middle school was. The best advice that I would give to freshmen is to get involved. I hope all freshmen will do their best to get involved early on, rather than waiting. I understand that it is hard for them entering this year because they are not able to see each other?s full faces, but they need to continue to be strong. Together, we will work through this and we will come out of this pandemic stronger than ever before!

Thank you so much for being here today and setting aside a portion of your time. We wish you all the best for your tenure as the Student Council President!

It was my pleasure! The community as a whole has been very accepting of me, and I cannot thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to be their President.

An Interview w ith Student Counci l President

Jeffery Lance '21

One of those values, service to community, inspires Mr. Nolan?s administration. Fr. Coindre sheltered and educated Lyon?s children; Mr. Nolan feels Saint Joe?s best continues that tradition by spiritually and academically nurturing local students. While this means forgoing the proposed foreign-exchange boarding house, he hopes to develop unused stretches of the 77-acre grounds into sports fields and community spaces.

Mr. Nolan's son, John, Jr., attended Saint Joe's himself, graduating in 2009. The younger Nolan is

credited for beginning the broadcasting program at Saint Joe's before pursuing a degree at Syracuse's Newhouse School, one of the most celebrated schools for broadcasting in the nation. After graduating, John, Jr. has pursued a career in the sports broadcasting field, and is currently the play by play voice of the Fort Wayne Tin Caps in the Padres organization.

The Saint Joseph community is pleased to see a family of Falcons return to the nest and expectantly awaits the future Mr. Nolan promises.

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 3

BY ABHISHEK BORAD '22

Contributing Writer

Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year?s reunion for Saint Joe?s alumni differed vastly from reunions of prior years. Usually, reunions involve several alumni classes gathering together at local restaurants or other venues, culminating with a visit to campus. On Thursday, October 29, the Class of 1970 celebrated its 50th reunion over a Zoom conference call.

The class? original plan was to hold a dinner at the Metuchen Golf and Country Club and then watch the homecoming football game. Unfortunately, the current restrictions on travel and bans on large in-person gatherings did not allow these Falcons to meet up physically. Nonetheless, these alumni still reunited and had a good time reminiscing about their high school years.

Around 40 alumni joined the Zoom call, where they talked about various things such as the good times they had at Saint Joe's, old teachers and classmates, and reaching out to other classmates who they did not have contact information for. The alumni also discussed ways through which they could give back to Saint Joe?s, one of which being a scholarship fund donated on behalf of their class .

Seeing the success of this first virtual reunion, the Office of Advancements and Alumni Relations has decided to host another virtual reunion for all

Saint. Joe?s alumni of class years ending in 0 and 5. This call was held after the new Saint Joseph High School President, Mr. John Nolan was introduced, and around 40 alumni showed up from various class years dating all the way back to 1965. As this was a nice opportunity for alumni to get familiar with the new changes to their school, Mr. John Nolan introduced himself to them and talked about updates to campus and answered any of their questions.

Overall, Saint Joe?s first-ever virtual reunion process this year was a success. Director of Advancements and Alumni Relations, Mr. John Eppensteiner ?02 provided his thoughts on this event.

?It seems like all the alumni liked the virtual reunion format," Eppensteiner said. "The Class of 1985 is already planning to do zoom calls on a quarterly basis. Our office is going to organize another virtual reunion in the spring for classes ending in '1 & '6. It is certainly no replacement for getting together in person, but it will have to do for the time being. Hopefully by the time Homecoming comes around the fall of 2021, things will be back to normal.?

Although this year?s virtual reunion was different from others, the Saint Joe's community will remain strong and continue to reunite and have fun times each year. These annual reunions are a great way for the community to stick together and maintain their bond of brotherhood.

Vir tual Reunions Keep Classmates Connected

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 4

Students Adjusting to changes in ACT/SAT TestingBY ROMAN MODHERA '22

Contributing WriterAfter the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 virus,

standardized testing was interrupted. Some universities, including all 8 Ivy League schools, have gone ?test-optional,? meaning that standardized testing is not required for the class of 2021 and possibly the class of 2022. While more and more schools are not requiring standardized testing for upcoming college admissions, students are still working to take standardized tests to get a leg-up on the admissions process.

Jenocent Edwardraj '21 had originally taken the SAT in March of 2020, right before COVID-19. Despite many attempts, Jenocent was stopped from taking the SAT until October due to test cancellations. Many Saint Joe's students were able to take advantage of the test held on campus in October, a rare, but essential event

for the students graduating this coming spring.Some colleges, including Harvey Mudd, Fordham,

and all of the University of California schools, have already extended the same policies regarding the SAT and ACT for the class of 2022. Guidance Department Chair Mr. Mark Southern hopes that COVID-19 will subside by October 2021, but if not, they will offer the same standardized testing at Saint Joe's next year.

Similarly, Mr. Southern thinks that universities remaining test-optional ?helps the class of 2022 all-around,? especially those who have taken advantage of all Saint Joe's has to offer. Those who did not have the opportunity to take the test or did not get the score they wanted are not required to send in their scores. He says that test-optional schools will now place a higher weight on a student?s essays, GPA, activities, and honors in lieu of test scores.

BY MIKE TORNATORE '21 AND JAMES CONCEPTION '21

Contributing Writers

Saint Joe's Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations John Eppensteiner '02 recalls many fond memories of his time at Saint Joe's, but no memories are stronger than his junior year when he played #7 ranked Bridgewater-Raritan in a classic back and forth lacrosse game.

?The entire game was a battle, where every possession counted, and we fought them to a tie score to bring it to OT?, Eppensteiner said. ?As time was winding down, I was lucky enough to beat my man from the top of the box and drew two defenders on the slide. I dished to my attackman on the crease and he put it away for the game winning goal.? He mentions how that was the best feeling in the world and how the whole team rushed the field afterwards. This will go down as one of the biggest games in Saint Joe's lacrosse history and will always be remembered by Eppensteiner.

Eppensteiner was a multi-sport athlete during his four years at Saint Joe's and spoke on the impact that playing sports as a Falcon had on his future moving onto college and adulthood.

?In both basketball and lacrosse, there was a diabolical exercise we did called 'suicides.' We usually did them at the end of every practice, but no matter how gassed I was I always took pride in pushing myself as hard as I could for every rep,? Eppensteiner says. ?It was more about mental toughness than anything. To this day I still try to conjure that same mental state to push myself when I need it.?

The lessons and drills Eppensteiner learned from playing sports at Saint Joe's will stick with him forever. He uses those morals and lessons in his everyday life

Those lessons are part of the reason why he came back to not just the lacrosse team, but the school itself.

?I knew from a young age that I wanted to have a positive impact on the world? I realized that if I truly wanted to have a significant impact in the world that I needed to inspire others? I decided to leave my job, to pursue my dream. I did this because I knew the type of leaders that our school produces, and the boundless potential of the young men that walked in our halls? It is one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it is made better by the fact I got involved helping one of my first passions, lacrosse.?

Eppensteiner had chosen his career path out of college to be in corporate sustainability and environmental management, but he decided to change paths to make a difference with the students at his alma mater. He knew the risk he was taking and he got rewarded with what a chance to live out his childhood dream.

?To be honest, from what I see it does not seem like much has changed in the life of a Saint Joe?s student since my time back in 2002. They have the same priorities, concerns, and stress we had. I try to get to know as many students as possible and let them use me as a resource.?

He knows how the student life was and being comfortable to talk about it makes him a great role model in the community we have here at Saint Joe?s.

Eppensteiner Takes on Role Model Posit ion at SJ

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 5

Winter /Chr istmas Season in Photos

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 6

BY ANIMESH BORAD '22 AND YASH BHATE '21Contributing Writers

The Falcon: Good afternoon, and thank you for setting aside a portion of your day to sit down with us. We would like to thank you for your enormous sacrifice and service to this country.

Mr. Patrick Fowler: Thank you for having me. Let?s get started; I still have some Physics tests to grade!

How was your life altered when you were deployed in Vietnam? Were you apprehensive to go? Did you feel like you had a duty to defend your country?

I volunteered to serve in the Army because I thought the South Vietnamese were being unjustly attacked by the Communists and the North Vietnamese. At first I was afraid, but I felt I had a duty to help the South Vietnamese defend their country and preserve their democracy.

How has serving in the military affected you? Did your time in the Armed Forces make you stronger?

Serving in the military in a time of great discord and violence had many effects on my mental and physical health. However, as I have gotten older, I have learned to look at moments in life, whether good or bad, more critically. I feel lucky for the things that life has given me and I appreciate waking up and seeing my students everyday. I've found that the majority of people I meet are good-hearted and well-intentioned. Although I'm not stronger physically, I have grown emotionally. After the war, I received lessons in stress management that have been beneficial to my work life and personal life.

Do you feel like war veterans are treated with enough respect when considering the sacrifices they have made for this country?

At this time in our country's history, I feel that I am treated very well. Generally, people treat service men and women and veterans with great respect. In this day and age, many veterans are suffering from mental and physical wounds. However, there appear to be organizations that are working to address these issues.

What would you say to the Saint Joseph students who would like to serve in America?s Armed Forces?

Like anything in life, there are pluses and minuses. Personally, my life has had more pluses than minuses. When I graduated high school, I didn't have a very clear idea of what I wanted to do. Joining the Army as an enlisted man gave me a lot of time to reflect on my future. In the Army, every day was specifically structured and very busy. At the beginning of my enlistment, everything I did was to comply with an order. During the process, friendships were formed with my fellow recruits. We were bonded because we were all in the same situation. Even now, some of my strongest friendships are with the guys that I served with in Vietnam.

Wow, what a fascinating story Mr. Fowler! Thank you so much for your time and service to our country!

My pleasure, and thank you for having me. I love talking to students about my time as a soldier!

Mr. Fow ler 's Time in the Mi l i tary

Helping the People of Bel ize BY KEENAN MURPHY '21

Contributing WriterMy grandma and my six uncles have long lived on the

same plot of land in Belize, but my parents rarely visited after my mom emigrated to the United States and became a citizen. However, the recent economic downturn inspired my family make a change.

The first time our family donated was in the winter of 2016. We sent 60 packs of crayons to the local schools so we could help young students in the area my mom grew up. When I asked my mom why we donated, she didn't hesitate. She said, ?Belize, my homeland, means a lot to me. I want to make a difference and help people there who are in need.?

After hearing what my mom had to say, I completely understood why our work was so vital. Instead of shipping a lot of the items, we sent them with my grandma every time she came back and forth to visit. Every time my grandma came back from Belize, she would bring back hot sauces and tell us about how people are doing there and what they needed.

The items we were sending started getting bigger, so we were no longer able to send them with my grandma. We found a shipping company that was from Belize and they started coming over to pick up the items we were

sending down, including the pool, washing machine, and more boxes of clothes we sent this past summer.

The people in this company were giving back by offering a way to send things to Belize without charging huge shipping prices. We bonded over our love of the country and desire to help, and now every time they come to pick up packages they stay an extra 30 minutes for a break and eat the empanadas my grandma makes.

A lot of the people appreciate our gracious acts, but my mom stays humbled. She sees doing this not as a choice, but as a requirement. Even though she's been out of the country for years, she still keeps them constantly in mind and wants to continue to help.

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 7

Covid Sparks Creativi ty for KovacsBY BENCE KOVACS '22

Contributing WriterWhen school was shut down abruptly last March,

I had quite a bit of newly found time on my hands. I started browsing for televisions shows that interested me. When I stumbled across Shark Tank, I was immediately enamored with the idea of starting a company centered around a simple but ingenious product. I saw how much money these average people were making, and how, to the sharks on the show, even that looked like chump change.

I started thinking of problems that I could fix. My first idea was to make a special item that could scrape out the remaining contents of bottles of things like soap, ketchup, or shampoo. I figured it would be an easy task. I could purchase cheap plastic that I could mold into shape with the machines at my grandfather?s workshop.

This plan hit a roadblock because I could no longer work with my grandfather on account of the coronavirus, then I later discovered that this product did exist already (and for so cheap that I could not even dream of competing with existing sellers).

This meant I had to put more factors into consideration. The product I would make had to be basically unavailable in the US so I would have no little to no competition. If it was sold here, I would need to be able to undercut any other sellers.

My inspiration came when, early into the quarantine, I was talking with my friend whose parents worked in a hospital. She said that her mom and dad would come home complaining about their ears hurting because of the bands of the mask that go around the ears. This lit a light bulb in my head.

I had already seen people tie the bands together so they would not touch their ear lobes and agitate them, so I decided to make a product out of that. My dad agreed this was a great idea and we scoured the internet to see if anyone was selling these clips. I had a starting budget of somewhere around two thousand dollars

because my Dad was helping me, and once we did the research, I was ready to go.

We found no one selling them in America so we placed an order for twenty thousand clips from an international company. They sold them to us for one cent a clip. The shipping cost and the price to sell on Amazon bought the price to start my business to $1,746.

When the shipment arrived, the first thing I did was organize my family into an assembly line. My mother and grandmother would sort the clips into groups of ten and put them into little plastic bags. I would then seal the bags with the heat sealer I borrowed from my grandfather. My father would then put labels on the bags with bar-codes on them. During the first 3 days we packaged 2,000 bags.

Amazon would do the selling for us so all we had to do was wait and see if it would gain traction. I still remember how excited I was when we received two orders on the very first day. I proudly pointed out to my friends how I sold a product to someone in Tucson, Arizona. From there our daily sales steadily increased until one day we sold one hundred. This was a huge success, but it meant that we had to get more clips, so we bought 80,000.

We painstakingly packaged 8,000 more plastic bags filled with ten mask clips and waited for the orders to come in. Our daily purchases leveled out at about 70 a day, with ups and downs. It eventually slowed down to about 20 sales a day, but we have been able to nearly sell out our inventory.

My dad and I are very proud of what we achieved because we found a way to make money while at home and it really bonded our family. For about three months we ran a family business and our house was a mini factory. It really taught me that there are opportunities everywhere and that I should always be on the lookout for one because it could pop out from anywhere.

BY KRISTIAN NUNEZ '21

Contributing Writer

The new regulations and safety precautions that have recently been implemented by the NJSIAA will have a much larger impact on winter sports than previously expected.

On November 19, the NJSIAA published guidelines for all winter sports, creating a staggered start for each sport, mandating mask wearing and social distancing, and disallowing fans for all indoor sports. These new regulations have left athletes in anticipation of how the season will play out. It is easy to expect that the winter sports season will not feel quite the same for many student-athletes like basketball player Calson Goodwill '21.

?With new guidelines and rules, playing basketball this year will be a bit of a challenge, but my team and I are willing to take on,? Goodwill said.

Calson and many other athletes are hopeful for their upcoming season because even getting the chance to play was a surprise to many. This was a great reprieve to Good will and his teammates because a number of athletes have been using sports to find peace amidst this pandemic.

?Basketball has always been an outlet. Especially throughout this past year, while there has been chaos, I have been able to find some normalcy in sports. Even though everything around me is changing, sports has been my peace,? Goodwill said.

Despite the restrictions in place, the Saint Joe?s broadcasting team will be able to stream a large number of sports games and follow all of the teams as if fans were there in person. Mr. Chris Harring '05, the moderator of the club, is excited to help ease the burden caused by the pandemic restrictions.

?With no fans being allowed for winter sports, the broadcasting club is going to be incredibly important this year," Harring said. "We?re planning on doing live video streaming from every home game and as many away games as we?re allowed to broadcast. The school will be installing a new Hudl camera in the Maglio Gymnasium which we will be able to use for our broadcasts, so we expect to raise our game to professional quality starting in January."

Despite nothing will be normal this year, our winter sports teams will look for continued success as if it were any other year.

The Falcon Vol LX , Issue I I Page 8

Restr ict ions Not Stopping Winter Spor ts

The Falcon Edit or ial St af f

Edit or -in-ChiefGiovanni

Young-AnnunziatoManaging Edit ors Matthew FurnellKristian Nunez

Associat e Edit orsGreg Bergquist

Harris PyoAbel StephenAdam Ward

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