A journalist, a singer-songwriter, a U.S. Department of State security specialist, and a retired New Jersey State Trooper were inducted into the Hopewell Valley Central High School Distinguished Graduates Hall of Fame Thursday. All four had unique advice to share with students as they accepted their awards. HoVal gives the awards each year to honor four grads who have distinguished themselves in their professional fields. The awards hang in a Hall of Fame display outside of CHS’ Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Recipient Dina Cappiello, Class of 1991 and an award-winning environmental journalist for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., told the students at an assembly in the PAC on Thursday that they will “persevere” and excel in life if they find a profession they love.
”I am very lucky to have a job that I love,” she told them. “You need to find out what really makes you soar, what really fires up your engines. I discovered that, and that makes life easy.”
Jack Davis, class of 1978, who retired as a decorated New Jersey State Trooper in 2008, told students that his mother taught him long ago that the “luck” you may see others have is usually the result of years of hard work.
”She said once, ‘Isn’t it interesting that the harder someone works, the luckier they seem to be?’” the Titusville resident told the students. “Enjoy life and work hard.”
Ronald Hoch, Class of 1961, a senior security analyst at the U.S. State Department and a former U.S. Secret Service agent who protected Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, told the students to stay on the right side of the law to safeguard their futures.
”My advice is to keep a clean record,” he told them, noting that if they pursue a career in any kind of security or law enforcement, background checks will turn up any drug use and/or arrests. He also noted that perseverance would take them far.
”A diamond is a lump of coal that stuck with it,” Mr. Hoch offered.
Singer-songwriter Danielia Cotton, Class of ‘85, said that her time as one of the few African-American students at HoVal 25 years ago was not always easy.
”I was a little black kid and I didn’t fit in,” she told the students. “I didn’t have the things everyone else had and I didn’t look like everyone else.” But high school struggles contribute to your growth as a person, she said.
”These are very definitive years of your life,” Ms. Cotton said. “I am everything I am because I struggled to find out who I was. But please do remember, this is a great time of your life. Just be happy.”
Here is some background information about each of the recipients:
— DINA CAPPIELLO, Class of 1991. An award-winning environmental journalist for the Associated Press, Cappiello graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and decided to pursue a master’s degree in secondary education at Columbia University. While at Columbia, she enrolled in writing and science courses, which inspired her to earn master’s degrees in both environmental science and journalism.
She began her career in environmental journalism as a reporter for the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union newspaper. In 2001, the New York State Associated Press Association named her Young Journalist of the Year. After accepting a position with the Houston Chronicle, Ms. Cappiello continued her investigative environmental reporting, including a 2005 award-winning series of articles called “In Harm’s Way,” detailing the effects of refineries’ pollution on neighboring communities. A Pulitzer Prize nominee and now a journalist for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., Ms. Cappiello continues to report on environmental issues on the national and global stage.
DANIELIA COTTON, Class of 1985, is an award-winning rock-soul singer and songwriter. “While growing up in Hopewell, Ms. Cotton attended HoVal, and then went on to graduate from the Mercer County School of the Performing Arts at the top of her class. Earning a full scholarship to Bennington College, she majored in acting, but also continued her music studies. In her career as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Ms. Cotton has opened for some of the most well-known names in rock, blues, and rhythm-and-blues, including Gregg Allman, B.B. King, Derek Trucks, Bon Jovi, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Robert Cray. She followed her debut album, Small White Town, with the albums Rare Child and Live Child. Live Child was named Best Live Album in the ninth annual Independent Music Awards. Ms. Cotton maintains an extensive touring schedule and continues to bring her unique musical style to appreciative audiences.
RONALD E. HOCH, Class of 1961, is a senior security specialist for the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Hoch’s early accomplishments were in the field of sports. In 1963, he was a member of the national champion men’s soccer team at Mercer County Community College (then known as Trenton Junior College) and was inducted into the MCCC Hall of Fame. He followed his success as a soccer player with success as a soccer coach, serving as an assistant coach to the 1968 University of Maryland NCAA champion soccer team. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Ms. Hoch was appointed a special agent in the United States Secret Service. He served in the Secret Service for 30 years, including presidential details, before accepting his current position as a senior security specialist for the U.S. Department of State.
JACK DAVIS, Class of 1978, is an accomplished athlete and public servant. At Central High School, Ms. Davis was a three-sport athlete and a member of CHS’ 1977 state champion baseball team. During his 25 years as a New Jersey TrooperMs. Davis received the New Jersey State Police Certificate of Commendation Award, as well as the 200 Club Valor Award. He has supervised the state police recruiting unit, the staff inspection unit, and the intake and adjudication unit. Mr. Davis was one of the first New Jersey State policemen to be trained in the operation of the NJSP Emergency Command Post which was deployed to Liberty State Park after the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. Once, while off-duty, he saved the life of a young girl who had plunged into the D& RCanal on her bike.
