By KAYLA J. MARSH
Staff Writer
LITTLE SILVER — Students, faculty, staff and community members alike gathered at Red Bank Regional High School to welcome six new members into its Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Every year, Red Bank Regional’s Buc Backer Foundation sponsors the induction of alumni who have enjoyed long, distinguished careers both in their professions and as community leaders, and on April 29, the six honorees joined the ranks of 120 previously inducted over the last 14 years.
“This event has become a wonderful tradition,” said the high school’s principal, Risa Clay. “It combines the occasion to learn more about the rich history of our school and it gives us an opportunity to honor our past heritage.”
Red Bank Regional’s Buc Backer Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding broad-based education programs through teacher-requested grants at the high school.
“The Buc Backer Foundation is a merged parent group with one core mission — to enhance each student’s experience through collective collaboration with the administration, teachers, parents and the community,” said Patti Forsman, co-president.
“The Buc Backer Foundation recognizes how important school pride is in our RBR community [and] our alumni have done amazing things with their lives and make tremendous positive impacts on their communities, and we believe it all starts with pride in your school, your teams and in yourself [and they] are just great role models for all of our students,” Forsman said.
The inductees were showered with proclamations and certificates from local, county and state officials, included Shrewsbury Borough Mayor Donald Burden, Little Silver Mayor Robert C. Neff Jr. and Red Bank Council President Cindy Burnham. Then six writers for “The Buccaneer,” the student newspaper — who had the opportunity to interview the honorees and compose a biography — read their essays before each inductee was introduced.
Arts columnist Emilie Weiner read about Janice A. Egeland, graduate of the class of 1952. Egeland is a professor emerita in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
While Egeland was unable to attend the ceremony, her sister Nina accepted the honor on her behalf.
“I speak for both myself and my sister and I do want to thank the administration and the high school for the education that we received when we were here,” she said. “We remember the faculty at the high school so much [and I would] recommend to all of you students that you get to know your teachers and let them know you.
“They will be more than willing to help you with any and all of your problems if you are enthusiastic.
“There’s a great future ahead of you, and it is going to be just amazing and challenging.”
Art editor Phoebe Carr read about alumnus S. Thomas Westerman, also a member of the class of 1952. Westerman achieved the position of clinical professor of otolaryngology at Drexel University College of Medicine and is a retired ear, nose and throat physician.
“You students will find that Red Bank Regional has numerous courses which will be forever helpful to you,” he said. “Think of these courses as your tools of life. Put the appropriate time and study into your courses because, like anything else, you usually get out of it what you put into it.
“You should always find leisure time, time for fun, but while you’re here school is your job, and the information you gain is your pay. Look for big paydays. Even if you think some information is not important now, it may be very relevant in the future.”
“The Buccaneer” writer Alex Sosa, introduced class of 1969 graduate Dean S. Ross. Ross is a community leader and small business owner. He is the owner and proprietor of The Doc Shoppe in Red Bank as well as The Bagel Oven, where he has been baking bagels since 1979, and his latest project “Shine a Light works to reduce the number of bicycle accidents inside and outside of the Red Bank area.
“I believe in hard work and doing what you love and giving back as much as you can,” Ross said. “You don’t have to be very wealthy to do this. Often it is not about giving money, but more about donating your time and talent to the folks around you.
“It is also about uniting people for a common cause and figuring out how we can work together. There is always something new to try, someone new to try them with.
“As much as I have given to Red Bank, it has given back to me tenfold in lifelong friendships and human connections that make life rewarding.”
Amy Cavallo, “The Buccaneer” editor-in-chief, had the opportunity to interview and write about class of 1998 graduate Lindsay Maggio.
Maggio currently works as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.
“I never would’ve thought 18 years ago that I’d be up here talking to an auditorium full of current Red Bank Regional students,” she said. “Red Bank Regional is a great high school and it’s filled with so many opportunities.
“I learned in high school that sometimes you have to rely on the help and assistance from those around you. You can’t be afraid to ask for help, and you can never expect perfection.
“Red Bank Regional is a great school with great resources, so make the most of your opportunity here because high school ends sooner than you can imagine.”
Sports editor Ella Brockway interviewed class of 1999 graduate Tahj J. Holden.
Since 2013 Holden has worked for Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor in the Global Sports and Entertainment Division.
“The two things I want to say are dream big and don’t be afraid to get out there on that ledge,” he said. “My time at Red Bank Regional was four of the most formative years of my life where I faced some challenges, faced some fears and overcame them and learned more about myself than any other time in my life and learned from some of the best teachers.
“I was provided the opportunity to grow as a student, an athlete and as a person, and for that I am forever grateful.”
“The Buccaneer” writer Zeke Weston introduced the final inductee, Bo Olsen, a class of 2004 graduate and captain in the United States Army. While Olsen was unable to attend the ceremony, his father, who is a teacher at Red Bank Regional, accepted the honor on his behalf.
“Bo is honored to be admitted into the Red Bank Regional Hall of Fame with so many distinguished alumni,” he said. “No one achieves this success on their own without having people opening the door of opportunity for them. However, once open, it is up to you to take the initiative to walk through it and take advantage of that opportunity.
“As students at Red Bank Regional all of you have the doors of opportunity open to you by the teachers and staff here; you just have to take the initiative … to accomplish great things [we know] you are all capable of. Your life journey is up to you.”