By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
MIDDLETOWN – A little over six years ago the future of Mater Dei looked bleak. A parish Catholic secondary school overseen by St. Mary’s Church, Mater Dei could no longer fund itself and in February 2015 the church closed its coffers, effectively shuttering the high school after 54 years.
But a group of respected, resourceful and dogged alumni wouldn’t let that happen. They petitioned the Diocese of Trenton and opened Mater Dei Prep’s doors in September 2015 as an independent Catholic preparatory school governed by a board of trustees. Their new business model put academic programs and financial stability at the forefront of MDP’s future.
And on Saturday, Oct. 9, alumni, current families and community members celebrated a milestone: the school’s 60th anniversary.
Nearly 60 signs representing previous graduating classes greeted attendees as they strolled the front lawn of the school. Alumni gathered to take a walk down memory lane with their classmates, participating in activities that filled the day from morning until night – alumni games, an open house and sporting events. In addition to class photos, an archive tent held decades of memorabilia, including vintage sports uniforms, playbills, photos, yearbooks and more. Alumni also had the opportunity to sign a canvas with their name and class year that will be displayed in the school for all future classes to see.
An alumni soccer game organized by MDP girls head soccer coach Brooke Trotta (’15) started the activities. Former Seraphs returned to play again on their alma mater field with energy reminiscent of their high school years, sporting smiles and showing the teamwork they learned at Mater Dei.
After the game, alumni stayed to watch both the MDP girls and boys current soccer teams play their scheduled matches, supporting the students with cheers and applause.
Student activities culminated with a football homecoming game where the JV team – MDP dropped varsity football for the 2021 season after their coach retired prompting players to transfer – clinched a win against Kipp Camden High School. At halftime, the homecoming court circled the field and 2021 Hall of Fame honorees were recognized.
During the day, faculty, staff, parents and students gathered on the main campus walkway to host the first open house of the season. MDP formatted the event much like a college fair where prospective families visited various tables to receive information on the school’s curriculum, programs and athletics. Current Seraphs welcomed the potential families to Mater Dei Prep and made themselves available to answer any questions. Student ambassadors offered tours to give future Seraphs a glimpse into a typical school day.
Hannah Ameen, director of admissions and enrollment management, said “the outpouring of support from parents, faculty and students was a wonderful way for prospective families to truly see the community Mater Dei Prep has surrounding it. The families who attended left happy and eager to find out more about how to join the Seraph family.”
In preparation for the anniversary celebration, Mater Dei tasked current student with creating a 60th anniversary logo. Five designs were chosen and voted on by the community. At the event, staff announced junior Jillian Nelson’s design as the winning logo and presented her with an iPad and Apple Pencil to continue her graphic design work. Jillian’s winning logo will now be used on various merchandise items and marketing initiatives throughout the year.
Comestibles for the food and drink tent were provided by Saker Shop Rite, J. Lohr Wineries, Opici Wine & Spirits, Dearborn Market and Aleo Italian Specialties. Investors Bank also sponsored the event.
No Limit Entertainment DJ Chip Robertson ’78 and Joe Rapolla ’79 performed on the school’s outdoor stage.
“Sixty years is a milestone that deserved to be recognized in a big way,” said Amy Thomas, MDP vice president of institutional advancement. “Seeing the community come together, whether an affiliation directly to Mater Dei is present or not, was a wonderful representation of the way Mater Dei’s lega- cy continues to make a lasting impression.”
This article originally appeared in the Nov. 4 – 10, 2021, print edition of The Two River Times.
