PROLOGUE 2016
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Table of Contents Yearbook Dedication 2 Letter from the Editors 4 Letter from the Class President 6 Senior Pub Nights 8 Greek Life 12 Mr. SHU 2016 13 Campus Life Leadership Awards 14 Senior Week Events 15 Stonebridge 16 Avalon Mohegan Sun 18 Commencement Ball 2 0 Family Dinner Dance 2 6 1 Commencement Mass 28 Commencement 2 9 Grad Cap Designs 3 6 Senior Portraits 37 Special Thanks 5 6
In Mcmoriam: Kaitfyn Doorfiy Dear Kait, A life that touches others goes on forever. Your life truly has touched so many people and we are so lucky to have had you in ours. We all have our special memories that you left us with and we will always be thankful for that. Life is not the same without you but your determination, spirit and grace will always be remembered. We all carry a piece of you with us every day. One of your greatest traits was your determination to live life to the fullest and because of you, that s something we strive for every day. You have been referred to as a force so many times and you truly are, and always will be, just that. Your force continues to be a presence through Kait s Angels created in your name. Your memory and way of life continue to change the lives of so many people. Thinking of you brings joy to everyone lucky enough to have known you, and we are so grateful to have known a friendship like yours. We ll always be thankful to Sacred Heart for bringing us together and giving us our best friend. We will never forget you. Keep Smiling Beautiful.
Lyrics by Evan Miller hey say time heals but Right now it hurts I never thought that I'd be burying my First friend at school To eternal rest There are just some things I have to get off of my chest You should have seen them They lined the streets All to say a goodbye To our sweet Nothing could prepare us For what we had to do that week for you All for you Vou loved your shades you loved your wine you loved to eat and drink and lave a real good time you'd smile all day when /ou were with your friends Dh what I'd give to just have \11 of that again But life's too short And it's not fair We're really gonna miss that Long blonde hair Someone so special Who we know now is flying free and will always be Our Strawberry Queen You rocked your style and You strut your stuff You showed us what we did was never quite enough You'd work all day then You'd play all night** You showed us what we could have If we all just tried I know you're gone now, but that's okay Cause I know that you'll be watching us every day For what its worth We were all so blessed to have you as our friend This is not The end
I _etter from the Editors This edition of the Prologue is the second to focus solely on the events and highlights of the current senior class at Sacred Heart University. Inside this yearbook we hope you will enjoy looking back at memories and moments of our senior year. As students, we have both been involved in several organizations together. Whether it was working in Red s, welcoming new students as Orientation Leaders, learning new media arts skills through The Pulse, or helping plan Student Government events. Finally, we had one more challenge ahead of us, the senior yearbook. You could not have ended up with better editors though. Joe was crowned Mr. SHU this year and Emily is nicknamed Miss SHU because of all the SHU apparel she owns. So rest assured, this book is filled with as much red, white, gray and Sacred Heart pride as possible. It was a pleasure to be able to design and commemorate our time here at SHU. We hope you enjoy looking back through the pages of this book, not only a year from now but 50 years from now. The theme of this year s Prologue is Long Live the Pioneers, sharing in the theme of our senior week events.
Emily Archacki & Joseph Mossoro We, as the 50^^ graduating class, have helped Sacred Heart achieve a milestone in the University s longevity. Each and every thing we accomplished during our short four years has helped shape the future of SHU. Whether it was in the classroom, outside the classroom, through athletic achievements, on the Edgerton Center stage, and through philanthropic endeavors with Greek brothers and sisters, or helping serve the local or global community; we have all made an impact. We shared a little bit of our Heart with others, as well as our Pioneer spirit. Now, as we venture out into the world as alumni, we are a representation of Pioneers past, present, and future. Long Live the Pioneers, means not only remembering the time spent as undergraduates, but also forging new paths by creating, challenging, and changing the world in our continued role as Pioneers. Share your stories with the world and in doing so spread the Pioneer spirit so it may live on. Sacred Heart will advance and grow in our absence, but
Letter from 2016 Class President ood morning faculty and staff, friends and family, Dr. Petillo, and most importantly the Class of 20 16. My name is Brianna Grills, and I am the Student Government Class of 20 1 6 President. About four years ago, each o f us came to Fairfield, Connecticut as individual puzzle pieces. Not exactly sure how or where we would fit into the big picture we now see as the Sacred Heart U n iv er s it y Class o f 2016. Most o f us were anxious and intrigued, and had a strong desire to discover the bigger picture that all of of these individual puzzle pieces would create. Well classmates, today, in front o f me, I see an amazing picture. One that is filled with leaders, friends, and mentors! During our time at SHU, we have shared extreme moments of joy and have also encountered obstaeles. Remember freshman move in when we first entered our new living quarters and the upperclassmen carried all o f our belongings up to ou rooms? And remember the amazement when we collected so much by May that it no longer fit into one car? We survived Hurricane Sandy at the beginning o f freshman year. Endured the three-plus feet o f snow that Nemo brought in 2 0 1 3, and shared our sadness over lost loved ones and fellow Pioneers. We enjoyed the athletic events, such as Home com ing and Pack the Pitt, Greek Week, Spring Fest, Pub Nights, Mr. SHU, and multiple concerts. We have volunteered numerous hours to Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, and medical clinics. We collected toys for children, became mentors for students in surrounding towns, and some of us had the opportunity to expand our horizons past the boundaries of the U n it ed States and study abroad in other countries. The list goes on and on. Each o f those events and circumstances elped us to form our puzzle into what it is today. To the Class o f 2 0 1 6, please look to your right...look to your 6
Brianna Grills left...look behind you at all o f your supporters. Each and every individual you see is an important piece of the puzzle. To our professors, family, advisors, staff, and classmates, thank you for playing a significant role in our education and helping to shape us into the indiv idu als we are today. Today, as we graduate, we feel a sense o f sa tisfaction that the puzzle that we began working on about four years ago is now complete. But we also feel a sense o f loss that our time at SHU is over and we are ready to move on and begin working on a new puzzle. Move on with passion. Be your own piece. Express your in di v i d u a l it y. Share your knowledge with others. Continue to do great things. Express random acts of kindness. Take risks. Move ahead with confidence. And always be willing to ef fec ti vel y connect with others to create a bigger picture. As you leave today, remember what you learned at SHU and carry those lessons with you as you start your new puzzle. But, never forget about all of the memories you have created and the place that you called home for four years. And now, as I follow in the footsteps o f the other class presidents before me...i ask my fellow classmates to rise for the turning o f the tassel. Raise your right hand, grab your tassel, and move your tassel to the left side of your cap. Congratulations to the Class o f 2 0 1 6, you are officially alumni!