LOPATCONG SUPERSTARS
Lopatcong Superstars is a new page where we will share Lopatcong Alumni that have been featured in the media. Check back here for more Superstars!
Gabby Taylor

Lopatcong Middle School and Phillipsburg High School graduate Gabby Taylor was part of a group of students at Montclair State University’s School of Communications and Media who won two Emmy Awards at the College Television Awards in the News Category division! Gabby and her classmates wrote and produced a special on climate change and racial injustice in New Orleans. The article is attached below.
Gabby is also gaining valuable experience as a producer in other areas! Most recently, she produced a segment for television’s Access Hollywood. She is pictured below with actor and tv show anchor, Mario Lopez.
Congratulations and best wishes to Gabby as she continues on her path to success! Lopat Panther Pride!
2+1 Math Rocks!
Ann Bercaw & Gary Hank

Gary Hank and Anne Bercaw are both Lopatcong graduates, and former teachers in the Lopatcong school district.
Performing as “2+1 Math Rocks!” their program combines the music of classic rock songs with original lyrics and PowerPoint slide shows to present and explain a variety of math concepts.
Since 2007, they have utilized the link between math and music at school assemblies, family fun nights, Mayfair Art and Music Festival, ArtsQuest family programming, and Musikfest. Their unique way of presenting math concepts through a live performance of a distinctly American musical form has been featured at AMTNJ (math educators) annual conferences, NJN’s “Classroom Close-Up NJ”, NBC’s “The Teacher Says”, and WFMZ news broadcasts. They have performed at MoMath (National Museum of Mathematics) in NYC, and were recently the subject of a feature article in the NJEA Review (June 2020-njea.org). “2+1 Math Rocks!” songs and music videos are used by fellow educators nationally to engage students and support classroom instruction.
Brayden Cahill

Congratulations to Phillipsburg High School sophomore Brayden Cahill. On Sunday, January 29, 2023 Brayden competed in the NJ Area Three Special Olympics. Brayden finished with an impressive 2nd place overall finish in the Bowling Competition.
Brayden also won the Gold Medal for 50 Meter Dash and Softball Throw at the Area 3 Track and Field Competition on May 6th, 2023 at Hackettstown High School.
https://twitter.com/PHSStateliners/status/1620054931574226945?s=20&t=bxhpb6Am8xqzXqhFc_hPoA
Ryan Stucker

Ryan J. Stucker, Lopatcong Graduate earned his Eagle Scout Award.
For his project, Stucker installed an ADA addition to the playground at Lopatcong Elementary School. He and a team of volunteers installed two ADA-compliant freedom swings, buddy benches and study area picnic table along with a new border and mulch. Stucker raised more than $15,000 for the project.
At his Eagle Court of Honor, Stucker was honored by Warren County Freehold Jason Sarnoski, who presented him with a citation from the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Rainie Roncoroni, Superintendent of Lopatcong Public Schools.
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/2018/08/scout_installs_ada_addition_to.html
Calli Smart

Lopatcong Graduate, Calli Smart was honored for designing this billboard to educate Phillipsburg residents on the negative effects of vaping!
The LEAD Phillipsburg Coalition held a vaping billboard competition amongst Phillipsburg High School students enrolled in a graphic design and/or media class.
The Coalition voted on the submitted designs and ultimately chose Calli as the winner! The Coalition was drawn to her use of bright colors and impactful message. After a few tweaks, the billboard was ordered and is currently being displayed on the corner of Center St. and Limekiln Rd. in Phillipsburg.
Calli is currently a junior at PHS and is heavily involved with media & design classes and clubs. Her future plans include moving to LA to pursue a graphic design and media career. A special shoutout and thank you to Mrs. Beverly Weihz, PHS Media Teacher, for her support and help in bringing this important message to light!
LEAD Phillipsburg Coalition – Home | Facebook
Holden Garcia / Matt Veres

Holden, a 2019 graduate of Lopatcong, is currently a senior at Notre Dame High School, in Easton, PA. Last year Holden won the Pennsylvania Class 2A individual state wrestling championship at 165 pounds. He was also honored with a Proclamation from Lopatcong Township for his dedication to achieve a lifelong dream in becoming a State Champion.
Holden will attend Princeton University where he will continue with both his education and wrestling career.
Below is the article published in the local paper about his state championship as well as the tweet of him being honored by Lopatcong.
Hired in 2018, Notre Dame Wrestling Coach, Matt Veres (shown above) is a 1998 graduate of Lopatcong. Veres grew up – and still lives in – Lopatcong Township, where he wrestled in the youth program and imbibed what wrestling can mean in a community like the Phillipsburg area. Veres attended Blair Academy, where he was a three-time National Prep All-American and 2002 runner-up under legendary coach Jeff Buxton.
https://twitter.com/NDGPwrestle/status/1511854775033344007?s=20&t=Hkl5Cr_ZGy2LmlOPYfDe1Q
Margaret Drake O’Brien

Margaret Drake O’Brien, Lopatcong Graduate 2006 is still Dancing for PSU! She was one of the founders of Rince na Leon.
Rince na Leon is The Pennsylvania State University’s first and only Irish dance club, performance group, and intercollegiate team. The club, comprised of undergraduate students, provides an opportunity for competitive, retired, and non-competitive Irish dancers to enrich their Irish dance experiences and opportunities through the Penn State community. Founded in 2011 by Margaret O’Brien and Erin O’Brien, Rince na Leon is an organization dedicated to providing an enjoyable experience for all dancers of all levels as they improve upon their skills.
Get out those dancing shoes to ‘Dance for a Cure’ | Penn State University
https://rincenaleon.wixsite.com/home
https://issuu.com/voicesofcentralpa/docs/voices-may-2012
pages 24 and 26
Suzanne Horsley

This story featuring Suzanne Horsley (Scott), appeared in The Washington Post on November 5th, 2022
Suzanne is a Lopatcong Graduate and daughter of Joann Scott, who was a kindergarten teacher in Lopatcong for many years.
PENNINGTON, N.J. — There was one minute left on Suzanne Horsley’s stopwatch and the atmosphere remained thick with carbon dioxide, despite the energetic efforts of her class of third graders to clear the air.
Horsley, a wellness teacher at Toll Gate Grammar School, in Pennington, New Jersey, had tasked the kids with tossing balls of yarn representing carbon dioxide molecules to their peers stationed at plastic disks representing forests. The first round of the game was set in the 1700s, and the kids had cleared the field in under four minutes. But this third round took place in the present day, after the advent of cars, factories and electricity, and massive deforestation. With fewer forests to catch the balls, and longer distances to throw, the kids couldn’t keep up.
Read the full article below:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/11/05/new-jersey-climate-change-education-schools/
If you have a Lopatcong Superstar that you would like to share, please email the article link to: helpdesk@lopatcongschool.org