SLEEPY
H O L L OW S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
JUNE 25, 2009
THE SENIOR EDITION
What has your time at Sleepy Hollow meant to you?
As the sister of a senior my freshman year, I knew how important it was to
find your special “niche” in high school so that when you’re applying to colleges,
they’ll see how committed to and passionate you are about an extracurricular
activity. Other than joining the stage crew, I joined the student newspaper,
Hoofprints, without knowing that the next four years of my high school career
would be consumed by a simple eight (or if the staff felt optimistic, twelve)
page spread. I started out as a photographer and picture editor and by the
end of my sophomore year, my childhood “Irish Twin”, Madeleine Dopico, and
I were dubbed the new Co-Editors-in-Chief of Hoofprints. As an editor, I had
the same generic goals as all the editors-in-chief in the past: to publish more
issues and print stories that would interest everyone at Sleepy Hollow. But I
also had a unique goal: to have something be the color pink every issue and
I’m proud to say that my goal has been achieved! I’ve learned so many lessons,
including those about leadership, commitment, organization, and communication and I know that I’ll use all these tools, as well as my nit-picking and perfection ability, in my future. To some people, an edition of Hoofprints is just
something nice to read, but to me, Hoofprints in a way, has been my child; I’ve
watched it mature from black and white to color, grow from eight to twelve
pages at times, and helped it become an award-winning student newspaper.
Hoofprints is my pride and joy and I can’t wait to see what the future entails
for it, including this new tradition of giving out a “Senior Edition” newspaper at
graduation. I’d like to thank the staff for handing their articles in on time, Mr.
Baxter and Ms. Langston for their guidance and patience, and last but not
least, Madeleine Dopico for her hard work, stressful and sleepless nights, and
just in general, for having someone to vent to.
Congratulations to the Class of 2009!
- Jenny Kessman
The past four years in Sleepy Hollow have been a time of excitement
and maturation. To my family, words can’t describe my feelings for all of
you; I needed and need you like my lungs need oxygen. To all my teachers,
thank you so much for never giving up on me, you guys really earn your
salary. For my football, wrestling and lacrosse coaches: thank you so much,
for having faith in me and for believing that one day I would become a
great leader. But most importantly, thank you all for making me a man.
The tools that you all gave me, I will carry on in life.
One thing that stands out the most in my young memory about Sleepy
Hollow is when the football team that I played for my junior year played
Rye for the Section Championship and a chance to play for a state title as
well. That year we had everything on our side, our fans, family, talent, but
most importantly, we had each other. But even with everything on our side,
we still came a few inches short of the win. That game taught me a life lesson: just because you work hard and you’re almost guaranteed to win or get
something, things could still go sour. But just because things don’t always go
your way, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t set high expectations for yourself, or that you shouldn’t work hard. Life brings many obstacles, but what
makes you a man or a woman is how you overcome them.
As senior year comes to an end, it’s time for me to go on and get out of
here. Even though I’m happy, I am also afraid. I know that my peers, family,
teachers and coaches, have pointed me in the right direction. To my friends,
I wish you all the best of luck. For underclassmen, enjoy your remaining
years in high school and make the best of them, because there aren’t too
many places in our world where kids have a chance to go to such a great
school. Horseman then, a horseman now, and a horseman forever!
- John Lopez
When I first entered high school I didn’t know what to expect. One thing I did know was that I wanted to achieve. Now that I look back, I can say that I have
made personal achievements and have had lasting experiences. My biggest personal achievement was getting involved. I want to thank the African American Heritage Club, the Yearbook Club, and Ms. Moricco’s Public Speaking and Debate class for helping me to accomplish this goal. One experience I will always remember is the trip to South Africa that I took my sophomore year. In South Africa we visited three townships, one being Soweto. Lord willing, I will
never forget how happy and grateful the civilians were, despite how little they had. Another experience I will never forget is the love among teachers and
students. I am going to sincerely miss everyone at Sleepy Hollow.
- Michael Traylor
In 8th grade, I joined the indoor track team because my brother and parents encouraged me to try something different. I remember Mrs. King finding
“fun” ways to push me in practice and to get me to try my hardest. One of her frequent drills that scared me the most was when she had Torrey Price chase
me down the hallway and if he caught me, I had to run again and harder. Mrs. King always knew what to tell me, how to encourage me, how to deal with
my stress and nervousness. I could never ask for a better coach. If someone told me five years ago that I would be ranked nationally in long jump, compete
in triple jump, and make the armory my second home, I would have shaken my head and walked away. I can’t picture my life without Sleepy Hollow
track and all the amazing memories. Because of all my experiences, I learned how to believe in myself and never give up. Now as I look forward to new
goals, to hard work, to a new team I will represent on the runway, I have t0 thank Mrs. King, the many track relay teams I’ve ran with, my family, and
anyone who has supported me. You have all made me the person I am today!
- Genevieve Ruppel
Senior Student Athletes Advance to College Athletics
By William McCabe
The final games have been played, the
winning goals have been scored and the last
race has been run. This is the end of the athletic careers of many members of the Class of
2009. Fortunately this is not the case for a
select group of athletes that have proven
themselves while playing for Sleepy Hollow.
These high school sportsmen and women are
now preparing to try their hand at college
athletics. Marcus McCrae plans to play football in the fall when he attends Western New
England College. His main goal for his first
year is to “get on the field as much as possible
and make my name as a good receiver.”
Over the summer Marcus will train by lifting
weights and doing hill sprints. Marcus is
excited for the opportunity to play other college football teams from the United States
and Canada.
Genevieve Ruppel, an all county
jumper and senior athlete of the year is running track at St. Josephs University. She
plans to keep in top form by competing in experience playing on a team of new faces in
track meets over the summer and training college. Leah Morales has already begun her
with a club team. In college Ruppel hopes to field hockey preparations for Middlebury
continue to set personal records and become next year by training in “endurance and
a stronger jumper. Some of the biggest chal- speed” workouts. After college, Leah wants
to stay involved with field
lenges she will face
include “balancing
“Horsemen then, hockey and become a
coach after being inspired
academics and athletHorsemen
now,
by her own coach, Kelly
ics while trying to
Horsemen
Jarer. Dylan Lacey plans
have a social life.”
to play on the Ramapo
Male senior
forever.”
Saints travel hockey team
athlete of the year
- John Lopez
next year while attending
Ryan Tompkins also
plans to continue playing sports at the Univer- Westchester Community College. His imsity of Rhode Island. Tompkins plans to be mediate goal for next year is to get a scholaran active member on the lacrosse and wres- ship for playing hockey at another school
tling club teams, the most competitive teams after Westchester. Lacey also looks forward
for those sports at URI. If all goes according to a busy travel schedule while competing in
to plan, Ryan could face off against Avri Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
The hard throwing Deanne Lindsay
Sainte if he plays club lacrosse at Boston
University. Like many other college athlete hopes to pitch a no hitter and improve her
hopefuls, Ryan knows it will be a different skill level while playing softball next year at
Westchester Community College. She has
great hopes that softball will become more
popular with girls in the coming years.
Deanne is still getting time on the mound
while competing in tournaments over the
weekend this summer. Ithaca College will be
taking three of our “big men”: Nick Carraro,
Jordan James and Gili Bauer-Moshi for track
and field, football and wrestling respectively.
Another “big man”, John Lopez, plans to
play football after attending Westchester
Community College as well. Pete Yannantuono and Clarence Sharrock plan to play
lacrosse next year at Emerson College and
Morrisville State College, respectively.
Wherever our Sleepy Hollow athletes
go, we are sure that they will play with heart
and dedication representing their school.
These students, athletic achievements should
not go unnoticed. Keep your eyes peeled for
news from our future college athletes.
M E M O R I E S
PAGE 2
SENIOR SUPERLATIVES Best All Around
Britney Fitzgerald, Eva Kramer,
Max Epstein, & Nick Genua
Done Most for Sleepy Hollow
Devan Campbell, Maddy Dopico,
Max Epstein, & John Lopez
Most Likely to Succeed
Maddy Dopico, Nicole London,
Max Epstein, & Will McCabe
Teacher’s Pet
Jenny Kessman, Nicole Olivares,
Wilson Angamarca, & Will
McCabe
Most Honest
Jasmin Gonzales, Lily Schroedel,
Kareem Ishmail, & Will McCabe
Nicest Physique
Sarah Kelly, Samantha Palazzi,
Gili Bauer-Moshi, & Daniel Diaz
When we were seniors...
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Class Artist
Nora Burke, Sarah Kelly, Oscar
Desiderio, & Juan Medina
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Most Dramatic
Grace Clary, Emily Gerber, Jake
Rosen, & Malcolm Hamilton
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Teacher’s Torment
Deanna Lindsay, Brittney Smith,
Victor Arpi, & Jake Rosen
Most Likely to Gossip
Jessica Cepeda, Shakira Watson,
Ed Brady, & Jake Rosen
Most Gullible
Erin Hart, Alyson Miscioscia, Vincent Birrittella, & Jake Rosen
Shyest
Lauren Chin, Jasmin Gonzales,
Mark Araujo, & Sam Schnog
Best To Bring Home To Mom
Emily Arduino, Dara Brennan,
John Paul Oliva, Sam Schnog, &
Michael Traylor
Most Musical
Maddy Dopico, Anna Wray, Jake
Von Heill, & Gregory Valdespino
1 Of A Kind
Nora Burke, Jackie Jolly, Shaddy
Mosa, & Peter Yanantuono
Nicest Ride
Carol Ann Bender, Ann Dugan,
Lee Swift, & Daniel Landwirth
Dreamiest Eyes
Dara Brennan, Jasmine BrumleyTaub, Alex Guzzo, & Zack Siska
Best Personality
Dara Brennan, Shakira Watson,
Nick Genua, & Gregory
Valdespino
HOOFPRINTS
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The first black president, Barrack Obama, went into office.
An environmentally friendly Macbook was created.
Ipods and cell phones had touch screens.
It cost $5 to get over the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Britney Spears made her comeback.
U.S. Airlines pilot made an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl.
In Westchester, it cost $10.75 to go to the movies.
A 20 ounce bottle of soda cost $1.50.
The price to buy a song on iTunes increased from $0.99 to $1.29.
The most expensive college in the United States was Sarah Lawrence College, at a
grand total of over $53,000/year.
To attend a SUNY school, the overall cost was less than $20,000/year.
Sarah Palin announced that she could see Russia from her backyard.
Jessica Alba filmed “An Invisible Sign of My Own” at Patriots Park.
The school finished construction.
Dearly Departed was the first show to be performed in the new auditorium.
Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight at the 66th Golden
Globe Awards, the 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards, the 62nd BAFTA Awards, and the
81st Academy Awards.
The Sleepy Hollow and Ossining rivalry renewed itself on Friday, October 26th, 2008
at the Ossining football field. The rivalry dates all the way back to 1955! Unfortunately, the Horsemen lost :(
Roy Lotz wrote the “Recycle Song” and Greg Valdespino danced in the new auditorium to Mika’s “Big Girls”.
We lost to the Class of 2010 AGAIN in spirit week, but graduated with an overall record of winning 2nd place 3 years in a row and getting 3rd place once.
Everyone (including teachers and parents) had a Facebook!
The first graders we were paired with at the Rose Ceremony will graduate in 2020.
Homecoming King and Queen were Max Epstein and Madeleine Dopico.
Prom King and Queen were John Lopez and Britney Fitzgerald.
We did not do a senior prank.
The Fall Comedy was Dearly Departed and the Spring Musical was Guys and Dolls.
A small plain pizza can cost up to $14.00.
During the week of graduation, the price of gas was $2.89.
Bernie Madolf stole millions of dollars from his clients.
A female Hispanic Supreme Court Justice was being considered for office.
North Korea was in the process of developing nuclear weapons.
A round trip ticket on Metro North from Tarrytown to Grand Central Station during
peak hours cost up to $21.00.
The new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field opened.
Seniors lost senior parking spots.
Students traveled to Egypt and Spain.
What has your time at Sleepy Hollow meant to you?
Although so many of my activities have had a great impact on my high
school experience, there are two that have truly helped shape who I am. First off,
what can I say about the SHHS musicals? Every day after school for a few
months a year, I could be exactly who I wanted to be, with people and a director who are just as crazy as I am. We fooled around and did ridiculous things like
having wild dance parties on stage before shows (which included “party boying” Ms. Persad), yet we buckled down and got serious when necessary, and
always managed to put on an impressive performance. As the only senior this
year who performed in every musical from 7th -12th grade, I stressed between
sobs in my “senior speech” before the last show, that everyone had to keep doing
the musicals. I explained that through them, I have grown with some of the most
amazing people I have ever met, who would not be the same without the experience. I’ll never forget that a few minutes later, a small group of seventh
grade girls approached me and said, “Maddy: We just made a promise that
we’re going to do the musical every year… just like you.” It’s incredible that
through doing something I loved, I was able to inspire and solidify a passion in
other students, which I think is something commonly done at Sleepy Hollow.
Secondly, anyone who knows me well and sees me skipping lunch to go to
the library, notices my hands covered in ink, and witnesses me satisfying my caffeine addiction after staying up way past my bedtime, will automatically say,
“So the newspaper is coming out soon, huh?.” I cannot think of a more stressful,
yet gratifying position I could have held in my years at Sleepy. The aggravation
and hard work have paid off, as I learned so much about writing and editing,
dedication, perseverance, collaboration, and more. Thank you to everyone involved, as well to the advisors for helping to provide me with such a strengthening experience. To Jenny: Thanks for putting up with me, carrying on the balancing act with me, and still managing to be a friend to me. To Sleepy Hollow: You
have been the best audience and readers I could have asked for. Thank you,
and I hope you enjoyed the show, the issues, and the ride, as much as I have.
- Madeleine Dopico
Hoofprints
Senior
Edition
Staff
Editors‐in‐Chief: Maddy Dopico (Journalism) Jenny Kessman (Layout) Writers: Madeleine Dopico, Sarah Kelly Jenny Kessman, Nicole London, John Lopez, William McCabe, Genevieve Ruppel, Michael Traylor, and Christian Zolbe. Teacher Advisors: Mr. Baxter and Ms. Langston HOOFPRINTS
M E M O R I E S
PAGE 3
SENIOR SUPERLATIVES Class Clown
Britney Fitzgerald, Deanna
Lindsay, Gili Bauer-Moshi, &
Shaddy Mosa
Best Voice
Grace Clary, Maddy Dopico,
Dionnis Burgos, & Gregory
Valdespino
Best Laugh
Tatiana Amaro, Lauren Chin,
John Lopez, & Johnny Zhinin
Class Rebel
Jasmin Savage, Alyssa
Duggan, Victor Arpi, & Ilya
Mitin
Most Athletic
Cathy Garro, Genevieve Ruppel, Nick Carraro, & Ryan
Tompkins
Most Sleepy Hollow Spirit
Devan Campbell, Genevieve
Ruppel, Ed Brady, & John Lopez
First To Fall Asleep In Class
Carol Ann Bender, Dinda Andre, Andrew Kim, & Zack
Siska
Worst Case Of Senioritis
Carol Ann Bender, Jessica Cepeda, Victor Arpi, & Zack
Siska
First To Be Famous
Grace Clary, Britney Fitzgerald, Jordan James, & Gregory
Valdespino
Cutest
Bianca Bucci, Lisbel Gonzales, Ronald Bertrand, & Ryan
Tompkins
Most Fashionable
Ann Dugan, Shakira Watson,
Ronald Bertrand, & Charlie
Diaz
Best Hair
Bianca Bucci, Nicole London,
Ronald Bertrand, & Roy Lotz
Best Excuse Maker
Valentina Guzzo, Deanne Lindsay, Angel Gomez, & Avri Sainte
Nicest Smile
Leah Morales, Maya Whitely,
Ronald Bertrand, & Avri Sainte
Class Flirt
Devan Campbell, Alee Praino,
Nick Carraro, & John Lopez
Most Changed Since 9th Grade
Jonaly Alejando, Leah Morales,
Gili Bauer-Moshi, & Charlie Diaz
PAGE 4
T H E
B A C K
P A G E
SENIOR EDITION
Class of 2009 College Destinations
Anna Maria College
Bard College
Benedict College
Binghamton University
Boston University
City University of New York
College of Charleston
College of New Rochelle
College of the Holy Cross
Cornell University
Dominican College of Blauvelt
Dutchess Community College
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Emory University
Fairfield University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Hamilton College
Hampshire College
Hampton University
Herkimer County Community College
Hofstra University
Hostos Community College of the CUNY
Iona College
Ithaca College
James Madison University
La Salle University
Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University New Orleans
Manhattan College
Manhattanville College
Mercy College
Middlebury College
Mills College
Monroe College
Morgan State University
Morrisville State College
New York University
Northwestern University
Pace University, New York City
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Providence College
Purchase College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rider University
Rockland Community College
Saint Joseph's University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Siena College
St. John's University - Queens Campus
Stanford University
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at New Paltz
Stony Brook University
Suffolk County Community College
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY College at Cortland
SUNY College at Old Westbury
SUNY Delhi
Syracuse University
The College of New Jersey
The College of Westchester
The University of Arizona
Tulane University
University of Cincinnati
University of Delaware
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of New Haven
University of New Mexico
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Wesleyan University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Westchester Community College
Western New England College
What has your time at Sleepy Hollow meant to you?
Throughout my entire life and throughout high school, I constantly played sports. Every day after school I always did some sort of athletic activity, whether
it was soccer, cross country, baseball, or basketball. I always thoroughly enjoyed participating in these sports, but it was not until basketball this year that I realized how much I really loved athletics here at Sleepy Hollow High School.
Our basketball team didn’t win as much as we would have liked, but that didn’t matter to us. We just kept working ha rd, tried to get better and tried to
do our best to win. We realized that as long as we gave it our all, nothing else mattered. Regardless of losing, we had such a fun season. We were a very tight
knit group because everyone got along so well. The team went to a basketball camp this summer, where the bonding really began, and throughout the season we became like a family.
I already miss playing basketball with this great group of guys. By playing with them I learned that all I can ask of myself is to work hard and to do my
best. Our basketball team did just that, and although we didn’t end up with a good record, we learned to work hard and have fun, which is all that matters.
- Christian Zolbe
It’s always fun trying to explain to a teacher how you couldn’t do your
homework because you were at school until 11:00 pm during what is affectionately called “hell week”. You were too busy watching actors trying to blurt out
their lines through their exhaustion, and attempting to quiet your laughter as
DiLeo enacted his delirious fantasies about playing pranks on the actors.
As a member of the stage crew, and more specifically the sound director, I
was thrown into the tumultuous world of drama, where the riveted audience is
unaware of the utter frenzy taking place behind the scenes. The stage crew
members, sporting stealthy black clothing, hustle around backstage (following
Lily’s impeccable color-coded script), or at their stations in the audience, trying to
produce the perfect show—all while giggling into our “com” walkie-talkie units
as the crew trades stories about anything and everything.
During “hell week”, the crew becomes our second family, and the auditorium our second home. The wild journey on which we embark for this stressful
time is filled with surprise (such as the spontaneous shut-down of body microphones that occurs during performances), physical pain (from excessive laughter
at Mr. DiLeo’s crazy antics and at Landon’s outrageous sagas to the beat of the
bongo drum), and even tears (when it comes time to part at the end of the
year).
I will never forget the final performance of the first musical I worked on,
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”. In a matter of weeks, an intimidated
sophomore evolved into a confident member of a new family, one that had a
particular passion for the closing song entitled, “Happiness.” At the last show, my
fellow crew members and I assembled in the back row of the Morse auditorium,
and sang and danced our hearts out to this sweet ode to life’s simple pleasures.
The final lyrics sing that “Happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s loved by
you.” Throughout my tenure as a Sleepy Hollow High School student,
“happiness” has truly been being on stage crew.
- Nicole London, Class of 2009 Salutatorian
It’s wild how quickly a place can become your home without even
knowing it. School was always a place we had to be, a place that kept us
from going to Fire Island or from watching reruns of “Bones” all day (or
maybe that was just me…). But it’s not until moments before we must
leave it all behind that we realize how attached we‘ve become to the
place, the people, the atmosphere. Sleepy Hollow High School is the place
where we have grown up to become the people we are today. How could
you not be nostalgic about leaving such a prominent part of your life
story behind?
There are a lot of things I’ll miss for sure. I’m going to miss my little
sanctuary in Ms. Dreher’s art room. I’m not sure if I’ll find another place
where I can paint on the walls so freely with such amazing music playing.
I’ll miss my “little groupie” that I spend my lunches with everyday - laying
in the grass and listening to funky music (don’t tell Alterbaum) – show me
a better way to spend your two periods off. I’ll miss our annual talent
shows. The amazing ability and rhythm found in our talent shows can
outdo that of any other high school, any day. I’ll miss my environmental
club. I love being able to get together with people who love the environment just as much as I do. Green on! And of course, how could I forget,
Girl’s Varsity Volleyball. “Fire it up! Kick butt!” You are my second family
and I’m so glad I was able to share such a great season with you led by
such an amazing coach (Love you Ms. Peltier!)
- Sarah Kelly
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE CLASS OF 2009!