Check Out These Local Students Doing Amazing Things This Summer!

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You won’t catch our Immaculate students relaxing on the beach or at the pool the entire summer break. They have been busy!

Immaculate High School – the #1 Catholic Co-Educational College Prep School in Connecticut according to Niche – is celebrating 60 years of providing a Catholic college prep education in Connecticut and New York that develops the whole student by nurturing academic, spiritual, moral, physical and social growth. From continuing the school’s commitment to community service, exploring new places and careers and excelling in athletic competitions, these Mustangs are just a sampling of the summer fun they’ve been up to.

Meet these nine high school students:

1. Alison Wertman ‘26 of Danbury is taking American Sign Language at Immaculate – which inspired her to give back while exploring opportunities in this field. “This summer I am volunteering time at the New York School for the Deaf summer program in White Plains, NY designed for students that need school services through the summer,” she said. Immaculate’s ASL courses cover Deaf culture, grammatical concepts, vocabulary and language mechanics.

2. A leading member of Immaculate’s 2022 Boys Cross Country State Championship Team, Lorenzo Lopes ‘26 of Danbury took his talents to the Pacific Northwest. He ran in the Junior Olympics in Oregon at what he called “the magical Hayward Field.” “I was able to run on the Prefontaine Trail and see Pre’s Rock,” Lopes said, referring to a four-mile long running trail named after the famous University of Oregon athlete Steve Prefontaine. “I also became an All-American in the steeplechase.”

3. Closer to home, Molly Miraglia ‘25 of Ridgefield helped children with disabilities move in new ways – on bikes. She volunteered for iCan Bike which uses adapted bicycles and special instruction for those with disabilities. “The aspect that I was most surprised by was that the kids were so eager to get on the bike and learn a skill,” Miraglia said. “Seeing the happiness that it brought to so many of the kids in the program really taught me that I should be more grateful for everything I have because to me riding a bike was just a simple task, but for the kids in the program it meant so much more.”
4. Ava Fleming ‘24 of Wilton put the skills she’s learned in Immaculate’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program to good use - working as a nursing assistant! Students interested in pursuing health and medical science college students including nursing, physical and occupational therapy and related fields benefit from the school’s innovative program. “I work 48-hour weeks at my local assisted living facility, stationed in the Memory Care Department, where I care for residents with dementia of all stages,” Fleming said. Her favorite co-worker? Pasha the therapy cat.
5. Brookfield resident Ava Heineken ‘25 participated in the Quinnipiac University Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation program where she learned all about creating a business. “The business I created and want to pursue is an indoor playroom for children offering a safe space particularly for kids with sensory disorders such as: ADHD, Autism, Down Syndrome, etc. As someone with ADHD and a passion for business, I hope to pursue this in my future and one day make it a reality.” Go Ava!
6. Antonio Guerrero ‘24 hopes to make a legal career his reality. The Danbury resident volunteered at the Danbury Superior Courthouse in the State Attorney’s Office assisting with filing, document retrieval, front desk support and scanning. “Volunteering in the attorney's office shattered my movie-inspired misconceptions,” Guerrero said. “They have fun, are friends and share the workload, avoiding overwork. Secretaries are the backbone, handling everything efficiently. I'm more inspired to become a lawyer.”
7. Bianca Sousa ‘27 of Danbury used her break as an opportunity to go overseas and travel through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. “In Germany I participated in a three-day Global Leadership Summit with the theme ‘Building a Sustainable Future,’” she said. “I had the time of my life and I look forward to future travel adventures!”

8. South Korea was where you’d find Trilby Cellamare ‘24 of Brewster. She did a three week study abroad program in the country. “I learned all about the Korean culture,” she said. “The adventure taught me how to adapt in different cultural settings.”
9. Last but not least, Anna Tallaksen ‘25 of New Milford took an active role making sandwiches for Dorothy Day Hospitality House because she believes a good meal gives people a good feeling, and makes their day better. “The most surprising aspect of this activity would be the feeling that I got when I walked into Dorothy Day with my 30 sandwiches and 30 apples,” Tallaksen said. “The smiles on everyone’s face in the building left an impact on the way I see the world. I now see it with hope and positivity that I can make an impact on the world.”

Immaculate’s Jen Doherty, who leads Campus Ministry, said students’ commitment to making the world a better place will continue into the school year. The school’s Campus Ministry Program empowers teens to grow in three areas: sacramental, social and service. Mustangs pray together, have fun together and serve others together. In addition, Immaculate’s Opus Fidelium requires a minimum of 25 hours of community service, so students volunteer at organizations across the region – and beyond.

“It’s part of the fabric of who we are at Immaculate,” said Doherty. “We support students’ personal development - and we give back in a huge way.”

To learn more about Immaculate High School, click here. Applications for the 2024-25 school year opened July 1.

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