Hanover Park Students of the Month Labeled 'Positive' and 'Caring'

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Two students who Hanover Park High School calls “positive” and “caring”—seniors Katerina Koulosousas and Michael Rocco—have been named the school’s students of the month of April.

Daughter of Ann and Chris Koulosousas of East Hanover, Katerina Koulosousas is the student that teachers count on.  She is actively involved in Hanover Park life, serving as yearbook editor, ERASE Club president, and Key Club co-president.  She also volunteers for Halos for Angels and sells tickets at HP’s sporting events.

“I like helping other people,” said Koulosousas.   “It makes you feel good about yourself at the end of the day.” Koulosousas attributes part of this success to her mom, who always encourages her to do what she “feels is right.” 

ERASE Club advisor Suzanne Apicella calls Koulosousas “selfless.”  “She loves helping others out and volunteers for a myriad of organizations, like Relay for Life and Jersey Battered Women’s Service, whenever she has the chance,” Apicella said.  “She has been an integral part of the ERASE club, as she is able to get her peers motivated to help through her positive influence.”

According to yearbook advisor Stephanie Mitchell, this is because Koulosousas “puts her heart into all she does and is always willing to lend a helping hand when needed.”  “She is reliable, dependable, and trustworthy,” said Mitchell.  “She is an outstanding young lady.”

Koulosousas sees her love for Hanover Park as a direct result of her involvement.  “I did a lot more, so it was more enjoyable,” she said.

After she graduates in June, Koulosousas will attend Montclair State University.  “I love it,” she said. “I think it’s really pretty.”  Her appreciation for travel and sports has guided Koulosousas toward a major in sports event and tourism marketing, a concentration in Montclair’s business program. “You learn event planning and how to market in the sports area, and also plan vacations for people,” she explained.

“Besides,” she added, “event planning is all I do here!”

While she said she will miss “knowing everybody” on campus, Koulosousas is eager to “meet new people” as a student at Montclair this fall.  She is also excited to chat over Chinese food with friends Megan Seely (HP ’13) and Jessi Berardinelli (HP ’13) who will attend college with her.

Like Koulosousas, Michael Rocco is also an active member of the Hanover Park community.  The son of Charles and Lisa Rocco of East Hanover, Michael Rocco has been a part of the GSA Club, ERASE club, and the Home Economics Club during his four years at HP.  He has performed in both the fall drama and the spring musical, and is part of Hanover Park’s audition-only choir, the Chambers Singers.  Most recently, he was inducted into the National Honor Society.

Of all that he has participated in, Rocco has most identified with his role in the music department.  “When I took choir, I found a new group of friends I could call my family,” he said. “I can be myself with them.”

“We do everything together,” he added.  “If one person is singing somewhere, we all go to see them.”

Rocco thanks choir teacher Helen Britez for much of this camaraderie, as she inspires her students “not to judge others, and to get along with everybody.”  “She inspires us to work harder, and then we do,” he said.  “She helped me become a better singer, and a better person.”

Britez calls Rocco “one in a million.”  “He is kind, reliable, honest, patient, and always a role model,” she said.  “He sets an example for others.”

Teachers appreciate these admirable traits of Rocco, who often seeks to better himself and his surroundings.  “Michael Rocco is and always has been a positive young man who deeply cares about his peers around him,” said English teacher Andrea Vecchione.  “Michael is not only concerned about who he is today, but who he will become tomorrow.”

Rocco’s “tomorrow” will take place at Pace University in New York City, a school he chose out of other city schools for its vertical campus, where “classrooms are built up instead of spread out.”  Rocco knew he wanted to attend college in the city because, as he said, “I feel at home there.”

As a college student, Rocco will study film or musical theater. “I’ve always liked movies, but last year I took Film Studies and saw behind the scenes,” he said.  “I thought it was really cool.”

While Rocco is excited for “meeting new people” and “starting over,” he still will miss his friends at Hanover Park, since many of them are underclassmen.  Still, he said he can leave without worry, knowing HP will be just fine in the hands of others.  “The freshmen are so talented,” he said, “that I have hope they’re going to do great things here.”