Roselle Catholic High School was well represented at the annual Write on Sports Gala.
Joe Skrec, Roselle Catholic’s Assistant Principal for Student Affairs and the Director of the Write on Sports Camp at RC, attended the affair with RC alumnus Rich Biddulph and Matthew Figueroa and Andrew Figueroa – current Roselle Catholic students who are graduates of the WoS Camp at RC.
The organization’s 11th Annual Gala took place at Avenue A Club in Newark, an eye-catching, two-floor venue filled with antique cars that won’t soon be forgotten by event attendees.
“The WoS banquet provided a bird’s-eye view of how one idea can make such a difference on our future leaders,” said Rich Biddulph, Roselle Catholic Class of 1977’s Valedictorian. “Interacting with the program’s executive team motivated me to jump in and support the Roselle Catholic program, under the direction of Mr. Joseph Skrec.
“This program is already paying dividends as exhibited by the Figueroa brothers, who clearly possess the poise and communication skills honed during the RC WoS camp. Both truly personify the ideals of our RC community.”
The Figueroa Brothers mingled with fell Write on Sports graduates and sponsors at the gala.
Matthew and Andrew, and Rich Biddulph, also had a chance to meet well-known sports scribe Peter King, the Master of Ceremonies for the gala.
One of the best known NFL reporters in America, King writes for Sports Illustrated and leads The MMQB, a webs site he launched with Sports Illustrated in 2013. King’s Monday Morning Quarterback column is considered must reading for NFL fans.
In addition to King, Write on Sports founder Byron Yake addressed the audience at the WoS Gala.
Write on Sports is a journalism program for middle school students that helps teach youth how to write about sports as a way to inspire and help them to write.
During a two-week, tuition-free summer camp, guest sports journalists model and conduct interviews with specially-selected athletes. Students then become the journalists – they stand up, announce their name and affiliation and ask a question.
Students and teachers prepare for interviews by reviewing bios and player statistics, then developing a series of questions. Campers build on their research capabilities, their critical thinking and their self-confidence through the work. WoS teachers work closely with each student on blogs, feature stories and videos they produce on computers.
For information about Roselle Catholic’s Write on Sports camp, which will take place in July for the fifth consecutive year, contact Joe Skrec at jskrec@rosellecatholic.org.