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By BRIDGET KEATING Times Leader Student Reporter
Thursday, March 20, 2003     Page: 11A

/bishop hobanBishop Hoban Senior Lauren Costanza recently directed area
grade-school students in the performance of “Alice in Wonderland.” Lauren
attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School of the Arts, in Erie, last summer.
Costanza was compelled and encouraged to give back to the community.
   
She chose to focus on her grade-school alma mater, St., Nicholas-St. Mary’s
School. Students in fifth through eighth grades participated.
    Lauren was assisted by Hoban students Mark Burns, Jill Houseknecht, and
Gary Lambert. Advisers at the rehearsals were Mrs. Mary Lou Deibert and Mrs.
Mary Jean Houseknecht. Mr. Paul Winarski guided Lauren outside of school,
helping with the development of the adaptation and production.
   
The play was performed March 2 in the Bishop Hoban auditorium. Admission
was free, but donations were accepted to offset production costs. The
remainder, $300, was donated to the St. Nicholas-St. Mary’s School St. Dominic
Savio Club. Lauren credits the help of all of her assistants and advisers,
including Monsignor David L. Tressler, Bishop Hoban principal, and Sister Mary
Catherine Slattery, St. Nicholas-St. Mary’s School principal.
   
Lauren has been involved in school and community theater. She plans to
attend King’s College in the fall and major in theater arts.
   
Music theory students attended a performance of the ballet “Cinderella”
last week. This Ballet Northeast show at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center
featured numerous Hoban students as performers. Kaitlyn Moody and Genna
Swerdon alternated in the starring role of Cinderella. Other Hoban dancers in
the production include Meredith Benjamin, Kristin Davison, Brianne Dougherty,
Amy Puffenburger, Kristin Wempa and Elizabeth Zack. Sophomore Kristin Davison
was dance instructor.
   
Plans for the alumni phonathon are under way. Beginning April 6, student
volunteers will contact alumni to make pledges. Sister Leonita Duhoski,
director of development, directs the annual event. Student chairwoman is
Bridget Keating, assisted by Michael Dillon, Kathleen Drosey, Colleen Horn,
Jill Houseknecht, Caila Klaiss and Michael McGinley.
   
The guidance department, under the direction of Sister Kate Morris, offers
peer tutoring. The guidance office is made aware of the need from the
student’s parents or teachers. Guidance workers then connect the student with
a member of the National Honor Society or any other student recommended by the
subject teacher. Students and tutors make use of study halls and time before
or after school for instruction.
   
The Quill, Hoban’s student literary publication, is in production. Each
year, students submit poems, stories and drawings to be published. Sister
Andrea Weidner is moderator.
   
Sister John Marie Hickl, secretary in the studies office, is celebrating
her 50th anniversary as a part of the Sisters of Christian Charity. Sister
John Marie, former principal at St. Boniface School, was honored with a
liturgy and luncheon at St. Nicholas Church on March 8.
   
Bridget Keating is a junior at Bishop Hoban High School, Wilkes-Barre.