It is unusual to attend a new school in your senior year of high school. When St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick closed last spring, the students were faced with the difficult decision of where to complete their secondary education. Five of these students, Christelle Basanaga of Piscataway, Adrian Johnston of Jamesburg, Maegan McLaughlin of New Brunswick, and Naureen and Maureen Sheikh of Somerset have this fall joined the senior class at Rutgers Prep.

“When I found out St. Peter’s was closing, I couldn’t believe it. It was a surprise to all of us”, says Naureen Sheikh. Her sister Maureen had similar feelings: “I was really hurt that I would have to go to a different school in my senior year. But I will hold on to the precious memories I’ll have of my senior year at Rutgers Prep.” “All fifty-nine kids in our class were good friends, and now we would have to go our separate ways in our senior year,” adds Maegan McLaughlin. “I chose Rutgers Prep because it is a good place to prepare yourself for college.” Christelle says she misses St. Peter’s but is enjoying playing clarinet in the Rutgers Prep Band and playing on the soccer team: “Joining in these activities has been a fun way for me to get used to my new school and classmates.” Adrian Johnston says, “The kids and the teachers here at Rutgers Prep have made me feel right at home.”

Individual donors and two New Jersey foundations helped make it possible for these five highly motivated students to attend Rutgers Prep for their final year of high school.

Senior Jamie Bates of North Brunswick echoes the sentiments of his classmates: “I am in class with all five of these kids. They are just terrific! And I think we are all enjoying getting to know them and making them feel welcome.”