Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26:

The first STEM talk of the year featured Dr. Robert Bacigalupo, an oral and maxillofacial (having to do with the jaw and face) surgeon and a 2005 Kellenberg graduate. Dr. Bacigalupo in his second Kellenberg STEM talk intrigued his audience of aspiring doctors and nurses with the story of how he became a dentist, advice for students looking into careers, and inspiring stories of how he managed to help patients with difficult cases.

When Dr. Bacigalupo described his extensive training, he did not sugarcoat the intense and often difficult experience he had preparing for work in the medical field. He spent twelve years of schooling after high school just to get his license to practice. “It was definitely a lot,” he admitted, “but if you approach it with the right attitude, it’s manageable.” He urged students never to give up. Quoting President Calvin Coolidge, he reminded, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.”

Dr. Bacigalupo centered his talk on three pillars that built the foundation of who he is. First and foremost, he emphasized the importance of faith. The other two pillars mentioned were family and education. As a Kellenberg graduate, Dr. Bacigalupo largely credited his high school experience for the success later in his life. “I knew what I wanted to do right away,” he said, “so I focused on that from the start. Kellenberg was such a great place to foster my interests.” He encouraged students to participate in more activities, not only to become well-rounded people, but also to discover what they want to do.

At his private practice and at hospitals, Dr. Bacigalupo had a wealth of experiences and stories to share about his job. He gave a few accounts of some particularly difficult cases of his, including how he restored a young woman’s teeth after a snow accident and how he managed to remove cancer from a patient’s jaw.

This taxing job has its perks, Dr. Bacigalupo told students. He is on a team of oral surgeons for the NY Islanders, and as such, gets free tickets to games and the ability to talk to players.

At his private practice, Dr. Bacigalupo says he gets to talk to high-schoolers all the time, and he repeated the advice he gives them: “Think of your foundations, build your groundwork, and enjoy the stable life that you have built!”

Senior Isabella Silva commented, “I’m thinking of becoming a dentist, and I’ve been looking into different specialties. I especially enjoyed this talk because it gave me a broader perspective on all the opportunities that are available to me in dentistry.”

Mrs. Frem, who hosted the event, was elated at its incredible success, saying, “This was just such a rich talk. There was the faith foundation, students left here with such a rich body of knowledge, potentially they found a career, and, if ever they need to speak to an oral or a maxillofacial surgeon, now they have a perspective!”

When asked what his favorite part about coming to speak at Kellenberg was, Dr. Bacigalupo replied, “I enjoy giving back and Kellenberg has given me so much. It has laid a foundation of faith and education, and the least I can do is come to a place I love so much and give a talk.”

In addition to this being the first STEM talk of the year, it was also the first time any STEM talk had been held in the new FCAA building. For many students, this was the first time they stepped foot into the building.

We thank Dr. Bacigalupo for all the time he put into this talk and the valuable insights he provided for all the students in attendance.

Article by Phoenix writer Brooke Oldenborg ’26:

On Wednesday, November 6, Kellenberg graduate Grace Kronenberg came back to talk to the Health Science club about how one can turn their nursing passions into a rewarding career.

Grace graduated from Kellenberg in 2020 and went on to tackle the competitive nursing program at Scranton University. She bravely shared her story about entering into a dark period of her life when her dad was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.

At this time, her father was cared for in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in Manhattan, which eventually turned into Grace’s current workplace. By witnessing what the nurses did for her father and their connections with their patients, Grace immediately knew what she wanted to do as a career.

She would help her dad every day in high school with his chemotherapy treatments for three long years. She eventually lost her dad to his battle with cancer and when asked how she continued her career after the loss of her dad, she responded, “My job makes me feel closer to my dad in every way. I see him in every patient I treat.”

Grace adequately explained each step and process she went through in nursing school to inform students who may be interested. She now works at MSK as a full time medical oncology nurse on a gastrointestinal unit and has even gone on to create her own unit providing support to new nurses who are still growing in their skills.

To this day, Grace volunteers at Camp Nursing to help kids who suffer with the grief of losing a parent, continuing her charitable work. One student, Thomas Lorenzo ‘26, noted “The discussion was interesting and informative, giving me much more insight into my potential future career.” Overall, this talk was extremely helpful and inspiring to all students interested in the nursing field.

If you are interested in the Health Science Club, visit Mrs. Frem in room 203 with any questions.

Article by Phoenix writer Victoria Vakser ’26:

Fresh out of college and already influencing students: On November 12th, KMHS Class of 2019 alum Reagan Mullaly gave a talk to the students of the Business and Finance Club. Ms. Mullaly, a marketing major who graduated St. John’s University just two years ago, has been going far with her career and took the opportunity to reach out to help the next generation of Firebirds go far with theirs.

With a vast array of knowledge gained from St. John’s on business, finance and marketing, Reagan was able to connect with students and give them advice on the best path to take in their journey to becoming entrepreneurs. She shared her story of landing a marketing job at a private golf club, and how the skills she gained from Kellenberg and put to use at St. John’s helped her attain it.

When planning this talk, she wanted to make it as enriching and personal to each student as possible. She shared, “I didn’t want to focus as much on what my job is as how I got there.” Indeed, she offered valuable insights from her own experience in the ins and outs of establishing a good career, from constructing a resume to conducting oneself in the workroom. She placed an especially heavy emphasis on professionalism and communication. “From writing an email to conducting an interview to even getting up here and talking to you like I am today, the way you express yourself is so important,” she asserted. “The way you talk, the way you dress, the way you greet someone, all speak of the kind of person you are.” And she would know— she has a degree in marketing to prove it!

When asked what the best piece of advice she could give to students trying to find what they want to do, she replied, “Learn how to interview well. Learn how to talk to people of all kinds of backgrounds and ages. And then, think about what kind of workday you would like. A nine-to-five? A changing environment? Start from there!”

The attendees proved to be a mix of seasoned Business and Finance Club members and new students interested in the opportunity to hear Ms. Mullaly. Freshman Callum Stevenson commented, “I heard there was going to be a talk on business and finance, and I’ve been thinking of that as a potential career range, so I decided to come. And I’m so glad I did!”

Mrs. York, the head of the Business and Finance Club, found the talk just as beneficial as the students did. She said, “These talks are so inspiring because they are so real-world. We can talk about the real world in the classroom but it’s different bringing someone like Reagan Mullaly in.

Ms. Mullaly offered herself to give this talk. She explained, “I love Kellenberg, and I still try to get involved in it as much as possible. When I was at Kellenberg, there were lots of talks like there are today, and I wanted to do the same to motivate the next generation of businessmen and businesswomen.” Kellenberg is blessed to have alumni like Reagan Mullaly who keep giving back to the Firebird community.

Article by Phoenix writer Kevin Kelly ’25:

On January 29, 20 members of the Health Science Club participated in a suturing class taught by Dr. Robert Bacigalupo.

After Dr. Bacigalupo introduced the instruments used in suturing, students were able to learn the specific technique to create interrupted sutures and square knots. Practicing on a banana, students were carefully instructed on how to suture a laceration. Medical students are taught this method because it provides them with the practice and skills to be able to close a wound with sutures.

An alumnus from Kellenberg Memorial High School, Dr. Bacigalupo was happy to return to his alma mater for the second time to teach his skill. He is an oral surgeon who attended Villanova University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. He then attended Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine where he graduated with the distinction of ranking first in his class.

Dr. Bacigalupo thought it beneficial to provide aspiring STEM majors with useful tools that could carry them through their college years. Senior Gianna Siasoco reflects on the experience: “I was always interested in the medical field, and this suturing class allowed me to grow my interest in being a surgeon in the future.”

Mrs. Frem, the leader of the Health Science Club and the one who made this experience possible, said that the “Students remained focused and determined for close to two hours in the biology lab.” The dedication and maturity of the Kellenberg students were clear during the class, which made the entire process run efficiently and effectively.

Kellenberg would like to thank Dr. Bacigalupo for donating his time to teaching the next generation valuable skills regarding his work.