Mooney grads plan to carry strong bonds into future

May 30, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

It might be easy to reflexively say that Haley M. Mitchell and Isabel R. Stoeber have graduated from the same school in the same year and plan to go to college, but dig beneath the surface and it becomes apparent that what they have in common is considerably deeper.

For starters, both have spent years volunteering for the Purple Cat, a 13-year-old agency that provides education, job training and a day program for adults with physical and mental challenges. In addition, the two Cardinal Mooney High School students plan to carve out careers helping children who have special needs or are on the autism spectrum.

But the most salient thing they share is being among the 127 grads who received diplomas during Mooney High’s Class of 2016 commencement Sunday afternoon at Stambaugh Auditorium.

“I’m going to St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., to study speech pathology and special education” to prepare for a career as a speech therapist for children with special needs, Mitchell explained.

She may soon be heading for college 250 miles away, but that certainly does not mean Mitchell is about to cut ties with the Purple Cat. Instead, she plans to be a summer intern there, as well as volunteer in a program for children with autism, she noted.

Following a similar career trajectory is Stoeber, who intends to enroll this fall at Youngstown State University and enter its special-education program. The move likely will act as a prelude for her ultimate goal of working with youngsters who have mild to severe autism, she explained.

A key influence in Stoeber’s career choice was her brother’s friend, who has a sister who is severely impacted by autism.

“I’m close to her tutor, and I saw how she dealt with [the sister],” Stoeber added. “That inspired me to work at a school to help [those with autism].”

Spending four years at the Catholic high school taught Stoeber to be more comfortable talking to and interacting with a diverse group of people. It also encouraged her to get in touch with ways to help those less fortunate, she said.

Growing his 2-year-old business is on the mind of Brennan J. Bizon, who owns Bizon Customs, a business he runs from his Boardman home in which he makes and sells customized shoes.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Bizon’s main goal when he enrolls at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh is to go into marketing. The opportunity should allow Bizon to “expand, yet try new things,” he said, adding that his proudest high-school achievements include having been on the Academic Challenge team and ski club.

Delivering the keynote address was Diane M. Nard, a former Mooney teacher who also directed the school’s drama department.

“We all grow at Cardinal Mooney, some in body, some is spirit, but we all grow in knowledge,” said Nard, a 1973 YSU graduate.

She also provided several life lessons to the Class of 2016, including learning to delve beneath the surface, seeking to touch others’ hearts and lives, respecting themselves and their elders and achieving good listening skills.

Many people are familiar with the longstanding rivalry between Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline high schools, but Sunday, such competitive feelings took a brief hiatus. After Ursuline students finished their commencement, they cheered their Mooney rivals as the Mooney students arrived at Stambaugh Auditorium for their ceremony.

“I’m real proud of them for doing that,” said Susan Trewella, Mooney’s campus minister. “That’s what we’re about.”