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May 24, 2022
High School North Auditorium Named for Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and alumna of Toms River Schools, was honored today at Toms River High School North as the school's auditorium was dedicated in her honor.
Ressa was a member of Toms River North's 1982 graduating class and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism and journalism. Ressa is the first Filipino woman to get this accolade.
Jennifer Howe, President of the Toms River Board of Education, Michael Citta, Superintendent of Schools, and Shelly Bromberg, a lifelong friend of Ressa, were among others who spoke at the ceremony alongside Ressa. Hundreds of students from all three high schools, as well as Ressa's friends and family and school faculty, were in attendance.
“Be humble, help others, get involved,” said Board President Jennifer Howe, citing examples of how Maria Ressa has inspired students. “Thank you,” she continued, turning to face Ressa, “for being such an amazing product of Toms River Schools.”
Michael Citta stated, “Our community and our school district, we are a family. Have a voice, be brave, and be courageous…we hope that our voices continue to be heard each and every day.”
Shelly Bromberg, who graduated in ‘82 alongside Ressa, has been a longtime friend of Ressa’s since high school, and was the one who organized Ressa’s return to her Alma Mater originally. Bromberg stated, “Maria’s high school journey started here at North, and here we are, 40 years later. You [Maria] continue to weather the storm as the courageous Mariner that you are.”
Maria Ressa told the audience that she “owes a lot to Toms River”, and reminds not only the students in the auditorium, but everyone there listening, to “aim as high as you can. If you aim for the moon, you’ll land amongst the stars.”
A welcome reception preceded the main event, which involved a meet-and-greet with Ressa in High School North’s media center. The event itself ended with a student rendition of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the HSN band Grill Cheese, as a tribute to Ressa, who performed the song years earlier when she was a student.
