Peapack Gladstone Mayor Honors GSB Students with Proclamations

As Gill St. Bernard’s approaches winter break, students took a brief pause from classwork and holiday cheer for a surprising visit during upper school assembly.

During the assembly gathering, Head of School Sid Rowell greeted the student body in the Matthews Theater of the Performing Arts & Community Center before introducing special guest Greg Skinner, Mayor of Peapack-Gladstone. Mayor Skinner, who grew up locally in Gladstone before attending Villanova University, visited GSB to deliver two proclamations, each affixed with the seal of the Borough of Peapack Gladstone, which were passed during the most recent borough council meeting.

The first proclamation recognized Gill St. Bernard’s Boys’ Varsity Soccer team as the NJSIAA Non-Public B State Champions. Mayor Skinner invited the entire boys’ soccer team on stage to congratulate them on their hard work, dedication, and team spirit, including students Nicholas Arapkiles '23, Blake Bertolini '22, Daniel Castro '24, Hayden Chan '22, Alex Chyzowych '25, Porter Clark '24, Nicholas Collins '23, Michael Dumiec '24, Jack Ference '23, Jonathan Ferreira '24, David Frankel '22, Peter Frantz Pendell ‘24, Joseph Howard ‘23, Jacob Lavoie ‘24, Dylan Palmieri '25, James Ryan '24, Daniel Scali '25, Gavin Scavino '22, Matthew Segal '24, Nathaniel Shen '25, Ryan Smith '23, Daniel Spataro '24, Chayse Stolarski '24, Charles Taliano '23, Michael Taliano '25, George Taylor '24, Daniel Vasquez '25, and Maximilian Voigt '25 The Knights, who finished the season 12-7-2, were led by seniors Bertolini, Chan, Frankel, and Scavino who accepted the proclamation plaque from Mayor Skinner on behalf of the team. The state championship marked the Knights third consecutive title after the team finished undefeated and #1 in the state last year.

Mayor Skinner concluded his visit by inviting juniors Peter Horton '23, Akshay Patel '23, and Tyler Tellalian '23 to the stage to accept a second proclamation. Earlier this month, Horton, Patel, and Tellalian won the 11th Grade New Jersey State Chess Championship, competing against both public and non-public schools on route to their victory. Mayor Skinner also used this opportunity to congratulate the trio on their efforts in the National Chess Championships, where they finished #8 in the country.