Sayreville War Memorial High School - Quo Vadis Yearbook (Parlin, NJ)

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run Springsteen i Lauper ltf Student Life

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New beginnings Students learn lessons early Everyone looks forward to the end of the school year, and last year was no exception. But amid tin joy of graduation celebrations and end-of-t he year parties, Sayreville students were left with feelings of loss. Sad events had marred the closing of the year. In April, a tragic accident took the life of Mr. Donald Ballou. He was a teacher who cared a great deal for his students. Later in the year, a fire broke out in the loft of the theater, causing extensive smoke and water damage. While not nearly as painful as the loss of a friend and teacher, the fire disheartened everyone. Rather than allowing these events to destroy the rest of the year, everyone looked for outlets for their grief. Future graduates will have the benefits of the Donald Ballou Memorial Award and a revita- lized theater. Funds for the scholarship were raised at a con- cert in Kennedy Park on July 27,11)85. A $300 scholarship will be awarded each year to a senior, on the basis of poetic talent, interests and activi- ties, references, and the student’s post graduation plans. Mi . Marotta and four Sayreville graduates: Mike Grau, Frank Sollecito, Rosanda Strika, and Paul Eska, organized the concert with the total cooperation of Mayor John McCormack and su- perintendent of Schools, Dr. Marie Parnell. Student interest in the performing arts has grown since the revitalization of the theater. For instance, Patchwork was performed for the special education classes by the Theater II class. A videotaped copy of the production started a library of children’s films that will be produced by theatre students and then made available to area elementary schools. The theater students also starred in their own original one-act plays. White Rock “rolled” the crowd into good times at the Donald Ballou Memorial Concert. A beautiful summer afternoon and great music brought Mrs. Herdegen and Kim Harned to the concert. Student Life 15

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an interview with .JON BON JOVl High school students often spend a great deal of time day- dreaming about what important role will be theirs after Graduation Day. Whether they dream of playing major league ball, starring on Broadway, or being a millionaire, few ever turn their fantasies into realities. John Bongiovi, while attending SWMHS, was much the same. He most likely dreamt of stardom quite often while playing in a ten-piece band called Atlantic City Expressway, which according to Jon Bon Jovi, was “way out in left field during the Grateful Dead era.” After graduation in 1980, un- like most high school dreamers, Jon went out and began making his dream a reality. After only five years he’s done just that! Jon feels that the communication he shares with his listeners has contributed a great deal to his success. He con- siders his group’s music “a message to the youth from the youth.” “Our songs were written from personal experiences,” ex- plained Jon of his second LP on Mercury Polygram, 7800° Farenheit. “They are sort of like a diary of our travels all over the world. We met kids wherever we went and spent a lot of time talking to them about the things which really matter — to them and to us. They turned out to be basically the same things because the members of this band are real- ly no different from the audiences we play to. We have the same concerns.” When Jon speaks of mutual concerns, he refers to the necessary personal decisions that come about as a result of graduation. “After high school, you have to decide what you are going to do with your life. No one is going to hand you anything; you have to dedicate yourself. When you work hard, you can accomplish anything. Most people think of Commencement as the end, but actually, it is only the begin- ning.” explained Jon. Jon also gets along well with his fellow performers. In Europe, at the end of the Runaway World tour he decided to play a few unexpected pranks on KISS. “Before they went on stage, I covered their drum set with baby powder and put 3000 ping pong balls up in the lights. The first time Eric Carr hit the drum, he ended up looking like the Pillsbury Dough Boy! Then I rolled a ping pong ball onto the stage. Gene Simmons was looking at me as if to say, ‘What are you going to do?’ then — 3000 ping pong balls dropped on the stage. “Later, Gene came over to me and said, T owe you one. No, make that I owe you 3000!’ ” As Jon has become more and more famous, he began to travel world wide. All of this traveling has made Jon a little homesick. “When I was living here — not seeing anything else — I would constantly think of going away. Touring for the first time made me really conscious of what we have in New Jersey.” explained Jon. Now, Jon appreciates coming home to Sayreville, away from his hectic schedule of concert dates. Instead of being rushed around from plane, to bus, to limousine, to hotel, to concert stage, he can enjoy shopping at the local 7-Eleven. T,- John Bongiovi Chorus 2: Spring Musical 2; Marching Band 3; Jazz-Rock Ensemble 3,4; Concert Band 3,4. Student Life 17 Photo credit: Mark Weiss