In 2013, a first-year student and founding English teacher at a brand-new all girls school had a dream to found a school newspaper. What began as a mere dream quickly became a reality with the help and approval of Founding Head of School Mary Sciarrillo. The student, teacher and founding head of school all believed that it was imperative to have an outlet to keep the school community informed and give the school community a voice, especially one filled with strong, independent young women who were sure to make the press one day. The club took off running in no time, thanks to that student, the dedicated founder of the Trinity Hall Tribune, Nicole LoRusso.
Together, Nicole LoRusso ‘17 and Alyssa Morreale founded the Trinity Hall Tribune. Even before Trinity Hall, LoRusso had a great interest in journalism and knew she wanted to start writing for Trinity Hall. While the club did not become official until LoRusso’s junior year, she began informally writing for the newspaper her sophomore year. Her eagerness and dedication helped to get the club established.
With the help of Trinity Hall’s first English teacher Alyssa Morreale, who had been the advisor for a print newspaper at her prior school and had earned her master’s degree in journalism, the pair made an amazing team and began the process of getting the Trinity Hall Tribune off the ground and onto an online platform. However, they did not have a perfect start as the school was extremely small. They needed to find writers, train editors and meet deadlines while they juggled their busy class and workload.
When reflecting back on her experience of founding the Trinity Hall Tribune, which became a staple in keeping the community informed, LoRusso remembers having a teamwork mentality, essentially valuing every member and their contributions. LoRusso knew that in order to produce quality work, everyone on the newspaper staff needed to collaborate.
Morreale and LoRusso worked tirelessly at community outreach to excite others about the small, upcoming club. With around six members they were able to produce two editions a trimester. They published to WordPress, Facebook and shared their hard work with as many people they could. Their teamwork and dedication made the Trinity Hall Tribune what it is today.
Kali Lambrou, faculty member said, "As a founding faculty member, I had the privilege of witnessing the formulation of our current traditions and the development of our staple events and publications. It was exciting and impressive to be at the forefront of innovation and watch a group of empowered young women collaborate to establish the culture and communication that we hold so dear. In particular, I can remember the founding of our school newspaper which we can attribute to Nicole LoRusso '17. This remarkable young woman writer, fueled by her passion for communication and community engagement, established our vibrant school newspaper, weaving together stories that enlighten and inspire the broader community with the happenings at Trinity Hall. Through her dedication and creativity, Nicole, not only informed but also fostered a sense of unity and pride among her peers, leaving an indelible mark on both our school and its surrounding community. It was an honor to be part of history in the making!"
LoRusso currently works in public relations where she manages teams with strict deadlines, effectively plans her time and often speaks in front of rooms of professionals, but she credits Trinity Hall and the Tribune with her leadership skills and confidence. Understanding how a newsroom operated has made her informed and has given her the ability to understand the customer’s perspective.
In a male-dominated workforce LoRusso has never forgotten her value and never feels inferior to anyone, as her experiences in high school made her comfortable speaking in front of a room. She reminds everyone that they are there for a reason and they should not be afraid to speak up, even in a room full of male CEOs. She continues to encourage current Trinity Hall students to follow their dreams and to try new things along the rollercoaster that is high school.
LoRusso said, “High school is the time to explore and experiment with many different things. You do not have to be locked into a certain major, or have everything figured out. Do not keep yourself on a strict track, because you will miss out on other opportunities that could be right for you.”
This advice shared by LoRusso can be an inspiration to current Trinity Hall students of all ages and future professions. Lorusso’s encouragement speaks to the students at her alma mater and shows how Trinity Hall sets its students up for success, no matter their path beyond high school. Her reassurance to stay present and try everything motivates students to stay well rounded and go about new experiences with an open mind.
LoRusso’s legacy lives on everyday at Trinity Hall. Every year within the first month of school, the Trinity Hall Tribune begins to work tirelessly to produce articles and keep the school informed. Without LoRusso’s contributions to the newspaper, the Trinity Hall Tribune would not have been able to have the lasting impact it has had on the club members and community. LoRusso’s determination inspires members to make their voices heard and continue to produce the best work possible.