The Ruvolo Family
When it came time to register their kids Ben and Emily for high school, picking Kennedy was an easy choice for alum Annette (Peters) Ruvolo ’89 and her husband Pete. “From the beginning,” Annette shared, “I felt strongly that I wanted my children to have the Catholic faith as part of their daily education and to feel part of a Catholic community.”
A strong foundation
Looking back, Annette has fond memories of her own Catholic education, first at St. Patrick’s School in Yorktown Heights, and then at Kennedy. “I made life-long friends and felt the love and support of a close-knit community.”
As she and Pete began raising their own family, they sought that same feeling. When they settled in Cortlandt Manor, they enrolled Ben in Kindergarten at their home parish of St. Augustine’s in Ossining, and Emily followed after. Here, they valued the focus on community, compassion toward others and dedication to success.
The Kennedy difference
In the early years after her own Kennedy graduation, Annette stayed connected with the Gael community through friendships. Then, while Ben and Emily were growing up, she re-connected with campus life. She and Pete witnessed the positive experiences of their niece and nephews as they went through Kennedy, and supported the annual auction and other fundraisers.
From their point of view, it was clear that Kennedy’s commitment to support, discipline, community, and opportunities for student growth and advancement was stronger than ever.
“When we started looking at high schools for Ben, we knew Kennedy would further strengthen the foundation started at St. Augustine’s. For us, it was even more crucial to provide that kind of environment during the high school years.”
Kennedy’s emphasis on college prep, from the yearlong PSAT class to dual-enrollment college level courses, made a difference, too. “Of the Catholic high school choices, Kennedy offers the most value for all it provides.”
The next generation
Ben and Emily Ruvolo are now Kennedy alums themselves, having graduated in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Annette says, “I was, and still am, proud to say I’m a Kennedy Catholic alum and that my children are too.”