Juniors Apply to Governor’s Schools

Academy of the Holy Angels juniors Julianna Dail of Saddle River and Caroline Kartman of Edgewater have been invited to apply for the state’s prestigious Governor’s School program. Dail is AHA’s candidate for the Governor’s School in Engineering and Technology. Kartman is the Academy’s nominee for the Governor’s School in the Sciences.

Dail received AHA’s Mother Caroline and Sister Nonna Dunphy scholarships, and was named a Davidson Institute Young Scholar. She is a member of Women in Science, the AHA-based group that recently collaborated to design and craft a Rube Goldberg. As captain of her robotics team, Dail leads her peers from AHA in designing and constructing robots that are entered into competition.

Dail pursues Advanced Placement courses in physics and computer science, and is studying multivariate calculus, a four-credit college course offered by the University of North Dakota. To date, Dail has received a total of six college credits for her work in Oregon State University’s sustainable engineering course and SUNY Canton’s introduction to environmental science class. She has pursued multiple non-credit programs, including civil and environmental engineering (Syracuse University) and cryptology (Johns Hopkins). Dail also participated in the Splash science exploration programs at Princeton and MIT, Awesome Math, and Stanford Math Circles.

Dail developed the Roman Engineering Workshops, which she presents to elementary school students.  This project is supported by an Ascanius Classical Promise Grant.

Her interest in improving the tree canopy in urban and marginalized communities led her to establish Arbores Ad Aequitas, a non-profit that focuses on tree plantings and workshops on urban heat islands and environmental justice.

Dail is founder and president of Mathletes, a group that participates in competitions. She is also founder and president of Mythos, whose members read and share presentations about Greek and Roman mythology. At present, she is president of Adventures in Ink, a non-profit that promotes global literacy through book donations, writing workshops, and public readings.

She is a member of the AHA Diversity Council and Mu Alpha Theta, the national math honor society. She has earned perfect papers and a gold medal for her work on the National Latin Exam. Dail volunteers for the Tenafly Nature Center, Habitat for Humanity, and the Inter-Religious Fellowship for the Homeless in Hackensack. Her photographs have netted a National Silver Medal, and Gold and Silver keys and Honorable Mentions in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This Angel Ambassador interacts with prospective Angels and shares her insights into Academy life.

“Working collaboratively with students from around the state to produce a conference-style paper and capstone project to present at a research symposium would not only introduce me to new elements of the research experience, but also give me a chance to receive feedback on my ideas and be inspired by other students’ insights,” Dail said. She looks forward to the prospect of hearing from GSET guest speakers and visiting local engineering firms. “I am extremely passionate about the field of engineering, which allows me to seek creative ways to use technology and design to address societal and environmental issues.”

Kartman explores her interest in medicine at Holy Angels and within the greater community. While shadowing a cardiologist in the summer of 2023, she observed cardiac catheterizations and learned how the doctor evaluates echocardiograms, EKGs, and stress tests. She has shadowed a general surgeon, and observed several procedures, including a phlebectomy, amputation, cholecystectomy, and hernia repair.

She recently participated in the Healthcare Careers Discovery Program at Holy Name Medical Center.

“During this two-week long program, I participated in a combination of workshops and simulation scenarios which exposed me to a variety of clinical skills and healthcare professions. I also became CPR certified through AHA Heartsaver,” Kartman shared.

Currently, she is a volunteer at Holy Name Medical Center, where she handles responsibilities in the MRI reception area. She provides direct assistance to patients, including escort and transport, and organizes related documents.

She is also an active member of Angels in Anatomy, where she engages in various dissections and learns about different systems within the human body.

Kartman is a valued member of the state champion AHA Dance Team, where she was named 2023 Performer of the Year and 2022 Rookie of the Year. Outside of AHA, she shares her love for dance as a summer program instructor at a local church.

This Angel is also an award-winning pianist. She has finished in first and second place in the American Soloist International Music Competition, the American Protégé International Competition, the Royal Conservatory Music Competition, The Golden Key Music Festival, and the Prodigy International Music Competition.

She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (national math honor society) and the Spanish National Honor Society. In 2023, Kartman earned a gold medal for her performance on the National Spanish Exam. The previous year, she received the silver medal.

Kartman has been serving as an Angel Ambassador since 2022. She represents the Academy by giving tours to prospective students and assisting with school events.