Meet Ellie
The multi-faceted Ellie (’24) is an opera singer, bass guitarist, STEM enthusiast, and environmental advocate.
She has completed the Westminster Choir College Solo Vocalist Intensive and the New York University Classical Voice Intensive. At AHA, Ellie sings with the chorus and Seraphima (the Academy’s select a cappella group). Her clear, strong soprano voice has rung out at AHA concerts and at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart during the Academy’s 2023 graduation.
In 2022, Sawyer earned membership in the Academy of the Holy Angels’ chapter of the Tri-M Honor Society, a national organization for students who excel in music, academics, service, and leadership. She sang “Restons Ici” by Jules Massanet at the induction ceremony.
Ellie is now manager of the AHA Handbell Choir and head of the AHA Lobby Design Crew. Her interest in theater began early. Ellie has been performing with the Seton Hall Prep Theater since she was in the sixth grade, and appeared in several Hoboken Children’s Theater productions while she was in Grades 7 through 9.
This Angel is also a long-time volunteer for Reclam the Bay, an organization that works to repopulate New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay with shellfish. She has been working with this group every summer since 2015. In addition to raising and caring for shellfish in the organization’s tanks, Ellie makes weekly presentations at The Maritime Museum. As a rising senior, Ellie participated in a Reclam the Bay internship.
She has also taught younger students as a STEM Camp counselor at the Long Beach Island Museum.
Ellie is a personable Angel Ambassador, who often welcomes Open House visitors to the Spola Lab, where she discusses AHA’s exciting STEM opportunities.
As a ninth grader, Ellie participated in The Perry Initiative’s Women in Medicine and Engineering virtual session.
Ellie is now president of the Academy’s Green Action Team. Her group participates in environmental cleanups and hosts Styrofoam recycling drives at AHA. On Awareness Day 2022, Ellie and another Angel provided sustainable stress management tips. Their talk included information about composting and gardening, how to use energy efficiently, recipes for homemade cosmetics, ideas to reduce food waste, and more.
Her many activities also include membership on the Sustainability Council and Diversity Council. As a senior, Ellie is serving as a Kairos retreat leader.
Her busy schedule includes Advanced Placement courses in physics, music theory, literature, Latin, and macroeconomics. Her excellent GPA keeps her on the Principal’s List and Honor Roll.
FUN FACTS:
- Ellie’s favorite book is “The Stranger” by Camus.
- She also loves to crochet and paint.
- Her favorite cafeteria food is the cookies.
“At Holy Angels you aren’t just a student at a school, but a part of a community. The classrooms extend into the hallways where we learn to support each other and treat each other with dignity. Our individual aspirations and passions are nurtured to reach our fullest potential as members of the community. I am passionate about the environment and I was given the space outside the classroom to make changes in the school about the cause I care about. I can pursue my own passion projects with the support of my teachers and classmates, and because of that, I have accomplished so much here.”