Howell students leave a legacy at high school
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

HOWELL - Right in the middle of the A wing courtyard at Howell High School is a memorial garden adorned with plantings, a multicolored tile mosaic and 10 stepping stones that were created by senior humanities students as part of their legacy to the school.

Howell is the home of the Freehold Regional High School District's Scholar Center for the Humanities.

According to information provided by Assistant Principal Kathleen R. Taler, "Every year the senior humanitarians have the privilege to create a project to leave at Howell High School. The students work together to create proposals and submit their ideas to the administration. Once the final proposal is chosen, the class is responsible for raising money and putting their legacy together."

The Scholar Center for the Human-ities Class of 2006 created their legacy project in honor of music teacher Steven Gosewisch, who died suddenly in January 2006. The project became a mosaic dedicated in his memory, according to information provided by administrators.

According to teacher Kristen Ostendorf Guidi, the mosaic is the third installment to the garden, which is overlooked by plaques of alumni who have passed away.

The students raised about $1,800 to create the mosaic. The 10-foot-by-9-foot structure is surrounded by tiles with personal messages to Gosewisch inscribed on them. In the center of the mosaic is a large tree that represents the tree of life.

Dan Green, supervisor of the Freehold Regional High School District's Fine and Performing Arts Academy at Howell High School, said last year's seniors chose the tree of life because of the knowledge Gosewisch shared with students in his philosophy class.

"He was an extraordinary man who is missed every day," Green said.

Senior Kelly Fitzpatrick said although she did not personally know Gosewisch, she heard a lot of wonderful things about him. According to Kelly, who helped to mount the mosaic, Gosewisch's reputation alone made her want to help keep his legacy alive.

Gosewisch not only made a contribution to Howell High School, but to his community as well. He was the associate conductor for the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra, a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the New Jersey Music Educators Assoc-iation, the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, and he conducted the New Jersey All-State Chorus for 2006.

Stan Koba, supervisor of the Scholar Center for the Humanities and the Howell Social Studies department, said of Gosewisch, "The kids just flocked to him. He was very professional. He was a musician, a true renaissance man and an artist in many different ways."

Gosewisch was honored in the memorial garden at the unveiling of the mosaic on May 23. At that time the members of the class of 2007 introduced their legacy project of stepping stones that were placed around the garden.

According to Guidi, this year's class created stepping stones out of concrete and glass. Each stone tells the story of whatever it is the students wanted to memorialize, including Howell High School and the recent shooting of students and faculty members at Virginia Tech University.

Green said past legacy projects have included collecting audio books, raising money for spinal meningitis and creating the memorial garden. The class of 2008 will be the next group of young people to determine how they want to be remembered.