For the past thirty-five years, Director of Enrollment Donna Venezia Toryak has been welcoming students to her beloved alma mater, Mount Saint Mary Academy. For decades, she has woven one of the richest and most enduring threads into the Academy's tapestry—a thread of hope, tradition, strength, and integrity. It is a thread that has connected generations of students and will continue to do so for years to come. Known for her signature style, Donna is radiant as she recalls some of her fondest memories from the Mount's well-appointed parlor. It is the very same room where the Sisters once gathered for tea while watching students play basketball during Donna's years as a student. There was no gymnasium then. No Open Houses for prospective families - the school simply mailed her father a brochure and an application. The eldest of four children, Donna was eager to attending Mount Saint Mary Academy. She vividly remembers driving up the long, winding hill for her interview with Sister Mary Lucia Chiurato, RSM (Directress, 1957–1967), and being immediately impressed by the beauty of the campus. Though she has had a front-row seat to the Academy's remarkable growth over the years, that first impression remains unchanged. Today, the prospective students she meets still experience the same sense of awe when they arrive on the hill.
Donna was not the only member of her family to attend the Mount. Her sisters, Deborah and Daria, graduated in 1974 and 1978, respectively. At the time, she could not have known that her own family would become part of a long tradition of Mount families. Today, she welcomes alumnae who return to enroll their daughters, along with countless siblings and cousins who follow in one another's footsteps. "During any given school year, we have at least twenty sets of Mount sisters sharing their experiences on the hill," Donna says proudly. Parents consistently cite empowerment as one of the defining aspects of a Mount education. They value the confidence, character, and leadership their daughters develop during their years at the Academy, and they are proud of the young women they become.
After earning her bachelor's degree from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington, D.C., Donna spent ten years teaching sixth grade in Piscataway's public schools. Yet she never lost her connection to the Mount, serving as president of the Alumnae Association. "I worked closely with Sister Mary Alphonsus, RSM, who was the Development Director at the time," Donna recalls. "I loved being at the Mount, and when Sister Alphonsus mentioned that Sister Joan McEwen was planning to retire as Admissions Director, I knew the position was meant for me." Donna was offered the role by Sister M. Eloise Kays (Directress, 1974–1975 and 1984–2000), and on August 5, 1991, she began what would become a thirty-five-year journey on the hill. "I was given the most wonderful role, and I immediately felt like I was back home," she says with a smile. "Sister Alphonsus's office is now my office."
Throughout her career, Donna has devoted herself to serving both the Academy and the broader community. She has volunteered as President of Meals on Wheels in Woodbridge Township and with Elijah's Promise in New Brunswick. At Mount Saint Mary, she established the H.O.P.E. Club, which serves the retired Sisters of Mercy who reside on campus. Through the club, students build meaningful relationships with the Sisters—whether by playing bingo, delivering cards, or simply spending time together. These interactions strengthen students' connection to the Mercy Core Values while creating bonds that enrich both generations. "If you share your God-given talents with others and strive to be the best person you can be, you are living the Mercy Core Values," Donna says. "Our students experience this charism every day, and I feel enriched by it as well." This year, Donna plans to deepen that connection by becoming a Mercy Associate. "I see the joy it brings to others, and it will help me remain connected to the Academy after I leave," she says. Donna will undoubtedly be remembered as the welcoming face of Mount Saint Mary Academy and for the countless gifts she has shared with the entire Mount community. Directress Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S, reflects, "Donna is the one person I know I can call any day, at any time, for any reason. She has been a constant source of support since I arrived, and I will forever be grateful." Yet Donna insists that she is the grateful one. "Every time I've driven up this hill, it has never felt like work," she says. "The students energize me and give me something to look forward to every day. I am grateful for the connections I've made over the years with my wonderful colleagues, and especially for the support and friendship of Sister Lisa."
After thirty-five years, however, it is time for a new chapter. Donna looks forward to expanding her volunteer work in her parish and community, traveling, spending more time at the Jersey Shore, and perhaps even returning to the golf course. And so, after a career built on welcoming others, it is time for the Master of Hellos to say goodbye.