Alumni

Prep for Life Speaker Series

About the Speaker Series

The Prep for Life Speaker Series is designed to continue Seton Hall Prep's mission, preparing our students to meet the challenges of adulthood, even after graduation. Throughout this series, beloved SHP faculty and staff will speak on a variety of topics relevant to Setonian's lives after their time at The Prep while also providing opportunities for alumni to reconnect with each other and the faculty and staff members who were so instrumental to their high school experience.

These events are open to alumni, current/past parents, and friends of The Prep. Registration links can be found below each presenter.

Mike Hulsy H'25

Success without Ambition

Join SHP Dean of Men Mike Hulsy H'25 as we kickoff year two of our Prep for Life Speaker Series! Mike will talk about how our transactional and materialistic society has crept backward into youth sports and education, and that aspiration for the unattainable leads to a lack of fulfillment, because perceptions of success are wildly skewed.

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: SHP Library

Dr. Anthony Cannella '00

All “IN”: Music, Meaning, & Mission

Join Doc Cannella on February 19th at The Prep for a discussion on his perspective on the intersection of philosophy, positive psychology, and Jesuit tradition and how each relates to the modern person. Learn about Doc’s journey and the inspirations that formed the practical skills he uses to help others (and, perhaps, even yourself!).

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: SHP Library

Marty Berman H'05, P'11, P'14

Topic Coming Soon!

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: SHP Library

Archive of Speakers

List of 4 items.

David Snyder '89, P'26

Integrating Hazard Zet Forward into Life Beyond High School
Thursday, December 5, 2024
SHP Dean of Academics Dave Snyder '89, P'26 will kick off the “Prep for Life” speaker series with a presentation focusing on practical strategies to integrate our Hazard Zet Forward philosophy into life beyond high school. Dave will chat about examples of how he has used our new Hazard Zet Forward initiative to become more effective in his roles at The Prep, and in his family life – especially as a father. If you are not aware of our Hazard Zet Forward initiative strategies, please visit shp.org/hzf
John Merklinger '08

The Art of Effective Communication: Listening, Speaking, and Building Relationships
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Effective communication is often misunderstood as simply being able to speak well. In reality, it’s a delicate balance between listening, speaking, and building meaningful relationships—skills that are foundational to both personal and professional success. In this presentation, SHP public speaking teacher John Merklinger '08 will explore how public speaking isn’t just about delivering a message but also about crafting a conversation, fostering empathy, and understanding others’ perspectives.
Chris Barnitt '88

Cultivating Contentment in an Anxious Age
Thursday, May 15, 2025
What is the ‘good life’ and how do we achieve it in the midst of uncertainty and a dizzying array of distractions? Join SHP Director of School Counseling Chris Barnitt '88 for a presentation on how to think about and pursue greater contentment in our lives.
Mike Hulsy H'25

Success without Ambition
Thursday, November 7, 2025
Join SHP Dean of Men Mike Hulsy H'25 as we kickoff year two of our Prep for Life Speaker Series! Mike will talk about how our transactional and materialistic society has crept backward into youth sports and education, and that aspiration for the unattainable leads to a lack of fulfillment, because perceptions of success are wildly skewed.

Contact

Matthew Nesto ’12
Director of Alumni Relations
Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach
Seton Hall Preparatory School
120 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
mnesto@shp.org | 973-325-6634