Frank Poleski Scholarship Dinner April 27 at Memorial Hall

Beef … it’s what’s for dinner—offered with a side dish of fun and excitement at the 3rd Annual Frank Poleski Scholarship Beefsteak Dinner to be held at Mater Dei Prep on April 27, 2013.

If the all-you-can-eat tenderloin served sliced over Italian bread, alongside pitchers of ice-cold beer is not enough temptation to entice participation in this annual event, then the gift auction that accompanies the food and festivities is certain to draw a crowd. Prizes already slated are signed footballs from the New York Giants; guest passes for rounds of golf at various area courses; and gift cards for eateries, jewelry stores, and photography studios.  Attendees will leave with full bellies and some coveted take-home gifts.  Nightingales Catering of Clifton will provide the food.  This caterer has been specializing in beefsteak dinners since the 1940s—becoming somewhat of a New Jersey tradition.

The dinner is the primary means for funding the Frank Poleski Scholarship, which enables students who desire a Catholic education at Mater Dei Prep to do so regardless of financial means. Money raised through the gift auction and ticket sales is used for the scholarship.  For 36 years Frank Poleski, Jr. dedicated his career to Catholic Education, and for eighteen of those years he served as Principal of Mater Dei.  Mr. Poleski believed strongly that he had a calling to work as a member of the laity of Catholic Education.  He continually served as a role model for students as one who has a strong belief in God and his religion and could work within that capacity.

After leaving the Army in 1971, Mr. Poleski originally planned to go back to law school.  However, once involved in education he decided he wanted to continue and he enrolled at Monmouth College earning a Master’s Degree in school administration.  A University of Pennsylvania graduate, Mr. Poleski started his teaching career as a Social Studies teacher at Red Bank Catholic High School in 1971.  He then became Assistant Principal at RBC in 1975. 

In 1980 Mr. Poleski became both Assistant Principal and Business Manager at Union Catholic High School, Scotch Plains, New Jersey.  Having been very successful at Union Catholic, he was named Principal of Mater Dei High School in 1989.

During his time as Principal, Mr. Poleski worked tirelessly to help achieve the goal of Mater Dei, which is to educate each student—spiritually, academically, morally, and physically—in a friendly, supportive environment.  Under his leadership, Mater Dei has offered a well-balanced curriculum to challenge minds, a wide variety of extracurricular activities and a climate of appreciation for Christian values to foster spiritual and moral growth.

Mater Dei Prep is located in Middletown, NJ and is dedicated to being a unique school environment emphasizing personalized education. The school maintains an average of 400 students who represent the rich diversity of Monmouth County.

Tickets to the beefsteak dinner are $40 each and must be purchased by Friday, April 23. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the scholarship dinner website at http://materdeiprep.freewebplanet.com/purchase-tickets/ or call the school at 732-671-9100, ext. 18.