Earning the rank of salutatorian is a monumental achievement, and this year’s honoree, James Fitzmaurice, has balanced a rigorous academic workload with community service and student leadership.
In school, James has focused heavily on leadership and business. He is a member of DECA and the Stock Market Club, and serves as a Senior Ambassador. On the field, he was an integral part of Ramapo athletics, playing on the Varsity Boys Soccer team for four years and serving as the team’s senior captain this past season. Outside of school, James serves as a captain to his club soccer team, Torpedoes SC, and volunteers as a teacher’s assistant for the Wyckoff Public Schools’ Special Education Learning Program. He also volunteers with TOPSoccer, a program that provides a unique opportunity for children with disabilities to learn and play soccer in a casual, fun, and supportive environment. James commented, “Most importantly to me, I do community service with the TSC Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for tuberous sclerosis complex, a rare disease affecting my brother.”
James attributes much of his success to a powerful network of mentors, including his parents, supportive teachers, and dedicated coaches who taught him how to lead with character through adversity. He shared, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have an amazing group of role models who shaped different areas of my life over the last four years. First and foremost, my parents are my ultimate role models. Through their unwavering support and incredible work ethic, they taught me the true meaning of resilience, dedication, and integrity. They set the standard for the kind of person I want to be every day.” He specifically emphasized the influence of his high school and club soccer coaches, who taught him invaluable life lessons about resilience, discipline, and handling pressure. He reflected, “They showed me that true leadership means leading with character, holding yourself accountable, and knowing how to motivate a team through adversity.”
One of James’ defining high school memories was taking AP Macroeconomics with Mr. Witterschein, who James described as being an incredible teacher who brought a lot of energy to the classroom and taught him about the foundations of business and economics. A major highlight of the class was going on a field trip to Wall Street, which James shared genuinely solidified his passion for the subject and made him certain about his decision to pursue finance in college.
Mr. Jaeger, a science teacher at Ramapo High School, was also privileged enough to have James as a student. He shared, “James was a wonderful student to have in class. He is very bright, respectful, and he approaches learning with curiosity and maturity. As James prepares for college, I know he will do great things because I am confident that his intelligence, work ethic, and character will help him succeed. I wish him the very best in this next chapter and look forward to hearing about all of his future accomplishments.”
Caden O’Connell, James’ teammate and close friend, shared, “I’m grateful for having James as a teammate throughout all of the years because he has always been someone that our entire team can rely on, both on and off the field. He helps everyone around him improve by challenging us in practice, helping us on the field, and generally being kind to everyone outside of the game. It’s impossible to reflect on my soccer journey without thinking of all of the amazing memories I have made with James and the rest of my teammates. I wish James the best of luck in college and in the future.”
Looking back at the whirlwind of the last four years, James encourages underclassmen to dive into Ramapo’s community early and to maximize opportunities as soon as possible. “Never be afraid to ask for help or simply clarify a question,” he advised. “Take the time to create genuine relationships with your teachers, because they truly want to see you succeed.” This fall, James will take the next step in his academic journey at the University of Notre Dame, studying at the prestigious Mendoza College of Business and majoring in finance. Rampage wishes James the best in his future endeavors!
