It’s no secret that there is something special about Catholic schools.
The proof is in the classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums and hallways of schools across the Diocese of Camden, where students thrive as they grow in their faith and prepare for their future.
The proof can also be seen in Catholic school graduates. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, 99% of Catholic high school students graduate, and 85% of those students go on to higher education. Catholic school alumni find success in furthering their education and making a name for themselves in their fields – all while maintaining the faith, morals and work ethic they learned in their alma maters.
Following is one of these success stories.
When Stacey Gorin, Esq. first walked the hallways of Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, in Fall 2002, things were a bit different from today’s high school experience.
“Social media wasn’t invented yet, and cell phones were just becoming a common household item,” she said. “The library was still filled with dozens of books, but we could utilize computers for research and email.”
Gorin still recalls her first homeroom teacher, who had also taught her mother. During her time there, Gorin went on to play soccer, run track and perform in spring musicals. She was a member of the National Honor Society and student government, and was active in community service projects.
“For me, Camden Catholic is a home. It is a place I knew I could come back to for guidance and encouragement,” said Gorin, who felt that same sense of support after graduation, when she reached out to her freshman religion teacher for help as she grieved the loss of her grandparents. “Camden Catholic prepares you to go out into the world carrying tools that include leadership skills and a faith in God. But once you leave the halls of Camden Catholic, the door isn’t shut – you are always welcomed back with open arms. The relationships you make don’t end on graduation day.”
Gorin went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and to graduate from Rutgers Law School, Camden. Today, she is a practicing attorney and serves as an associate at Capehart Scatchard. She focuses her work in the areas of commercial litigation and creditors’ rights, and is a member of the Bar in New Jersey and New York.
“As we all know, up until recently the legal profession was composed of mostly white men. Although women attorneys are finding a seat at the table, we still need to work on guiding the pathway for other minorities,” Gorin said. “The diversity at Camden Catholic influenced my allyship. I volunteer mentoring young lawyers who are members of the Minority Student Program at Rutgers Law School. As a first-generation woman lawyer in my family, I hope to be a role model and mentor for others who want to achieve the same goals.”
Since becoming a lawyer, Gorin has received a number of awards and honors – including being recognized with the Burlington County Bar Association’s Robert W. Criscuolo Young Lawyer Award in 2020 and being selected by the Young Lawyer’s Division of the New Jersey State Bar Association as Young Lawyer of the Year in 2022.
Years after her graduation, Gorin still applies some of the same lessons she learned at Camden Catholic.
“I remember to treat others the way I want to be treated, and that we are all children of God,” she said. “The legal profession can be very adversarial and contentious. Nevertheless, there are ways you can zealously represent a client without being disrespectful or putting down others. In addition, people never hire a lawyer when everything is going well; unfortunately, people need lawyers when there are conflicts. I try to approach cases with compassion and understanding.”
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