{"id":218412,"date":"2022-06-06T15:41:36","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T19:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=218412"},"modified":"2022-06-06T15:41:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T19:41:36","slug":"born-a-red-hawk-always-a-red-hawk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2022\/06\/06\/born-a-red-hawk-always-a-red-hawk\/","title":{"rendered":"Born a Red Hawk, Always a Red Hawk"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a Red Hawk story that has come full circle, the baby who was almost born in Bohn Hall is now a graduate. Diana Sisk-Gritz received a bachelor\u2019s degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences as part of the Combined BS\/MS program. <\/p>\n

Twenty-two years ago, her mother, then a Montclair freshman, went into labor in the residence hall without ever knowing she was pregnant. Floormates helped their friend continue with her classes, babysitting when she would bring her infant daughter to campus and gifting a tiny T-shirt, \u201cEverybody loves me at Montclair State University.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Tyler Frantino proposes to Diana Sisk-Gritz on Saturday, June 4, between their two Convocation ceremonies. Photo by Matthew Rolfert<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n

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\nAs a student these past four years, Sisk-Gritz embraced the Red Hawk spirit. She also fell in love. And that\u2019s where the second part of this Red Hawk story begins. \n

Sisk-Gritz celebrated her graduation with family on Saturday, June 4, during the afternoon Convocation ceremony for the College of Science and Mathematics. It was a long day as her boyfriend Tyler Frantino was also celebrating with his own Convocation, for College of the Arts being held in the evening. <\/p>\n

In between, the families passed the time taking photographs, walking around campus, Frantino with an eye to the perfect place to pull off a surprise. For the second time during Montclair\u2019s series of Convocations celebrating the Class of 2022, there was about to be a marriage proposal<\/a>. <\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n


\n 
\n\u201cWe were taking pictures near the Red Hawk statue and I was going to ask her there. But that seemed way too cheesy,\u201d Frantino said. A short time later, when the family gathered on top of the small hill looking down to Sprague Field, he saw that the setting was perfect.\n

\u201cIt was a beautiful background,\u201d Frantino said. \u201cIt was set up for the ceremonies, so you could place the time that it happened.\u201d He doesn\u2019t quite remember all that he said on bended knee. \u201cYou can practice as much as you want, but when it\u2019s happening, it\u2019s amazing but very stressful \u2026 Diana said, \u2018Yes,\u2019 and and immediately after, with no hesitation, she told me I had a bug on my shoulder.\u201d <\/p>\n

The couple was telling the story the day after their engagement, laughing about Sisk-Gritz\u2019s reaction and reminiscing about how they met their first week as college freshmen in the middle of the Bohn-Blanton quad.<\/p><\/div>
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A family keepsake. Photo courtesy of Diana Sisk-Gritz<\/em>
<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhen we found out our Convocations were the same day, I told him it would be so cute if he proposed since for me so much has happened at Montclair,\u201d Sisk-Gritz said. \u201cI was surprised but I had a feeling because my family was being weird. My mom was doing a livestream and I was wondering why she was recording.\u201d<\/p>\n

For her mother, Stefanie (Sisk) Mulley, the engagement was especially sweet. She recalled in stories first published in the award-winning student newspaper, The Montclarion<\/a>, coming to Montclair with plans to study Italian and teaching and the friendships she still maintains with her floormates who helped babysit. \u201cThey would dress Diana up like a doll,\u201d Mulley said.<\/p>\n

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An April 2000 edition of The Montclarion<\/em>. Photo courtesy of The Montclarion<\/em> archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s a story that made for a great ice-breaker whenever Sisk-Gritz was meeting new people on campus. \u201cI feel like a secret celebrity, honestly,\u201d Sisk-Gritz told The Montclarion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Diana Sisk-Gritz and her mother Stefanie Mulley celebrate at the Convocation ceremony for the College of Science and Mathematics. Photo by Mike Peters<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/div>\n

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\nMulley changed her mind about becoming a teacher and didn\u2019t finish her degree, but when her daughter began applying to colleges she said, \u201cYou were born a Red Hawk, you have to go to Montclair.\u201d \n

Now, Sisk-Gritz jokingly says that her mom is beginning to hint, \u201cYou\u2019re engaged to a Red Hawk, you have to marry at Montclair.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n

The couple hasn\u2019t set a wedding date. Sisk-Gritz isn\u2019t leaving the Red Hawk nest just yet.
\nShe\u2019ll be back in the fall to finish the master\u2019s program, researching the invasive clinging jellyfish found at the Jersey Shore, and then has plans to go to veterinary school. Frantino is applying for jobs in graphic design. <\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s love story is unique,\u201d Sisk-Gritz says, \u201cbut I feel like this one is, especially for me.\u201d <\/p>\n

Story by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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