By NIKHIL GRANDHI, senior and PAULINA LEE, junior

As the annual flood of bewildered freshmen and exhausted seniors pour into the hallways of JP Stevens, Mr. Urbanovich, the new Assistant Principal, offers some guidance to help new and returning students cope with the change that comes with a new school year and explains the values he hopes to instill as a new member of the JP family. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton and attaining a master’s from New Jersey City University, Mr. Urbanovich coached a variety of sports for twelve years. He also taught math in Rutherford High School and Ramapo High School.

Following his marriage last year, Mr. Urbanovich sought job opportunities in central New Jersey. Already aware of the many academic successes at JP Stevens and the district, he jumped at the opportunity to become an Assistant Principal here. Mr. Urbanovich’s determined personality is evident not only in his past accomplishments, but also in the goals he has set as a Vice Principal. His mission is to have a significant impact on JP’s students as he was impacted by his own teachers and coaches growing up. He encourages students to “not be afraid to try new things and take a chance.” Mr. Urbanovich is motivated by helping young adults grow, explore, and “be the change.” As the Vice Principal, he has been involved in supervising extracurricular activities and is looking forward to working as the Harassment Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) coordinator for the school.

Mr. Urbanovich’s ability to blend his two passions of coaching and teaching reflects his own ambition and growth. While he recognizes the clear importance of academic pursuits, he also stresses the significance of being a well-rounded student because he believes that “clubs, sports, and other activities help students prepare for real life situations and teach them to work as a team.”

Mr. Urbanovich has an incredibly distinctive personality and is passionate about various different sports teams. With the football season coming up, Mr. Urbanovich can be found rooting for the Giants, while his New York Mets baseball gear lies waiting in anticipation for the baseball season. He is also an avid traveler, having visited places all over the country, and was just in Hawaii last year for his honeymoon.

By bringing his unique personality and his distinct approach to administration, Mr. Urbanovich not only embodies the spirit of JP Stevens but also adds to it. To the students of JP Stevens, Mr. Urbanovich asks, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, when will you find time to do it over?” He stresses the fact that our time here at high school is crucial, so we must make the best of the time that we have by taking all the opportunities that we can. Welcome to JP Stevens, Mr. Urbanovich!