FRESH MEADOWS — When Christine Persichette found herself in the spotlight on Sept. 27, it wasn’t behind the anchor desk. This time, she made headlines of her own as she was inducted into St. Francis Preparatory School’s Hall of Fame. 

Persichette, anchor of Currents News and a 1990 graduate of St. Francis Prep, was honored during a ceremony that celebrated alumni who have excelled in their fields while staying true to the school’s values. 

She was inducted alongside three fellow alumni — Reginald DesRoches (‘85), president of Rice University in Houston, Texas; Jon Fredas (‘83), a decorated U.S. Navy Commander for 22 years; and the late Bryan Collins (‘82), a championship-winning college football coach and athletic director. 

During her high school years, Persichette was an honor roll student with a dedicated work ethic — serving as a retreat leader and a dean’s aide, and always working a part-time job after school.  

She said her years at St. Francis Prep helped shape the path that led her to a career in Catholic journalism. 

“My career kind of came full circle. I was in Catholic school for 12 years, then went upstate for college and worked in secular news for years. Now, being in Catholic news, it’s so nice,” she said. “We do meaningful stories, stories that really affect families, church, and school communities. I think telling it from a Catholic perspective shows how we can be more like Jesus and help people.” 

Currents News’ ongoing “Pulse of the Parish” segment, where she tells the story of dedicated parishioners whose service is the heart of a parish community in the Diocese of Brooklyn, is the brainchild of Persichette. 

Outside of work, she and her husband, Damian, serve as marriage prep coordinators at their parish in Rockland County and raise funds for the Hydrocephalus Association. Additionally, she volunteers her time as an emcee for local fundraisers. 

Chris Mendolia, alumni director at St. Francis Prep, praised her accomplishments and service to the Church — setting an example for current students alongside the other honorees. 

“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is pretty much the greatest honor we can bestow on a graduate. It’s somebody who has given back to St. Francis Prep, but also someone who’s made a significant impact in their community since they left,” he said. “What really stands out about Christine is not only her contribution back to St. Francis Prep, but her contribution to the Diocese of Brooklyn with Currents News and in Rockland County. 

“She’s made an incredible impact.” 

Persichette said St. Francis Prep is not only a place that provided her with a quality Catholic education, but also where she was blessed to meet her closest friends, who she still considers her sisters today. 

Monica Sicilian, Agnes Lombardo, and Jennifer DeLuca nominated Persichette for induction into the Hall of Fame. They said that the nomination came easily to them, as they simply recalled her professional accomplishments and personal acts of service to her community and the Church. 

“Christine is very driven. With all of her commutes, working full time as a mom of three, she juggles all of it — and I have never once heard her complain,” DeLuca said. “That’s the Catholic faith living large within her; she’s always practicing gratitude.” 

“With all of that work, she still volunteers, participates in events to help the community, and helps the Church,” Lombardo added. “She really is like Superwoman — and honestly, the smartest person I know.”