Senior Week 2010: Mount Grads Go Great Lengths

Editor's note: Welcome to Day 2 of Senior Week 2010. The Caldwells Patch began an eight-day series on Monday, featuring graduating seniors from James Caldwell High School, West Essex Regional High School and Mount St. Dominic as they reflect on their high school careers and prepare for the next step in their lives. In addition to the profiles and features, Patch will have full coverage with stories, photos and videos of the Caldwell High and West Essex commencement ceremonies.

Here's a look at how two members of Mount's Class of 2010 have each twice donated their hair to charity:

Maddy Renzetti celebrated her 18th birthday this spring by providing a gift to someone else.

The recent Mount St. Dominic grad donated her hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which provides real wigs to women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.

Renzetti, who shed eight inches of her hair this spring at a salon in Boonton with her boyfriend, first donated to Locks of Love at Amici Salon & Spa when she was in the seventh grade.

"When I first did it, I hadn't gotten a hair cut in a while, and my mom said, 'why don't you just donate it?'" Renzetti said.

The Caldwell resident has since inspired others to do the same.

Renzetti, with a little help from her mother, Marcia, convinced Lindsay Hulin, her best friend and Mount classmate, to first donate her hair during their sophomore year of high school.

"My mom and I pushed her and pushed her until she gave in," said Renzetti, who will attend Colby College next year.

Hulin also recently donated her hair again to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that creates hairpieces out of real, donated hair for disadvantaged children up to the age of 21 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss associated with any illness in the United States and Canada.  

Hulin, who plans to study education at Caldwell College in the fall, first donated 15 inches of her hair during the winter of her sophomore year.

"The first time I donated my hair, I was very anxious," Hulin said. "I had not had it cut since fifth grade, so I was apprehensive about having short hair again."

She overcame her hesitation with the help of her best friend.

"I thought it was a great idea to donate my hair to such a wonderful cause, so I followed her example," said Hulin, the stepdaughter of Caldwell Police Chief Kurt Dombrowski.

Just a few weeks ago, Hulin went to the The Beauty Source on Bloomfield Avenue to donate her hair to Locks of Love for a second time. 

"It is a great feeling to know that I am making a difference in someone's life. For me, that is the best feeling in the world to know you touched the life of another person," said Hulin, who had 10 inches of her hair removed.

"So many people, girls and boys alike, make the same selfless donation, some more than once. I am glad that donating to Locks of Love is becoming so popular. It is really amazing that something as simple as a donation of hair can make such an enormous impact in the life of a child."

In case you missed it: A look at where members of Mount's Class of 2010 are heading to college next year.