OBHS Alumni Return Home for Inspiring STEM Panel 2026

Old Bridge High School recently welcomed alumni back home for the OBHS Alumni STEM Panel 2026, an event that brought students face-to-face with graduates now working across software engineering, cybersecurity, network operations, AI development, broadcast engineering, and enterprise technology leadership.

Hosted in the OBHS Esports Lab/Media Center, the panel was designed to give students authentic insight into career pathways, college preparation, emerging technologies, and the ways passion—including gaming, digital media, and innovation—can intersect with professional success.

Meet the Alumni Panelists

The panel featured a diverse group of OBHS graduates representing multiple generations and sectors in technology:

• Rich Acosta (Class of 2007) — Vice President and Distinguished Engineer at Prudential Financial. Rich discussed infrastructure modernization, cloud architecture, information security, and the importance of lifelong learning, adaptability, and mentorship.

• Bryan Nissen (Class of 2009) — Software Architect at Showd.me. Bryan shared his experience helping scale a startup platform serving hundreds of thousands of users, while also discussing software development, AI agents, and innovation.

• Frank Santoro (Class of 2010) — Cybersecurity Professional at Con Edison. Frank spoke about cybersecurity operations, protecting critical infrastructure, and the growing importance of security-minded thinking in every tech field.

• CJ Parker (Class of 2014) — NOC Manager at RapidSOS. CJ offered insight into network operations, emergency response technologies, and problem-solving in high-stakes technical environments.

• Ella Sblano (Class of 2021) — Broadcast Support Engineer with the NBA. Ella shared her journey into live media technology and sports broadcasting, helping students see the overlap between production, engineering, and digital storytelling.

• Kirtan Patel (Class of 2022) — IT Analyst at UNFCU, CompTIA Security+ certified. As one of the youngest panelists, Kirtan provided students with a relatable perspective on transitioning from high school to college and early-career technology roles.

Together, the panelists discussed everything from internships and college pathways to AI, problem-solving, gaming’s influence on technical thinking, and what students should do now to prepare for careers that may not yet fully exist.

Student Takeaways

One of the clearest indicators of the event’s impact came from student feedback following the panel.

Freshman Lakshya reflected:

“Learning how to learn is the best way to prepare for uncertainty about what’s next.”

He also noted the importance of:

“Intersecting tech with passion—you enjoy your work far more when it aligns with your interests.”

And perhaps most timely, he highlighted a major theme from the discussion:

“Trusting yet verifying AI—it’s crucial to balance trust in AI tools with critical verification.”

Lakshya closed by sharing:

“Overall, I learned immense knowledge from this event and am excited to carry forward these learnings into my career path.”

For organizers, feedback like this affirmed the purpose of the event: exposing students to ideas and mentors who help shape future possibilities.

A Broader Impact

The panel resonated beyond students.

School counselor Amanda Walsh shared afterward:

“I thought the STEM panel was awesome… it was super informative and I learned a lot in the field from those different perspectives.”

That sentiment reinforced one of the event’s broader goals—that these conversations can inspire not only students, but educators and support staff as well.

Alumni Giving Back

For many panelists, returning to Old Bridge High School was deeply personal.

Alumnus Rich Acosta wrote after the event:

“This was really emotional and nostalgic for me and it meant so much to have the opportunity to go back and see how OBHS has evolved over the years.”

He also praised the work being done for students and expressed interest in sharing the story more broadly to inspire others.

The discussion itself moved so quickly that several participants noted there were topics and questions left unexplored—perhaps the strongest sign the event succeeded.

Student-Led Event Support

A unique feature of the event was the involvement of the OBKnights Esports student content team, who assisted with event production and recording—showcasing the authentic workforce and media production skills embedded within the school’s esports and STEM programming.

Students helped support broadcasting, recording, and event operations, turning the panel into both a learning opportunity and a live example of career-connected education in action.

Continuing the Conversation

The event aligns with OBHS’s growing emphasis on career-connected learning experiences that bridge classroom instruction with industry insight and alumni mentorship.

As one theme echoed throughout the panel: define what you know, keep learning what you want to know next, and remain adaptable.

That message clearly resonated.

View Social Media Highlights

Instagram Event Recap:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXojctYlWrn/?img_index=1

Follow more updates from the program at @OBKnightsEsport and visit www.OBKnightsEsport.com for future events, student opportunities, and esports/STEM initiatives.

Once a Knight, always a Knight.