Prep Talk

Graduation a Time to Honor Outstanding Students

Posted May 21st, 2013

On Sunday, May 19, St. Augustine Prep conducted the 51st Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises in school history. As a part of the event, the Administration honored the first graduating class (the Class of 1963) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Those members of the first graduating class received Golden Diplomas to mark the milestone. Honorary Diplomas were conferred upon Mr. Agostino Fabietti and Mr. Anthony Spina, men who have distinguished themselves in their selfless commitment to the mission of St. Augustine Prep for many years.

In addition to conferring diplomas on the 173 graduates of the Class of 2013 (a class which earned the most grant and scholarship money of any class in St. Augustine Prep history – $36.9 Million), the Administration took advantage of the opportunity to honor several outstanding members of the class. The Dean of Academics, Mr. Kevin Burke, honored those members of the National Honor Society and the Officers: Stanley Marczyk (President), Dillon Gravenstine, Austin Neri, and Andrew Sager (Executive Officers). Mr. Burke then recognized two graduates who have been selected to enter the Reserve Officer Training Corp (Joseph Farnoly – Naval ROTC, Villanova University, and Connor Burbridge – Army ROTC, Lehigh University) and two graduates who will be attending U.S. Military Academies (Calvin Cass – Naval Academy, and Kyle Brandt – Air Force Academy). He also recognized those students who achieved outstanding academic success over the past four years in each of the following subject areas: French – Andrew Sager, Science – Pete Stankiewicz, History – Conor Murphy, Art – Trevor Blauth and Robert White, Music – BoDean Messier and Sam Newnam, Vocal – Cody Dazen, Business – Chris Wolcott, and Theology, English, Mathematics, and Spanish – Austin Neri.

The Dean of Student Leadership, Mr. Anthony Iaconelli then took the stage to present the Fr. Vincent Altimare, O.S.A., Scholar-Athlete Award to BoDean Messier. He then conferred the highest honor, the Christian Gentleman Award, a distinction reserved for those students who represent the highest standard of what being a student at St. Augustine Prep truly means, to Kyle Brandt, Nick Enos, Ryan Manske, and Dan Capone. Mr. Burke returned to the stage to present the President’s Award, a $1,000.00 award, to Austin Neri.

Finally, before the Administration officially presented diplomas to the graduates of the Class of 2013, Mr. Burke presented an award for excellence in teaching to Mr. Rich Owens, the Chair of the Mathematics Department.