Prep Talk
Rooted in Richland: Peter Earnest ’25
Posted May 20th, 2025
Rooted in Richland: Peter Earnest ’25
Villanova Augustinian High School Scholarship Recipient
As the St. Augustine Prep community celebrates the Class of 2025, we proudly recognize one of this year’s most distinguished honors: senior Peter Earnest has been awarded the Villanova Augustinian High School Scholarship — a prestigious, full-tuition merit award presented to students from Augustinian-affiliated high schools who embody the core values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas — Truth, Unity, and Love.
Peter is not only a Hermit with a bright future ahead of him, but a young man whose spirit has been deeply shaped by his four years at the Prep. Reflecting on his journey, he shares, “My time at St. Augustine Prep has thoroughly matured me in mind, body, and spirit. With teachers, coaches, and faculty who truly care, I was transformed from a boy ready to learn to a man eager to serve the world.” That transformation, according to Peter, is grounded in the Brotherhood — a defining hallmark of life at St. Augustine. “It erases all prior differences. We’re united by our shared experiences — from simple gestures like holding the door for someone who’s running late to stepping up for a classmate who’s struggling. That’s what Brotherhood looks like.”
At the Prep, Peter grew not just academically, but personally and spiritually as well. He credits weekly Mass and his theology coursework for igniting his Augustinian “restless heart.” Academically, he learned how to embrace challenges rather than fear them, leaning on a supportive community of teachers who encouraged him to ask for help and take pride in the process. Personally, Peter says he came into high school shy and introverted, but through the influence of courses like Freshman Foundations and mentors like Mrs. Asselta, he was empowered to find his voice.
Receiving the Villanova Augustinian High School Scholarship only deepened his sense of purpose. “It doesn’t mean I won’t fail or that I’m the smartest person in the room, but it means I have everything I need to be the best I can be — not just for myself, but for the people around me. I’m forever indebted to the Prep and to Villanova, and I have every intention of paying it back for the rest of my life.” He recalls feeling speechless when the Head of School, Fr. Murray delivered the news, especially given the sheer amount of worthy students who applied. “I had ruled myself off the list,” he admits. “When I heard, I felt truly blessed.”
When Peter first toured Villanova as a sophomore, he felt something familiar. “It felt like home,” he says. “Choosing Villanova — another Augustinian institution — allows me to continue the journey I began at the Prep: growing closer to God and living a life guided by Truth, Unity, and Love.” At Villanova, he plans to major in business, join the Club Rugby team, and get involved in extracurriculars that help him discover his professional path while staying rooted in faith.
“To the next class of Hermits,” he offers this advice: “Embrace it all. Lean into the brotherhood, the challenges, the faith, the community. Four years may seem long now, but trust me — it will go faster than you think. And it will stay with you longer than you’ll ever realize.”
As Peter steps into this next chapter at Villanova University, we celebrate not only his incredible achievement but the legacy he leaves behind and the spirit of the Prep that he takes with him — a spirit Rooted in Richland and ready to lead.