DANVERS – St. John’s Preparatory School held its 113th Commencement exercises on Saturday morning as Head of School Edward P. Hardiman, Ph.D. conferred diplomas upon 272 seniors during an outdoor ceremony held on the school’s campus.
In his valedictory address, Jonathan R. Rodriguez of Lawrence, who will attend Stanford this fall, the son of a father who emigrated from Puerto Rico and a mother who emigrated from the Dominican Republic, urged graduates to shape their future in a manner that pays tribute to and creates avenues for both those who got them to this point, and those who will follow.
“None of us is here graduating today solely because we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps,” he said. “To one degree or another, we have all received instruction from a teacher or mentor. A handshake that communicated something greater than a mere greeting. We have received financial as well as moral support, indescribable love, and a much longer list that I will let each of you fill in for yourselves.
“But what will you live for, tomorrow?” he continued. “We must choose to live for things that will outlive us! My family has taught me not only with their words, but also with their sacrifices that, whether I succeed or I fail spectacularly, this moment is not the end. Following their footsteps, I must learn to live not only for my own future, but for the future of my family as well. We have gathered here today to celebrate our past and to face each of our futures. How will you choose to shape yours?”
In all, this year’s seniors represented 50 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, and southern New Hampshire, and four were international students.
In his remarks to graduates, Dr. Hardiman P’19 ’21 ’26 implored them to be forthright and true to their convictions, but to remain vigilant about a universal truth: Words matter, and more often than not, actions speak louder than words.
“As you prepare to leave this campus, it is essential that you constantly remind yourself what you say, to whom you say it, and how you say it matters and impacts others,” he said. “It is also essential that you seek to ground your words and actions in love. Sometimes, our words and actions are challenging, even though they are focused on the common good. (Harness) the power of one who uses words and actions to be a beacon of respect, a beacon of community, a beacon of love, and one whose actions and words show the world your commitment to knowing, valuing, and loving all whom you encounter.”
More than half (53 percent) of the graduating seniors are members of the National Honor Society, while 11 were National Merit Scholar-commended students and four were NMS Finalists. There were 30 legacy graduates this year, meaning the diploma recipient’s father, grandfather or great grandfather also graduated from the Prep. A remarkable 38 Eagles student-athletes signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college.
College acceptances for the Prep’s Class of 2023 included six Ivy League schools and four schools in the UMass system as well as The University of Chicago, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, the University of Virginia, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue University, UCLA, Tufts, College of the Holy Cross, Middlebury College, UNC, the University of Michigan, Northeastern University, Vanderbilt, and Trinity College Dublin, among 245 total institutions to date.
Founded on the Xaverian values of compassion, humility, simplicity, trust and zeal, St. John’s educates students from 90 communities to be, do, and stand for good in the world. To learn more, visit www.stjohnsprep.org.
* Denotes National Honor Society
Note: Listing of graduates are from The Town Common coverage area.
Amesbury
Theodore M. Batmaca
Silas Arjuna Cash *
John Wilkinson Conrad *, Computer Science Medal, Drama Medal, National Merit Commended Student
Brennan Seamus Hanratty
Michael Kevin Murphy Jr.
Mason J. Simcox
Boxford
Jackson Louis Belanger *, Salutatorian, Academic Excellence, National Merit Commended Student
Michael Bertinato *
Cole Richard Blaeser, German Medal
Heath Steven Cashton
James Vincent Ellard III *
Dylan George Mercier
Carter Yong Joo Newport
Joshua Marcus Spanier
Byfield
Tanner Clark Ciano
Vaughn William DeAngelo
Essex
Samuel Steven Dane Phippen *
Georgetown
Niccolo M. DiChicco
William Ashael Minor *
Matthew Joseph Stauss *, Mathematics Medal
James Edward Trigilio *
Groveland
Daniel Robert Cantore
Tyler David Knox
Ian Louis Rose *
Hamilton
James Dawson Ayers *, Student-Athlete Award
Jack Joseph Danzinger *
Zhenglong He * (Also from Guangdong, China)
Gabriel Artem Klein *
Yucheng Lin * (Also from Beijing, China), Academic Excellence
David Michael Minogue *, Art 2D Medal
Michael Joseph Pallazola *
Ryan Connor Petryszyn *
Ipswich
Tej S. Bhatia
Grant John Drinkwater *
Mateo George Geringer
Jackson Lawrence Hopkins
Ben Charles Liptak
Benjamin Charles Mazer, Social Studies Medal
Matthew John Morrow *
Newbury
Callum Michael Brown, Social Studies Medal
Christopher William Brown *
Evan Maddox Rosolowski
Owen Frank Vetree *
Newburyport
John Thomas Betz *, Mathematics Medal
Tucker Joseph Dunagan *
Marcus Benjamin Duren
Matthew J. Finnegan *
Quinn Daniel Fortuna
Nathaniel S. Gasperoni *, Mathematics Medal, German Medal
Phineas J. Grinnings
Samuel Karam Joor
James Oliver Wauchope
Rowley
Owen Bell *
Peter S. DePasquale * Academic Excellence
Topsfield
Kyle Gomes DaSilva
Aidan O’Neil Holland
Patrick James Llewellyn, Art 3D Medal
Matthew Troy Long * Academic Excellence
Calvin Russell Massaro *
Felix Garcia Rogovin *
Alden Fergus Rolfe *
Matthew Owen Vandewalle *, Art 2D Medal
Lucas Tian Verrier, Athletic Directors Award
Wenham
Liam Franklin Donovan *
Harlan Elliot Graber *
Nicholas Patrick Riccio *, Science Medal
West Newbury
Wesley Cater Grant
Gustavo Robert Wood *
Atkinson, New Hampshire
Joseph Charles Alviti
Joseph James Quaratiello *, National Merit Commended Student
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Jeffory Sean Groth *, Athletic Directors Award
Rye, New Hampshire
Killian John Gray
Rye Beach, New Hampshire
Tyler Bennett Bosma *, Latin Medal
