James F. Keenan, S.J. Field Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Forty-Fifth Annual Commencement of
One Hundred
Saint Peter’s Preparatory School
Order of Exercises
Prelude
Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 (Edward Elgar)
Prep Concert Band Steve Caslowitz, Director
Invocation
Susan Woolever, Ph.D., Director of Campus Ministry
National Anthem
Prep Vox Emily Fencik, Director & Concert Band
Welcoming Remarks
Christopher Caulfield, ’03, Principal
Academic Awards
Richard Peters, ’85 Interim Assistant Principal
Student-Athlete Awards
John Morris, Dean of Students
Interlude
In Whatever Time We Have (Arr. Mac Huff)
Prep Concert Band & Prep Vox
Speaker for the Class of 2023
Rishi Bhandari, ’23
Student Life Awards
Mr. Caulfield
Address to the Graduates
Salvatore Veniero, ’05 Director of Global Initiatives
Presentation of Diplomas
Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91, President with Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Morris
Closing Remarks
Dr. Gomez
Alma Mater
Pride & Glory, led by Prep Vox
Benediction
John Mullin, S.J., Guidance Counselor
Postlude
Rondeau from Premiere Suite (Jean Joseph Mouret)
Prep Concert Band
Named Awards
The following awards are presented each year at commencement, and celebrate the very best of the qualities Prep, as a Jesuit school, seeks to foster in our community. They are listed here with their respective recipients from the past three years. This year’s recipients will be announced during today’s ceremony.
John McGovern, ’80 Award
A graduate who embodies leadership and dedication to the spirit of teamwork.
2022: Nicholas Marusic
2021: Gavin O’Farrell
2020: William White
Jeff Kachel, ’89 Memorial Student-Athlete Award
A graduate whose perseverance, commitment, and leadership are the marks of a true student-athlete.
2022: Jack O’Donnell
2021: Ian Wilson
2020: Raymond Ortiz, Jr.
Vincent J. Kennedy, ’39 Award
Presented to the student speaker for the class, in recognition of his dedication to the ideals of Prep.
2022: Logan Elliot
2021: Andrew Smith
2020: Suvan Bhat
Rev. John E. Browning, S.J., ’46 Award
A graduate modeling the virtues Fr. Browning lived with such distinction: courage, wisdom, and humble service in pursuit of justice.
2022: Ellis Reid
2021: Nate Jablonski
2020: Bryson Shipman & Luke Donofrio
Charley Rooney, P’67,’69 Award
Presented to the faculty commencement speaker, in recgognition of his or her dedication to the ideals of Saint Peter’s Prep.
2022: Erin Stark
2021: Fred Galano, P’22
2020: Belkise Dallam
Jerome B. Pedersen, ’92 Award
A graduate modeling the values that Jerome Pedersen lived so well: good humor, faith, and selfless service to the Prep community.
2022: Charles Dino & Biaggio Guido
2021: Ian Lee & Aaron Saunders
2020: Joseph Doody
Agape Award
A graduate living a life of faith and service, shaped by God’s love for all people.
2022: Matthew Blomgren
2021: Owen Fletcher & Patrick McCabe
2020: Matthew Cugliari & Aidan Guarnuccio
Jesuit Schools Network Award
A graduate living a life of faith and service, shaped by God’s love for all people.
2022: Dermot Alvidrez & Cyril Maliakal
2021: John Thorburn
2020: Anthony Ionta
Rev. Francis J. Shalloe, S.J. Award
A graduate who best exemplifies loyalty to the ideals of Prep and personal development characterized in the phrase, “A Man for Others”
2022: Connor Bankuti
2021: Johnnie Brooker
2020: Matthew Moreira
Jesuit Veterans Service Award
A graduate whose selfless service to others exemplifies our mission to instill the courage to advance the common good. (award introduced in 2023)
The Class of 2023
Elijah Abraham
Dennis Acevedo*
Deegie Adad
Jack Adams
Ryan Adams
Akshat Agarwal*§‡
Kevin Alcantara
Brisco Anderson
Bryce Anderson§
Horace Anderson*§
Vince Anonuevo
Jordan Armour
William Arnone
Sebastian Arteaga§‡
Amer Awad
Mema Ayore
Ryan Bae*§
William Barksdale
Paolo Francis Bautista§
Rishi Bhandari*§‡
Alessandro Bonetti
Jayden Bonsu
George Brattole III
Evan Briggs*§
Derek Bright
Griffin Burk*
Charles Burt
Ryan Byington*§
Thomas Canela*§
Michael Cangiano
Enzo Capano
Gian Cases*§
Donovan Chavis
Avi Chawdhry§
Yixiang Chen*
Nicholas Chiaravalloti*§‡
Brian Christman§
Nicholas Connelly
Louis Correro*§
Matthew Corwin
Caleb Crawley
Thomas Deloy
Jonathan Dereka*§‡
Arjun Dhawan*§
Edward DiBella§
Nico Duarte
Logan Dunkel
Gianni Echeverria§‡
Jared Edwards
Amir El Ghazzali
Matthew Elder
Alan Esteban
Michael Fasciano
Connor Finerty§
The Class of 2023
Mason Fischer§‡
Zack Fischer*§‡
Xavier Flores
Tai Flot
Jett Franqui*§‡
Kevin Fromfield
Dylan Fuller*
Connor Gallagher
Stephen Gelcich
Marco Giglio§
Isaiah Giles
Luke Gilhawley§
Kevin Gomes
Declan Good
Jake Grullon*§‡
Nelson Ha*§
Oliver Harag
Richard Harrington§
Benjamin Henderson
Nicholas Herrmann
Liam Hester
Antoine Hurtado-Barzac*§‡
Anthony Iglesias Jr.
Mossimo Infante-Meehan
Eliot Jablonski*§‡
Ishaan Jain
Matthew January*§‡
Beckett Johnson-Walters§
Theodore Josephson
Conor Kagel
Sean Kagel
Brian Kelly
Luke Kelly
Ryan Khin
Eric King Jr.
Matthew Kinzler
Maxwell Kirk§
Vipul Kothakonda*§‡
Kenneth Kramer§
Jaden Lambert
Garrett Lasky*§
Michael Lemanowicz
Robert Leon Jr.*§
Frank Liggio*§
Robert Long Jr.
Emilio Lopez§
Alec Lucken*§
Jalen Maharaja
Zac Malanga
Jack Mara
* National Honor Society § Language Honor Society ‡ Science National Honor Society n cum laude: G.P.A. 3.7 or higher n magna cum laude: G.P.A. 4.0 or higher
The Class of 2023
Lee Mara§
Maximilian Marko§
Benedict Marra*§
Theodore McCarthy*§
Kevin McDonough
Aidan McMillan
Andrew Medina
Dylan Mejia
Daniel Mero*§‡
James Miceli
Henry Michaud§
Dhrona Mohan*§
Branden Montemayor
Jack Moran§
Jack Nilsen
Matthew Novak*§
Niahl O’Neill
Chialuka Ohadike
Dmitri Panchenko
Andrew Parra*§
Angelo Pellicci
Ethan Peña§
Julio Pereira Jr.§
Gavin Pessoa
Giulio Petrocelli
Santo Petrocelli§
Ori Pinn
Luke Piscitelli
Samuel Porch Jr.
Michael Preite*§
Faustino Quiles
Mikai Ramsey-Middleton
William Richardson*§‡
London Robinson§
Joseph Roxas
Kevin Rozario§
Isaiah Ruiz
Gabriel Russell*§‡
Owen Sanchez
Jakob Sanniola
Jude Sargent§
Jamei Schenck
Alex Schimmel§
Nicholas Schoen*§
Christopher Sciarra
Etienne Servaes*§‡
Michael Shipman
Kevin Shull*§
Mason Simmons
Isaiah Simpson
Daleandre Singson
Christopher Skabich§*
Nicholas Skabich*§‡
Gavin Skowronski
David Slowinski
John Stalknecht
Jacob Steg
Ethan Suarez
Jon Sumague§
Sean Swiatek
Jones Swift
Jackson Tindall
Kyle Torrente*§
Carter Touzalin§
Chad Trammell
Robert Trefurt Jr.
Jacob Turingan§
Steven Vago*§‡
Jose Valverde
Brian Van Alstyne
The Class of 2023
Johann Varghese§
Ayush Varma*§‡
William Vastine
Kaimana Voelkl§
Mavin Vongtanaanek
Bryce Waliszewski
Quentin Weintraub
Tristen Whitworth*§‡
Felipe Wiget
Andrew Williams
Maurice Williams*‡
Kenneth Winkleblech§
Alexander Zaccardi
Nile Zaki
Leonardo Zamarra*§‡
Gianluca Zurlo
* National Honor Society § Language Honor Society ‡ Science National Honor Society n cum laude: G.P.A. 3.7 or higher n magna cum laude: G.P.A. 4.0 or higher
Faculty & Administration
Ms. Salwa Abdelhamid • M.A., New Jersey City U.; B.A., Arts, Science, and Education School for Girls
Mr. Kevin Albers Director of Operations •
M.B.A., B.S., Saint Peter’s College
Mr. Michaelangelo Allocca • M.A., U. Chicago; B.A., Columbia College
Ms. Maysoon Awwad • M.A., B.S, New Jersey City U.
Ms. Emma Bagg Registrar • M. Ed., New Jersey City U.; M.A., New York U.; B.A., Dartmouth College
Mr. David Bailey, ’95 Chief Technology Officer • B.S., U. of Scranton
Mr. Mark Baltazar • M.Ed., B.S., Saint Peter’s U.
Mr. Sean Barowski • B.A., Rutgers, U.
Mr. Adam Bouley • M.S., City College of New York; B.A., Canisius College
Mr. David Burokas, ’85 • M.A., B.A., New York U.
Mr. Gerald Campbell-Clark • M.S., Fordham
U.; B.A., Canisius College
Mr. Steven Caslowitz • M.A., Hofstra U.; B.M., New England Conservatory of Musicv
Mr. Christopher Caulfield, ’03 Principal •
M.S., Fordham U.; M.A., B.A., Boston College
Mr. David Caulfield, ’77• M.A., Fordharam U.; B.A., Saint Peter’s College
Mr. Avinash Chandan • M.Ed., M.A., B.A., Rutgers U.
Mr. Charles Coccaro Jr. • B.S., Montclair State U.
Ms. Christine Davis Director of the Browning Center • L.D.T.-C., Kean U.; M.A.T., Monmouth
U.; B.A., The U. of Georgia
Ms. Miryam DeChiaro • M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U.; M.D., Juan N. Corpas School of Medicine
Ms. Andrea Dedmon • M.Div., Union Theological Seminary; B.A., Kenyon College
Mr. Brad Dexter • M.A.T, Fordham U.; B.A., Boston College
Ms. Catherine Eppler Dean of Student Life• M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Randolph-Macon College
Ms. Emily Fencik • M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U.; B.M., U. of North Carolina – Greensboro
Ms. Patricia Carey Fitzpatrick Director of Marketing & Public Relations • M.B.A., Fairleigh Dickinson U.; B.A., Fairfield U.
Mr. Michael Fletcher • M.A., Boston College; B.A., Wheeling Jesuit Collegev
Mr. Antavius Franklin • Th.M., M.Div, Emory U.; B.S., Upper Iowa U.
Ms. Shaina Franklin • M. Div., Emory U.; M.A., U. of Southern California; B.A., Spelman College
The Rev. Frederick Galano Director of Financial Aid • B.A., Seton Hall U.
Mr. Pete Geary, ’05 • M.S., Fordham U.; B.A., Loyola U. Maryland
Mr. Giuseppe Giglio, ’87 Director of Guidance and College Counseling • B.A., College of the Holy Cross
Ms. Kaitlyn Giroux • B.S., Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Ms. Ella Glazer • B.A., Kean U.v
Dr. Michael A. Gomez, ’91 President • Ed.D., U. of Pennsylvania; M.A., Teachers’ College, Columbia U.; M.A., Binghamton U.; B.A., Providence College
Ms. Alison Gorab • M.A., New York U.; B.A., Gettysburg College
Mr. Richard Hansen Director of Athletics • B.A., New Jersey City U.v
Faculty & Administration
Mr. Richard Hansen III, ’03 • M.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Saint Peter’s College
Dr. Jeffrey Hartling • Ph.D., M.A., Catholic U.; B.A., College of the Holy Cross
Ms. Lili Hermeline Interim Head Librarian • M.A., B.A., U. of California, Irvine
Mr. James Hollywood, ’66 • M.S., Stevens Inst. of Technology; B.S., Saint Peter’s College v
Mr. James Horan, ’70 V.P. for Planning & Principal Giving • M.A., Fordham U.; B.A., Marquette U.v
Ms. Caroline Hutchinson • M.A., Eastern U.; B.A., U. of Pennsylvania
Mr. John Irvine, ’83 Director of Admissions •
B.A., Saint Peter’s Collegev
Mr. Michael Jiran, ’03 Director of Communications • B.A., New York U.
Mr. Anthony E. Keating, ’78 • J.D., Gonzaga U.; B.A., Boston College
Ms. Megan Klim • M.F.A., Cranbrook Academy of Art; B.F.A., The College of New Jersey
Mr. Kevin Kuhl, ’14 • M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Saint Joseph’s U.
Mr. Patrick Laguerre • B.A., Jacksonville U.
Ms. Jamie Laurie • M.A., B.A., Montclair State U.
Ms. Kate Lillis-Magnus Director of Engagement • B.A., Saint Peter’s College
Mr. Anthony Locricchio, ’96 • M.A., Saint Peter’s College; B.A., The College of New Jersey
Mr. Joseph Madonna • M.A., Fordham
U.M.T.S., B.A., Iona College
Mr. Patrick McCoy • M.A., Seton Hall U.;
B.F.A., William Paterson U.
Mr. Edward McGuinness • M.S.W., M.Ed., U. of Michigan; B.S., St. John’s U.
Mr. Michael McLean • M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U.; B.A., Montclair State U.
Ms. Deirdre McDermott • B.A., Saint Joseph’s U.
Ms. Mary Anne McElroy • M.A., Saint John’s U.; B.A., Saint Joseph’s College
Mr. Patrick McGovern, ’99 • J.D., Rutgers U.; M.A., B.A., Georgetown U.
Mr. Michael McLean • M.Ed., Saint Peter’s U., B.A., Montclair State U.
Ms. Alice McNally • M.A., Teachers’ College, Columbia U.; B.A., College of Saint Elizabeth
Mr. Vincent Menafro, ’15 • B.S., Fairleigh Dickinson U.
Ms. Raiza Menendez • B.A., Montclair State U.
Ms. Jan Merski • M.A., Saint Peter’s U., B.A., Rutgers U.
Ms. Molly Molino • M.A., Brooklyn College; B.S., Stevens Inst. of Technology
Ms. Grace Morris • M.A., Seton Hall U.; B.A., Fairfield U.
Mr. John Morris Dean of Students • M.A., B.A., Fordham U.
Rev. John Mullin, S.J. • M.S., Loyola U. Maryland; M.Div., Woodstock College; M.S.T., A.B., Boston Collegev
Mr. Michael Murcia, ’08 Director of Alumni
Relations • B.A., Saint Peter’s U.
Ms. Claire Mulligan • B.S., Fairfield U.
Ms. Cynthia Mustafa • B.A., U. of Richmond
Ms. Jessica Nordstrom • M.Ed., M.A., Teachers College, Columbia U., B.A., Villanova U.
Mr. Ryan O’Flaherty • M. A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.A., New Jersey City U.
Ms. Elisabeth Oberhollenzer • B.A. Universita’ degli Studi di Firenze
v
Recipients of the Bene Merenti Award, conferred after 20 years of service to Saint Peter’s Prep.
Faculty & Administration
Rev. Robert O’Hare, S.J. • M.A., Harvard U.; Th. M., M. Div., Weston Jesuit School of Theology; M.A. Loyola U.; B.A. Fordham U.
Ms. Manye Otu • B.S., Seton Hall U.
Mr. Remi Pastorek • M.A., Centenary College of Louisiana; B.A., Louisiana State U.
Mr. Richard Peters, ’85 Interim Assistant Princpal • M.A., Rutgers U.; B.A., Manhattanville Collegev
Ms. Virginia Piccolo V.P. for Finance • B.A., William Paterson U.
Ms. Nicole Placencia • B.A., New Jersey City U.
Mr. Michael Prescia • M.A., B.A., Fordham U.
Mr. Robert Puhak, ’16 • M.Ed., B.S., Rutgers U.
Mr. Loual Puliafito Chief Advancement Officer • B.A., Fordham U.
Mr. Jose Que, ’99 • M.Ed., B.S., Saint Peter’s U.
Ms. Christine Ricca • M.A., Ramapo College of New Jersey; M.A., B.A., Marist College
Mr. Nathan Riley • M.Ed., St. John’s U.; M.S., Sc.B, Brown U.
Mr. Brendan Roche • M.S.Ed. Fordham U.; B.A., Harvard U.
Mr. Renato F. Rodrigues, ’10 • M.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Kean U.
Mr. Anthony Rodriguez • M.A., B.A., Saint Peter’s U.
Mr. Ian Rogers • B.A., Loyola U. Chicago
Ms. Rosalie Romano • M.A., Middlebury College; M.A., New Jersey City U.; B.B.A., Pace U.v
Ms. Dalma Santana Director of Special Events & Parent Relations • B.A., Rutgers U.
Ms. Erin Stark • M.A., Saint Peter’s College; B.A., Douglass College, Rutgers U.
Ms. Donna Saulys • M.S., Rutgers U.; B.S., College of Saint Elizabeth
Mr. Carlos Tabora, ’87 • M.Ed., New Jersey City U.; BS., New Jersey Inst. of Technology
Ms. Aymee Torres • M.A., New Jersey City U.; M.S., Universidade de Sao Paulo; B.S., Polytechnic U. of Havana ISPJAE
Mr. Salvatore Veniero, ’05 Director of Global Initiatives • M.A., Middlebury College; B.A., Catholic U.
Mr. Anthony Verdi, ’95 • M.A., Saint Peter’s College; B.A., Monmouth U. v
Mr. Andrew Watts • M.S., B.S., Elizabethtown College
Dr. Susan Woolever Director of Campus Ministry • Ph.D., Drew U.; M.A., U. of Iowa; M.A., Argosy U.; B.A., U. of Illinois
Dr. Benedetto Youssef • D.Arts, Murray State U.; M.A., Southern New Hampshire U.; B.A., Fordham U.
Academic Recognition
Please join us in congratulating the following graduates, who have achieved recognition at the national level for their academic performance and potential.
National Merit Scholar
Akshat Agarwal
National Merit Commended Students
Horace Anderson
Evan Briggs
Yixang Chen
Dhrona Mohan
Michael Shipman
Kevin Shull
Steven Vago
College Board National Recognition Awards
National African American Recognition Award
Bryce Anderson
Horace Anderson
Anthony Gibbs
Chialuka Ohadike
National Indigenous Recognition Award
Ayush Varma
National Hispanic Recognition Award
Sebastian Arteaga
Anthony Gibbs
Jake Grullon
Antoine Hurtado-Barzac
Robert Leon Jr.
Andrew Parra
Ignatian Global Scholars
Awarded by the Jesuit Schools Network
Brian Christman
Kenneth Kramer
Pride & Glory
The melody of “Pride & Glory” is adapted from a 1919 composition by the legendary American songwriter, Cole Porter. At the conclusion of the ceremony, we will continue a time-honored tradition by inviting all Prep alumni in attendance—and particularly our newest alumni, the Class of 2023—to stand and join in singing Prep’s alma mater.
It is our pride and our glory, Old in song and in story. And we cherish your name, And we love your fair fame For the days of long ago. And we your sons will be loyal To Saint Peter’s so royal. May your banners still guide us, Wherever we go!
It is a story of gladness, With no shadow of sadness: Our years spent with you, Saint Peter’s so true, And you hold our hearts’ love yet. And through the years we will treasure, With a joy beyond measure, The gifts you have given. We shall never forget!