One Hundred Forty-Sixth Annual Commencement of
Saint Peter’s Preparatory School
James F. Keenan, S.J. Field
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Order of Exercises
Processional
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
Kimby Heil Assistant Principal
Student-Athlete Awards
John Morris, Dean of Students
Speaker for the Class of 2024
Nicolai Mendoza, ’24
Student Life Awards
Mr. Caulfield
Interlude
You Are the Sunshine of My Life (S. Wonder, Arr. M.Taylor)
Prep Jazz Band & Prep Vox
Address to the Graduates
Kitty McNally
English Department
Presentation of Diplomas
Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91, President with Mr. Caulfield, Ms. Heil, and Mr. Morris
Closing Remarks
Dr. Gomez
Alma Mater
Pride & Glory, led by Prep Vox & Concert Band
Benediction
John Mullin, S.J., Campus Minister
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.
2023: Jackson Tindall
2022: Nicholas Marusic
2021: Gavin O’Farrell
Jeff Kachel, ’89
Memorial Student-Athlete Award
A graduate whose perseverance, commitment, and leadership are the marks of a true student-athlete.
2023: Matthew Corwin
2022: Jack O’Donnell
2021: Ian Wilson
Vincent J. Kennedy, ’39 Award
Presented to the student speaker for the class, in recognition of his dedication to the ideals of Prep.
2023: Rishi Bhandari
2022: Logan Elliot
2021: Andrew Smith
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.
2023: Charles Burt
2022: Ellis Reid
2021: Nate Jablonski
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.
2023: Salvatore Veniero, ’05
2022: Erin Stark
2021: Fred Galano, P’22
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.
2023: Jose Valverde
2022: Charles Dino & Biaggio Guido
2021: Ian Lee & Aaron Saunders
Agape Award
A graduate living a life of faith and service, shaped by God’s love for all people.
2023: Eliot Jablonski
2022: Matthew Blomgren
2021: Owen Fletcher & Patrick McCabe
Jesuit Schools Network Award
A graduate who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving, and committed to justice.
2023: Maurice Williams
2022: Dermot Alvidrez & Cyril Maliakal
2021: John Thorburn
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” 2023: Mossimo Infante-Meehan & Jackson Tindall
2022: Connor Bankuti
2021: Johnnie Brooker
Jesuit Veterans Service Award
A graduate whose selfless service to others exemplifies our mission to instill the courage to advance the common good.
2023: Theodore McCarthy (Award Introduced in 2023)
The Class of 2024
Ethan Acosta
Brian Almeida
Jared Amador
Charles Anderson* §
Thomas Apelizan
Timothy Apelizan
Joseph Asiain
Alexander Ayala
Alp Ayata ‡
Noah Baccay* § ‡
Sahmad Bailey
Nicolas Bambrick-Santoyo‡
Gerrit Bankuti* § ‡
Christopher Barbosa
Nicolas Barbosa
Rocco Barone
Nikhil Bettua ‡
Ernesto Bonilla* § ‡
Sebastian Bonomo
Maxwell Bortman§
Jack Brosseau* § ‡
Peter Bruk§
Tyler Cahn
Tristan Callow§ ‡
Ventura Cambeiro§
John Carey
Adrian Cervera*
Alexander Chernicoff
Aiden Corage*
Christian Costanzo
Sivin Damodar‡
Marvell Davis
Javier Del Cueto
Alexander Delosreyes Lima
Riccardo DePaoli
Brenden Devine
Christopher DiAmbrosio
Harrison DiAmbrosio* § ‡
Andrew Diaz
Ryan Divan* § ‡
Gabriel Dowling
Michael Egan* § ‡
Fady Elqumos*
Lorenzo Enright
Jacob Escobar* § ‡
Kobichdi Ezeokoli
Robindra Farnum*
Keshon Fason
Aidan Fojas
Andrew Fonticoba*
Finnegan Freeman
Jonathan Fuller
Gavin Galfo*
Marcelo Garcia* §
The Class of 2024
Francis Garrett* § ‡
Timothy Garrity*
Gavin Gatchalian§
Thomas Gaughan* § ‡
Patrick Geoghegan§
Jaydon George
John Gerety
Daniel Ghingo*
Alexander Giattino
Anthony Gibbs
Conleth Gorham* §
Julian Grillo
Michael Guasconi*
Joseph Haines* § ‡
Jack Halligan*
Anson Hart
Jack Heidenry
Andrew Herman
Aiden Hernandez*
Andres Hernandez
Andrew Herrera
Cole Holland
Sean Howe
Demitri Huet§
Hakim Hussein
James Jacobi
Alexander Jakubowicz
Lucas Johnson*
Gabriel Jorge
Jeremy Kamber§ ‡
Jack Kappock
John Kearns
Owen Kelly
Chasen Kirk
Daniel Kramer* § ‡
Cooper LaFond
Dante Lamantea* § ‡
Luigi Lancellotti
Brady Landsbergis
Jalen Lane*
Michael Lawler
Samchan Lee* ‡
Domenick Lettini
Del Lindsay
Nelson Lindsay
Joshua Liu
Steven Lizama
Gianluca Logan
Matthew Luciani* ‡
Zachary Luongo*
*
§ 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
National Honor Society
The Class of 2024
Xavier Mack
Chaz Mainor
Aidan Maione* § ‡
Martin Martinetti*
Harry Massey IV
Andy Mayorga
Leo McCartin*
Aarav Mehta-Patel
Luca Mendoza
Nicolai Mendoza*
Evan Merkov* ‡
Seijan Messner ‡
Xavier Miles
Ryan Miqueli
Adam Misyak* §
Pranay Moorjani* ‡
Ocean Mulholland
Justin Navarro
Pape-Racine Ndiaye§ ‡
John Neri
Mathias Nicholls§
Jack Nichols
Andrew Norris* § ‡
Lucas Novero
Benjamin Novosyolok*
Colin O’Brien
Luke O’Brien§
Kieran O’Connor
Nico Peña
Braeden Perez*
Joseph Petrecca
Roame Poindexter
Isaiah Polanco
Francis Prekop*
Nitin Raj§
Adithya Rajesh
Dallas Reece*
Jaiden Reid* § ‡
Marcus Respicio
Elie Riancho* ‡
Andy Rivera
Ivan Rocks
Liam Rocks
Julian Rodriguez*
Connor Rogers
Lucas Rosado
Rafael Rothkegel*
Michael Russo-Alesi* ‡
Colin Rutledge* §
Gavin Rutledge
Joseph Salameh*
Shaan Samtani
Anthony Sanchez
William Santomauro*
The Class of 2024
Chad Christian Santos
Daniel Santos* § ‡
Gabriel Santos* § ‡
Micah Sapirstein
Michael Sapp* § ‡
Eric Saunders
Zachary Scheiman
Zachary Schneider* § ‡
Luke Schreiber* ‡
George Streit* § ‡
Ravi Struck
Jack Sullivan
Jae Sung* ‡
Christopher Surrusco* § ‡
Lokesh Sutherland
Philip Szczechowicz*
Nofer Tadros* ‡
Jake Talarico
Jordan Taylor
Anthony Tedesco
Lucas Tekle
Chase Thomas
William Todd
Eric Tonne
Marcus Tung
Thomas Tuohy*
Declan Tynan
Matthew Uy§
Nicholas Valente* §
Arias Velez
Elias Verardi
Vijay Vinton
Jack Waddleton
Brendan Wadley
Henry Walker*
Loghan Weeda
Sasha Williams
Noah Willingham
Sean Windels
Kai Wong*
Simon Yañez§
Fabio Yepez
Mark Yershov* ‡
Grant Zaleck* § ‡
* 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
Mr. Daniel Apadula • M.A., Stony Brook U.; B.A., College of the Holy Cross
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. Shamir Bearfield, ’14 • M.S., Louisiana State U.; B.A., College of William and Mary
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., Fordham 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.
Mr. Keith Cummings, ’10, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry • B.S., The Citadel
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. Dominick Della Fave, ’91 • B.A., Trinity 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
Mr. Stephen Fahy • M.A., Montclair State U.; M.S., Columbia U., B.S., Fordham U.
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.A., Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Ms. Ella Glazer • B.A., Kean U.v
Faculty & Administration
Dr. Michael 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
Mr. Richard Hansen III, ’03 • M.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Saint Peter’s College v
Dr. Jeffrey Hartling • Ph.D., M.A., Catholic U.; B.A., College of the Holy Cross
Ms. Kimby Heil Assistant Principal • M.Ed., Columbia U.; M.Ed., Vanderbilt U.; B.A., Boston College
Ms. Lili Hermeline Head Librarian • M.S., Rutgers U; 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 v
Mr. Kevin Kuhl, ’14 • M.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Saint Joseph’s U.
Ms. Sarah Lacz, V.P. of Advancement • M.B.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Monmouth U.
Mr. Patrick Laguerre • B.A., Jacksonville U.
Ms. Jaimee Laurie • M.A., B.A., Montclair State U.
Ms. Carolyn Lieu • M.A., Montclair State University; B.B.A., Villanova 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 v
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.
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. Kitty McNally • M.A., Teachers’ College, Columbia U.; B.A., College of Saint Elizabeth
Mr. Vincent Menafro, ’15 • M. A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Fairleigh Dickinson 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. v
Ms. Claire Mulligan • B.S., Fairfield U.
Rev. John Mullin, S.J. • M.S., Loyola U. Maryland; M.Div., Woodstock College; M.S.T., A.B., Boston Collegev
v Recipients of the Bene Merenti Award, conferred after 20 years of service to Saint Peter’s Prep.
Faculty & Administration
Mr. Michael Murcia, ’08 Director of Alumni Relations • B.A., Saint Peter’s U.
Ms. Cynthia Mustafa • B.A., U. of Richmond
Ms. Jessica Nordstrom • M.Ed., M.A., Teachers College, Columbia U., B.A., Villanova U.
Ms. Elisabeth Oberhollenzer • M.A., Fordham University; B.A. Universita’ degli Studi di Firenze
Mr. Ryan O’Flaherty • M. A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.A., New Jersey City U.
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 • M.A., Saint Peter’s U.; B.S., Seton Hall U.
Mr. Remi Pastorek • M.A., Centenary College of Louisiana; B.A., Louisiana State U.
Mr. Richard Peters, ’85 • M.A., Rutgers U.; B.A., Manhattanville Collegev
Mr. Scott Petrillo • M.A., Kean U.; M.A., Seton Hall U.; B.S., King’s College
Ms. Virginia Piccolo V.P. of Finance • B.A., William Paterson U.
Mr. Josue Pierre • B.A., Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago
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. 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 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.
Mr. Roldan Sarmiento • M.A., New York U.; B.A., Michigan State U.
Ms. Donna Saulys • M.S., Rutgers U.; B.S., College of Saint Elizabeth
Mr. William Springer, ’15 • B.A., College of Saint Rose
Ms. Erin Stark • M.A., Saint Peter’s College; B.A., Douglass College, Rutgers U.
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
v Recipients of the Bene Merenti Award, conferred after 20 years of service to Saint Peter’s Prep.
Academic Recognition
Please join us in congratulating the following graduates, who have achieved recognition at the national level for their academic performance and potential.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Semifinalist
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education
Ryan Divan
National Merit Finalists
Ryan Divan
Nicolas Bambrick-Santoyo
National Merit Commended Students
Ernesto Bonilla
Jack Brosseau
Gavin Gatchalian
Samchan Lee
Nicolai Mendoza
Evan Merkov
Pranay Moorjani
Andrew Norris
Michael Russo-Alesi
Daniel Santos
College Board National Recognition
Gabriel Santos
Luke Schreiber
Simon Yanez
Mark Yershov
Awards
National African American Recognition Award
Anthony Gibbs
Anson Hart
Jeremy Kamber
Jaiden reid
National Hispanic Recognition Award
Nicolas Bambrick-Santoyo
Ernesto Bonilla
Lorenzo Enright
Jacob Escobar
Andrew Fonticoba
Anthony Gibbs
Francis Garrett
Martin Martinetti
Elie Riancho
Julian Rodriguez
Michael Russo-Alesi
Ignatian Global Scholar
Awarded by the Jesuit Schools Network
Pranay Moorjani
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 2024—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!