Commencement 2014. Photos by Harisch Studios.

On Thursday, June 12, 277 Xavier seniors and their families entered the historic Riverside Church in Manhattan for the Class of 2014 Commencement Exercises. The young men entered the doors as seniors and left as true Sons of Xavier, ready to live the mission, values and ideals that the school has instilled in them over the past four years.

Martin Puchacz '14 opened the ceremony with the salutatory address. “The years of formation that we have been privileged to undergo here, have equipped us with the knowledge to relate with the people and cultures that we encounter,” he said. “It is now our duty to muster the courage, to cultivate our passions, and to become men who not only change the world, but change it for the better.”

Many awards were distributed to students for a variety of achievements: top marks in their classes, commitment to service, dedication to Ignation values, and many others. See below for a full list of award recipients. Additionally, three faculty members were awarded the prestigious Bene Merenti Award, given to faculty and staff members who have served Xavier for 20 years. This year, SFC Wayne Atherton, USA (ret.), Mr. Gregory Dolan ’89 and Mr. Richard Duffel P’93 ’99 received their Bene Merenti Awards.

While there were many special guests at the graduation, contributing to a packed Riverside Church, two stand out particularly. Mr. Edward Brown ’39 represented the Class of 1939 on the occasion of their 75th anniversary. In his remarks, President Jack Raslowsky said, “I am very pleased that Mr. Edward Brown is here with us representing his class. His presence with us is a sign of the long and deep commitment between Xavier and her alums.” The second guest of honor was Mr. Richard Zirpolo ’64. Denied a diploma at his own graduation 50 years ago, Mr. Zirpolo “graduated” with the class of 2014. In the audience was his mother, proud after waiting so many years to see her son finally graduate from Xavier High School – for more, see the New York Times.

Also celebreated at the ceremony was Ms. Janet Bonica, who will be retiring after 23 years at Xavier. Ms. Bonica received the Robert Bellarmine Medal, awarded in the honor of St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J. to a faculty member whose long dedication to the school has been invaluable. "Janet Bonica is the epitome of what it means to be a Jesuit educator: the call to serve others selflessly and without aggrandizement; the call to magis that leaves an institution in a better place than before she arrived," said Headmaster Michael LiVigni. "For these things and so much more we are truly grateful to have worked alongside a woman who has earned the right to be named a Daughter of Xavier."

Before students received their diplomas, Jordan Berka '14 gave the valedictory speech, focusing on the gratitude he has for the school that give him and his classmates so much. “I would like to thank the faculty, staff and administration for the gifts that they have helped us to recognize. It is because of your influence that I can confidently say that I am a man of at least three qualities. A man of my own ideas and opinions. A man ready to face the challenges the world has yet to throw at me. And a man ready to love.”

After an excellent speech by Board of Trustees member Francis X. Tirelli ’70, who will be concluding his second term on the board later this June, the graduates received their diplomas and filed out of the church after a rousing “Sons of Xavier,” sung by Mr. Robert Reinhart ’69 P’94 ’99. The grads joined over 20,000 other Sons of Xavier who have graduated before them, and though Xavier is sad to see them go, the Class of 2014 is in good company.

To see all the pictures from graduation, see our Flickr page.