Xavier Sends Forth Class of 2016
On Thursday, June 9, Xavier High School sent forth 254 seniors to the next stage of their lives at the 174th Commencement.
Mike Fernandez ’72, the lead donor for Xavier’s transformational Fernandez-Duminuco Hall, traveled from Miami to deliver the Commencement Address to the Class of 2016. "This is a place like no other," he told graduates. "You don’t know it yet, but you will look back on your four years at Xavier and say, ‘That is the place that changed me. That is the place that taught me how to be a man.’”
Joseph O’Neill ’41 joined the opening procession and was accompanied by several members of his family as he represented Xavier’s 75th reunion class. Various other individuals were also honored at graduation, including the ceremony’s Grand Marshals, Bene Merenti Award winners Christopher Napolitano and Robert Reinhart ’69 P’94 ’99 (honored for their 20 years of meritorious service to Xavier), and a host of students for their varied achievements. (For a full list of student awards, see the end of this article.)
Through their addresses to the crowd, the Class of 2016’s valedictorian, Christian Raslowsky ’16, and salutatorian, Francis Rayos del Sol ’16, shared their deep sense of gratitude for their Xavier experience.
In his farewell, Raslowsky urged his classmates to look forward with Xavier firmly in mind. “With 254 students in this class, 254 different stories can be told,” Raslowsky said. “Whatever the stories are, we all grew, all learned, and all have things to be grateful for. It is both big accomplishments and small actions that shape this community. The smallest actions can often times mean the most, and evoke great gratitude.”
After the issuing of diplomas, a rousing rendition of Sons of Xavier led by Robert Reinhart ’69 P’94 ’99, and the closing procession, members of the Class of 2016 flooded out the front doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral—joining more than 20,000 Sons of Xavier who have gone before them.
To see the full Commencement ceremony in pictures, visit our Flickr site. (Baccalaureate photos are also available on Flickr.) A video of the graduation ceremony can be found here. Congratulations to the graduates!
Class of 2016 Awards
Religion Medal: Michael Bivona
Science Medal: RalphAnthony Montalvo
English Medal: RalphAnthony Montalvo
Campbell Historical Medal: RalphAnthony Montalvo
Michael J. O’Donnell Mathematics Award: RalphAnthony Montalvo and Christian Raslowsky
Barney Keller ‘34 Mathematics Scholarship Award: Patrick Sullivan
Donald G. Cook '52 Medal: Justin DeoPaul
Latin Medal: Clayton Bo Kendrick-Holmes
Modern Languages Medal, Spanish: Michael Bivona
Modern Languages Medal, Italian: Giovanni Borrometi
Modern Languages Medal, French: Christian Raslowsky
Silver Medal, Computers & Technology: Kasper Grispino
Silver Medal, Art: Anthony Cirelli
Silver Medal, Drama: Ray Park
Silver Medal, Music: Elijah Haynes
Lance Corporal Michael D. Glover Memorial Medal: John Patterson
Brooklyn Prep Medal: Justin Pastilha
Jesuit Secondary Education Association Awards: Andrew Perez and Anthony Tesoriero
Joseph P. Lombardo Memorial Award: Harley Guachichulca
George M. Carney & Helen D. Carney Memorial Award: Daniel Raleigh
Rev. Joseph Latella, S.J. Alumni Award: Martin Steffens
Christopher L. Fagan '02 Award: Nicolas Barone
Matthew J. Burke '91 Memorial Award: Clayton Bo Kendrick-Holmes
Class of 1974 John J. Ryan Bronze Medal: Michael Bivona
The Rev. William J. McGowan, S.J. Silver Medal: RalphAnthony Montalvo
Claude Hubner Gold Medal: Christian Raslowsky
Gerard Werckle Award: Peter Thomann
The Rev. Edward Spinello, S.J. Award: Francis Rayos del Sol
Bernard Moynahan Scholar-Athlete Award: Christian Raslowsky
The Rev. Vincent A. Taylor, S.J. Gold X Award: Christian Raslowsky