PROVIDENCE – The 50th annual graduation of Bishop Hendricken High School was punctuated by expressions of profound joy and gratitude on June 10 when enthusiastic young men dressed in dark green robes closed one chapter in their lives and embarked on new paths that will take them to colleges and universities and for some to military service where they will proudly defend their country.
The ceremony also marked the last for the Christian Brothers who have staffed the school for the last 40 years.
During commencement exercises held at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, where class members Nolan Kiernan and Ryan Meehan laid a floral tribute at the sarcophagus of Bishop Thomas Hendricken, first bishop of the Diocese of Providence, on the eve of the 125th anniversary of his death. The congregation was then led in prayer by Father David Gaffney, school chaplain.
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin presented diplomas to the 214 graduates and congratulated them on becoming a “permanent part of this proud tradition” as Hendricken alumni.
The bishop urged the graduates to “do their best to live a moral life and to ask for God’s help” in all of their endeavors.
Bishop Tobin paid special tribute to the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers who have served at Bishop Hendricken High School for the past 40 years and who will leave the school at the close of the academic year. He noted that the brothers have left “an indelible mark on thousands of lives” during their long ministry at the school.
In his valedictory address, Cameron Rinn spoke of how Bishop Hendricken High School helped the graduates to become leaders.
“This graduating class is truthfully unlike any other and over the past four years we have decided to leave our own trail or legacy if you will,” said Rinn. In academic, athletic, artistic and spiritual realms, my fellow classmates have achieved the unprecedented. And in doing so, we have established a sort of model for future classes to look towards in their own individual efforts for success. ”
Rinn will attend Brown University in the fall.
Tyler Caron and Ethan Ferreira shared the distinction of serving as class salutatorian.
Caron will study at the University of Pennsylvania. He discussed the many components of a well-rounded education that the graduates received that will prepare them to lead successful and faith-filled lives.
“The incredible theology department challenges each and every student to think critically and to understand their faith,” he said. But the school succeeds as a Catholic institution on more than that level alone. Students are not only taught in the classroom, but they also go out into the community to provide service to those who need it.”
Ferreira, who will continue his education at Harvard University, urged his classmates to dedicate their lives “to the search of spiritual and personal fulfillment.
“As we all know, life is precious and short,” he acknowledged. “Every day is not a given. It is instead a gift from God and an opportunity to accomplish something special in your life.”
Principal Joseph Brennan ’72 told the young men never to lose sight of Jesus Christ.
“It is the cross of Jesus that we all need to stay focused on,” he said. “We need to remember that Jesus is the rock of our faith.”
School President John A. Jackson ’71, in thanking the Christian Brothers for their ministry and dedication to Bishop Hendricken, described the religious as “great men of faith” who are leaving the school with a “strong foundation” and charism that will continue to influence every facet of the school for many years to come.
“You have set a good example,” Jackson told the graduates, noting their involvement in community service, mission work and peer ministry.
“Please know that you are always welcome home,” Jackson added.
The school president acknowledged Philip Murray, the first graduate of the school’s three-year old Options Program, who received a standing ovation. The Options Program which offers cooperative learning and interactive technologies to help students with special needs to make the transition toward greater independence in the high school environment.
Murray credited his teachers, Cara Fusco and Vanessa Cardillo for helping him to achieve success at Hendricken, and acknowledged the 90 peer mentors at the school who unselfishly volunteer during study periods and throughout the school day to help the young men enrolled in the Options Program, .
“Everyone there is so nice,” Murray said of his alma mater. “It’s like a family. The peer mentors were like brothers.”
In addition to his studies, Murray played football for four years, helping the Hendricken Hawks to win the Division One State Championship last year. He also participated in track and unified basketball, volunteered on a week long service trip to Appalachia, and helped at the Autism Project Summer Camp and Special Olympics.
In September, Murray will attend Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., where he will participate in the Threshold Program, which provides students faced with academic challenges with a transitional program to prepare them for future studies and to enter the workforce. Murray plans to work with children with autism and special needs.
“The doors are now open for boys who learn differently,” said Martha Murray, the graduate’s mother. “This is a testament to Bishop Hendricken.”
Graduate William Warcup of Warwick, whose father James graduated from Hendricken in 1983, will enter the United States Marine Corps in October.
“I accomplished a lot in my four years,” he said. “They taught me a lot of life lessons and how to grow up.”
CLASS OF 2011
Zachary Almeida
Robert Alves
Benjamin Amerault
Andrew Andraka
Nathan Andrews
Nicola Apici
Kyle Aubin
Christian Azize
Alexander Barnes
Benjamin Barrett
Michael Bass
Shane Benjamin
Michael Bennett
Kyle Bert
Maax Bert
James Bessette
Steven Bevilacqua
Philip Bio
Connor Blier
Samuel Boadu
Connor Bolton
Alexander Breault
Timothy Brichetto
Vincent Bucci
Justin Burde
Timothy Burnett
Benjamin Caesar
Dean Campanella
Tyler Caron
Jared Casey
Joseph Cesaro
Kevin Chamberland
Viranart Chandarasanti
Nicholas Chrones
Elliott Colantuono
Zachary Conte
Richard Costa
Nathan Costello
Cory Cothrum
Marlon Coustard
Michael Cunha
Christopher Curtin
Raffi Daniels
Donald Danti
Kieran Davis
Thomas DeCesare
Christopher DeFelice
Mitchell DeGiulio
Ryan DeLuca
Andrew DeNicola
Jason DeNicola
Alex DePetrillo
Janiel Diez
Paul DiLorenzo
Bryan Dimaio
Ian Dinwoodie
Matthew Dolan
Jake D'Onofrio
Gregory Duffy
Justin Dure
Andrew Dutra
Daniel Dyer
Michael Edwards
Cody Edwards
David Evans
Sean Evans
Dante Fabrizio
Tyler Federico
Ethan Ferreira
John Ferris
Brendan Flanagan
Jeffrey Fleming
Michael Flood
Christian Flynn
Joshua Follansbee
Nicholas Forte
Todd Gable
Albert Gabriele-Caruolo
Lawrence Gallogly
Matthew Gama
Ameer Gazder
Patrick Gesmundo
Jefferey Giusti
John Goddard
William Golato
Nathan Gomes
Ian Goodney
Michael Gordon
Ian Gose
Randall Grant
Christopher Grasso
Alexander Grecco
Michael Grenga
Joseph Grizzetti
Zachary Hess
Ryan Hitte
Zachary Holt
Jeffrey Hutton
Kyle Irving
DaJuan Ives
Nathan Jones
Nolan Kiernan
John Kilpatrick
Ronald Kitts
Justin Kolenda
Luke LaMontagne
Albert Lannan
Russell Lavoie
John Lessard
Aaron Levy
Matthew Lima
Michael Lippe
Benjamin Lippitt
Derrick Lombardi
Patrick Lynch
Timothy Lyons
Andrew Machado
Gregory Maguire
Nathan Maloney
James Maloney
Michael Maloof
Drew Manning
Robert Manning
Michael Marchetti
Michael Marinelli
Benjamin Marino
Gabriel Martino
Ryan Masterson
Matthew Mateus
Michael Mattiello
Brandon Maxwell
John McCarthy
Samuel McCaughey
Gerald McKinney
Ryan McLarney
Connor McMullen
Ryan Meehan
Michael Melican
Antuan Melkoun
Jorge Mercado
Mark Messier
Ian Mitchell
Jameson Mitchell
Thaddeus Moone
Ryan Moore
Cameron Morin
Patrick Morris
Brendan Murphy
Philip Murray
Richard Napolitano
Christian Nicholson
Warren Nogueira
Sebastian Noordzy
Brendan O'Brien
Michael Olausen
Raymond Oliverio
Andrew Osmanski
Zachary Padula
Nicholas Panarello
Santino Parisi
Joseph Pasquarelli
Kevin Patterson
Thomas Pederzani
Bret Peltier
Robert Perillo
Cody Perras
Thomas Perrelli
Conor Phalen
Robert Phillip
Harry Pickering
Charles Plumb
James Potter
Adrian Potter
Matthew Reilly
Michael Renzi
Christopher Ricci
Cameron Rinn
Alexander Robin
Adam Rokicki
Raul Rosario
Andrew Rossi
Mark Rotondo
Kyle Rottenberg
Jeffrey Sabo
John-Paul Saggal
Stanley Sainterlien
Andrew Sakovits
Bond Sauer
Kyle Seidenberg
Andrew Senerchia
Nicholas Senra
Theodore Seufert
Cameron Shalkowski
Nicholas Smith
Stephen Smith
Gieun Song
Nicholas Stone
Matthew Strobel
Ryan Sturdahl
Chase Sullivan
Todd Taravella
Brian Tassoni
Jeffrey Techentin
Rory Temkin
Cameron Terra
Stanley Tisdell
Luc Tousignant
Mark Vargas
Andrew Verrecchia
Carlos Vilorio
Patrick Walker
George Warburg
William Warcup
Michael White
Thomas Whittaker
Kurt Wilcox
John Woolley
