PROVIDENCE — The 52nd commencement for Bishop Hendricken High School sent 216 young men off to the next chapter of their lives in a June 7 ceremony at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul that was steeped in the spirit of the school’s namesake and the stories of students inspired by the virtues of faith and love for God and fellow man that Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken, the first bishop of Providence, exemplified in his life.
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By the numbers, the Class of 2013 certainly impresses: all told, seniors racked up $23.1 million in merit scholarship awards, a new school record; five Division I varsity state championships this year in football, cross country, indoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling; and a stellar year in the arts, with students winning local, state, and regional awards in art, music, and theater.
But it’s the stories of the class that shined the brightest on graduation night, including a surprise visit from a soldier on deployment who traveled 8,000 miles to see his son graduate from high school.
Salutatorian Kevin Dillon recalled a school mission trip to Peru, where he and other students spent hours peeling beans with a local mother in a village. “We didn’t save the entire village but we put a smile [on] a struggling mother and her children’s faces, and that was enough,” Dillon said.
“I helped others at Hendricken. I helped myself at Hendricken. I let others help me at Hendricken and I definitely enjoyed myself at Hendricken and I hope you did too,” Dillon concluded. “No matter what the next stage in your life is … I pray that you make it a complete experience.”
In addition to the salutatorian and valedictorian distinctions, Bishop Hendricken also bestows the Hendricken Man of the Year award on a well-rounded student who stands out for his academic and extracurricular achievements as well as good character. The school describes the award as “the most prestigious student achievement.” This year’s award recipient was Brendan McNamara. Shane McElroy, the valedictorian, called on his classmates to remember the moments of generosity and humor, as well as times of challenge and triumph, that defined their time at the school. “As you look back on your four years at Bishop Hendricken High School, reflect on the impact that the school has had on your life,” McElroy said. “Hendricken made me the man I am today. And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The graduation ceremony itself did not lack in memorable moments. Partway through the awarding of diplomas, one student, Trent Medeiros, received his diploma from a surprise guest: his father, Staff Sergeant Jeremy Medeiros, whom he had not seen since August 10, 2012. Medeiros, who is with the 169th military police company in the Army National Guard, is on his third overseas tour, in Afghanistan. A tearful Medeiros handed his son his diploma then hugged him, along with his sister, Miranda.
It was also a particularly meaningful day for Lewis Hassell and his parents. Hassell, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair-bound, received a theology award and finished 20th overall in the class.
“It’s quite an accomplishment,” said his mother, Joanne Hassell. “We’re just very proud of him. Bishop Hendricken is definitely the best high school that a young man can go to.”
In his remarks to students, Principal Jay Brennan urged students to reflect on the school’s mission statement as they embark on the next step in their life journeys. “This document calls on us to strengthen the relationship of all members of the community with our God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We do this through the development of the total human person: heart, mind, soul, and body,” Brennan said. “This part of our mission is at the core of who we are.”
“Remember to be the total human person that the Hendricken mission statement calls you to be,” Brennan added. “Be a man who will help bring others closer to God.”
School President John Jackson drove home that message in his remarks to students. The most visible way students have lived out the school mission, Jackson said, is in their participation in school liturgies, where they have received the Eucharist.
“Your support of the mission of our school took on many other forms also. God has given you many gifts and when you use each gift to its maximum potential you are growing closer to becoming the person that God hopes everyone to be,” Jackson said.
Brennan and Jackson presented students with their diplomas, along with Auxiliary Bishop Robert Evans.
Bishop Hendricken High School Class of 2013
Michael T. Alarie
Chandler Norman Alberigo
Steven D. Almonte,
Brandon A. Amo
Jean-Michel Arcand
Kevin E. Augustyn
Christopher J. Barone
Brendan L. Barrette
Gregory R. Beaudette
Michael D. Beaudry Jr.
Adam Berg 2
Bryan James Bessette
Nicholas A. Bibeault
Scott M. Blackmar
Zachary D. Blanchette
Anthony S. Boivin
Nicholas D. Boland
Kevin Corcoran Breede
Kyle J. Brichetto
Caelob A. Burdick
Matthew Joseph Burns
Michael Q. Byrne
Christopher E. Caldarone
Matthew J. Capozzi
Nicholas J. Caprio
Michael Gaetano Cardarelli, III
Brandon W. Cardosa
Nicholas Glynn Carlson
Marcus Clifford Caron
Nicholas G. Carroll
Matthew Keating Casbarro
Joseph V. Catalfamo
Christopher D. Catucci, Jr.
Michael Anthony Cedrone
Nicholas A. Cerbo
Christopher N. Cesario
Mathew Vincent Ciociola
John Perry Coburn
John A. Colello
Craig M. Colson Jr.
William G Coningford
Pietro Alfredo Conte
Gregory D. Coppotelli
Nicholas Corey
Tyler K. Corliss
Kevin Costello
Nicholas J. Coutu
Stephen Matthew Couture Jr.
Patrick J. Crabtree
Matthew R. Creta
Michael E. Criscione Jr.
Kazre' Lamont Cummings
Shane M. Davidson
Nicholas J. DeCiantis
Benjamin M. DeLuca
Marco V. DelVecchio
Aaron M. DeMarco
Reginald Derisier
Jack T. DerManouelian
Sergio A. DeSousa-Rosa Jr.
William F. DiGiuseppe
Kevin M. Dillon, III
Nicholas J. DiMauro
Jeremy D. DiMeo
Michael Steven DiPaolo
Alexander M. Doherty
Chad Dottor
Connor J. Doyle
Andrew James Dunham
Brian C. Duranleau
Richard A. Dutko Jr.
Paul M. Falcone
Michael S. Fedorenko
Jonathan R. Feeney
Paul Vincent Filippone
Christopher Joseph Fitzsimmons
Jonathan A. Fong Li
Jahari Melizah Ford
Derek G. Fournier
Benjamin J. Gasior
Gary K. Geisser, II
Steven F. Gencarella
Ryan James Gleason
Ryan M. Goddard
Brandon R. Gomez
David M. Gooding
Neil T. Grant
Joseph P. Hagerty
Ryan James Hagerty
Nicholas Alexander Haight
Donald V. Hall
Lewis J. Hassell
Robert C. Henry
Sean D. Henry
Ryan P. Henseler
Tyler P. Henseler
Dakota James Hersey
Casey D. Hodor
Kenneth R. Horbert, Jr.
Aaron W. Hubert
Chadd L. Huddon
James Anthony Iacoi Jr.
Frank J. Iudiciani 1
Tanner Liam Jackson
Darius A. Jagminas
Andrew A. Johnson
Tyler A. Joseph
William B. Kammerer
Steven E. Kelly
Ryan John Kennedy
James A. Kent
Michael M. King
Brexton J. Kinney
Alexander D. Knight
Jarek Richard Krajewski
Christopher T. Lafen
Robert A. Lanni
Daniel C. LaPlante
Troy A. Lavoie
Jack T. Leonard
Daniel A. Levesque
Xiaofeng Li
Derek A. Lindia
Robert J. Lineberger
Xuan Liu
Matthew J. Lombardi
Brandon D. Macedo
Salvatore J. Maggiacomo
Dillon R. Manfredi
Benjamin P. Manning
Anthony M. Markey
Edward V. Markowski
Dante John Marovelli, IV
Chase Goddard Martin
Christopher J. Marrinan
Demetri M. Martino
Brandon T. Massaro
Christopher M. Mattioli
Shawn P. McAssey
Adam Leonard McAteer
Mario R. McClain, Jr.
Shane W. McElroy
Andrew V. McGinnis
Daniel F. McKillop
Brendan N. McNamara
Matthew James Medeiros
Trent Patrick Medeiros
Justin G. Meyer
Alexander R. Miguel
Sam I. Milder
James A. Miller
Sean T. Montanari
Paul A. Moore, Jr.
Jake H. Mowry
Colin Graham Murphy
Matthew M. Murphy
Sean M. Murphy
Domenic P. Nardolillo, Jr.
Austin E. Navarro
Jake D. Newberry
Ryan M. Novak-Smith
Eric C. Olsen
Erik D. Olson
Steven Raymond Orsi
Ryan Michael Pajak
William J. Palmer Jr.
Alexander Anthony Afonso Palumbo
Brian Vincent Panzitta
Nicholas A. Parente
Alexander M. Perreault
Tyler R. Perry
Matthew R. Peterson
Jonathan Ayers Petteruti
Paul Edward Phillips, Jr.
Matthew J. Plouffe
Joseph L. Proulx
Mitchell P. Proulx
Tyler J. Raymond
Cameron Joseph Ricci
Nicholas R. Rocchio
Robert S. Romano Jr.
Romario R. Rousseau
Nicholas M. Russo
Stephan J. Saggal
Kyle David Santos
Nicholas Paul Anthony Sarazen
Pharis B. Sasa
Willard J. Schartner
Paul Michael Shaughnessy Jr.
Jared Joseph Anthony Smith
Alexander J. Smolan
Andrew Paul Spremulli
Mark B. Stillson
David W. Such, Jr.
Kelan Campbell Sullivan
Marcus Kevin Swift
Masyn E. Szeliga
Joseph E. Tahan
William F. Tavares
Daniel J. Thadeio
Nicholas M. Tomasso
Nicholas Anthony Torregrossa
Gaston N. Touafek
Chase A. Tucker
Louis G. Umberto
Derek Joseph Vadnais
Christopher Robert Vanasse
Robert J. Victoria
Joseph C. Vincent Jr.
Alec Warneke
Griffin Bryce Werner
Mark E. Wheeler
Aiden T. White
Sean P. Wiggin
Jarrid R. Witherspoon
Cory A. Woodbine
Guangming Zhou
