BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 249 GRADUATES AT 160th COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 249 GRADUATES AT 160th COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

BC High Graduates Attending Top-Tier Colleges and Universities Worldwide

Boston, MA: On Saturday, May 18, more than 2,000 members of the Boston College High School community gathered on McCoy Field to celebrate and honor the 249 graduates of the Class of 2024. Despite cloudy skies, the achievements and resiliency of the graduating class shone brightly.

The program included a student welcome address from Medford resident Ridge Noelsaint (Boston College) and a senior address from Marshfield native Daniel Moylan (Brown University). Both graduates spoke to the inclusive, welcoming, and supportive community of their fellow classmates, teachers, and administrators.

In her remarks, President Grace Cotter Regan P’12 challenged students to build upon their shared Ignatian values learned on Morrissey Boulevard to change the world, serve those on the margins, and act justly in a society that needs good people.

“For a large portion of their lives, this campus has been the home of the Class of 2024, and this community, their family,” said President Regan. “I pray that they always know these connections do not end today. The unbreakable bonds of brotherhood with your classmates, and bonds of love and respect you share with everyone gathered here, will truly last your lifetime.”

President Regan also recognized the Class of 1974, who as part of a time-honored tradition commemorating their 50th reunion, returned to BC High as Golden Jubilarians, the evening before.

The Honorable Jane Swift, former Massachusetts governor and current president of Education at Work, a work-based nonprofit serving institutions of higher education, then delivered the keynote address.

In her speech, Governor Swift urged graduates to embrace the unseen future. “Whatever happens,” she said, “make sure you take on life with hope and joy. If you live your life aligned with the mission of Boston College High School, finding hope and a future filled with purpose and passion seems assured: be a leader of competence, conscience, and compassion and seek to do all things for the greater glory of God.”

The accomplishments of the Class of 2024 are many, with more than 43 percent of graduating seniors being inducted into the National Honor Society. In addition, 11 Eagles earned recognition as National Merit Scholarship recipients and qualified for university scholarships. A testament to the global path of BC High, 37 young men graduated with the distinction of being a Hyde Scholar, signifying participation in international travel, commitment to a second language, and expanding concrete knowledge on global issues.

Throughout an extraordinary high school experience, which began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2024 remained dedicated in the classroom, athletics, and extracurricular activities. BC High’s Class of 2024 received acceptances to more than 250 colleges and universities in 41 states and 6 countries, including all eight Ivy League universities, as well as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.

In addition, BC High students saw an above-average acceptance rates at Catholic institutions of higher education, including Boston College (21% above the national average), College of the Holy Cross (26% above the national average), Georgetown University (43% above the national average), and University of Notre Dame (33% above the national average). Other college acceptances included Colby College, Howard University, Miami University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design, Tulane University, Trinity College Dublin, and University of California Los Angeles.

Saturday’s ceremony was the culmination of celebrations for the Class of 2024, which included a senior awards ceremony with student remarks from Colby Soutter of Charlestown (Dartmouth College) and a graduation mass, highlighted by student speaker Jack Reardon of Milton (Harvard University).

Building on several years of remarkable growth and rapid expansions in innovation, BC High is eager to welcome the Class of 2028 to Morrissey Boulevard in the fall. Photos from commencement can be found here.

Class of 2024 Notes

• Top 10 Students: Lukas Binggeli (Georgetown University), Cameron Dunn (Yale University), Charles Fearing (UCLA), Aaron Fernandes (Stanford University), Maxwell Kelly (Boston College), Michael Kester (Boston College), Kieran LaMay (Brown University), Daniel Moylan (Brown University), Roberto Sampaio (Princeton University), Diego Velasquez Sosa (Northeastern University)
• Saint Ignatius of Loyola Senior Award for Campus Ministry: Maxwell Kelly (Boston College)
o This award is given to that caring senior dedicated to the deepening of his relationship through prayer, reflection, and service.
• Lawrence D. Blake Diversity Award: Kieran LaMay (Brown University)
o The recipient must have demonstrated both his commitment to remove the barriers to justice caused by any form of discrimination and the mature leadership to call his fellow students to join him in building the community.
• James M. Dever Scholarship & Service Award: John Reardon (Harvard University)
o This award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has excelled both in scholarship and in service to the school and the wider community.
• Mary Dorothea Deveraux Character Award: Abraham Crain (University of Miami)
o Selection of the student for the Mary Dorothea Deveraux Character Award by the principal and faculty will be based entirely on the student’s growth and development of character under the influence of the school environment.
• John P. Farricy, Sr. ’26 Memorial Award: Luke Hugo (Gap Year, Education First – Singapore) and Jonathan Mejia (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences)
o The award is provided by the BC High Teachers’ Association and the Farricy Scholarship Fund to a senior who has exemplified John’s qualities of sustained effort in the pursuit of excellence.
• Kevin O’Neil ’90 Memorial Award: Richny Blaise (University of San Francisco)
o This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who has overcome adversity to achieve success while at BC High. Kevin was recognized by his classmates in his senior yearbook, “for his valor in facing adversity and triumphing.”
• Timothy C. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship: Grayson Kamadeu (Fairfield University)
o This award is presented to a deserving senior who consistently displays positive school spirit and is well thought of by his peers, faculty, and staff. The person must have been involved in the athletic program as an “unsung” hero and must have maintained a B GPA or better.
• Jeremiah Mack ’89 Memorial Award: Jayven Tremmell (University of Wisconsin Madison, Rugby)
o This award is granted to a graduating senior from the Rugby team who represents the “man for others” ideal.
• William J. Kane Award: Casey Corkery (Boston College)
o This award is presented to a deserving senior who will attend Boston College.
• William F. Whalen Book Award: Daniel Linnehan (Boston College) and John Reardon (Harvard University)
o The Whalen Family established this award to honor two members of the graduating class who, in the opinion of the Social Studies Department, understand that the study of history provides the key to the future.
• Rev. Daniel Lewis, SJ Religious Education Award: Jaylen Barros (Fayetteville State University), Luke Hugo (Gap Year, Education First – Singapore), and Cedric Wysocki (Fairfield University)
o This award is presented by the Religious Education Department in memory of their colleague who represented qualities of a faith that does justice to a graduating senior who embodies these qualities.
• Jesuit Veterans Service Award: Maxwell Gravallese (Dartmouth College)
o This award is presented by the BC High Veterans Alumni Network to the graduating senior who has most embodied the Jesuit concept of service. Candidates must have consistently demonstrated that they place others’ needs before their own, performed voluntary service and/or advocacy that directly benefitted individuals or was given in support of organizations that work for the betterment of local communities and our society.
• Jesuit Schools Network Award: Daniel Moylan (Brown University)
o This award is presented annually to that member of the graduating class who best exemplifies the ideals for graduates of Jesuit high schools: a person who is open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice.
• Rev. Edmund F. Kelly, SJ ’45 Mathematics Award: Lukas Binggeli (Georgetown University), Arya Mogtader (Cornell University, Rowing), Atharva Naik (Boston College), Roberto Sampaio (Princeton University), and Christopher Symond (Middlebury College)
o Fr. Edmund F. Kelly, SJ was the quintessential Mathematics person, and was an outstanding teacher who imparted his enthusiasm for mathematics to all his students. In his honor, this award is given to the most outstanding Mathematics student in the senior class.
• John H. Dempsey ’55 Science Award: Jaden Flaherty (Tufts University)
o This award in Jack Dempsey’s honor is given to the “outstanding senior student in science,” to a young man who not only has fused the gifts God has given him with his own hard work to achieve excellence in all of his Science courses, but has done so with excitement and infectious enthusiasm that makes his classmates richer in the process.
• Stephen J. Collins Modern Language Award: Maxwell Kelly (French, Boston College), Mateo Reyes (French, McGill University), Christopher Affonso (Spanish, Boston University), and Lucas Patel (Spanish, Indiana University Bloomington)
o Stephen J. Collins’ enthusiasm for language learning inspired students to experience the joy of a language “coming alive.” This award is given to a graduating senior who has brought language to life.
• Marci Kearney English Award: Christopher Affonso (Boston University), Lukas Binggeli (Georgetown University), Andrew Boucher (Catholic University of America), Jaden Flaherty (Tufts University), Luke Hugo (Gap Year, Education First – Singapore), Ronan Kelly (University of Wisconsin Madison, Rowing), Maxwell Kelly (Boston College), Cristian Salvador (Babson College), Nolan Schirripa (Baylor University), Christopher Symond (Middlebury College), Brandon Ton (Santa Clara University)
o The Marci Kearney English Award honors the student in each section of senior English whose passion for life, letters, and the blessing of good company enlivens the classroom in the spirit of Ms. Kearney.
• The Kevin C. Kynock Memorial Scholarship: Aaron Fernandes (Stanford University)
o The Kevin Kynock Foundation was established a few years ago by some of Mr. Kynock’s former students. The Kynock scholarship is awarded to a BC High senior who has excelled in the arts (theatre, visual, or musical).
• National Merit Scholarships: Maximilian Bean-Tierney (Brown University), Ben Chen (Cornell University), Jackson D’Ambrosio (Georgia Tech), Cameron Dunn (Yale University), William Hartford (Georgetown University), Michael Kester (Boston College), Kiernan LaMay (Brown University), Christopher Larnard (University of Pennsylvania, Track/Cross Country), Daniel Moylan (Brown University), John Reardon (Harvard University), and Roberto Sampaio (Princeton University)
o This is an academic competition where students can obtain recognition and qualify for university scholarships based on PSAT scores.
• Ted Lyons Scholar-Athlete Award: Liam Kinneen (Princeton University, Baseball)
o Presented to the senior who has succeeded at the highest level in both the classroom and in varsity athletics.
• Rev. James LaFontaine, SJ Award in Fine Arts: Colby Soutter (Dartmouth College)
o Inspired by Reverend James La Fontaine, SJ, this award recognizes selfless dedication and tireless effort in and across the arts.
• Reverand Edward S. Stanton, SJ, “Man for Others” Award: James Conley (Fordham University)
o The recipient of this award consistently demonstrates, through his selfless service to others, a deep concern for the well-being of all people and the commitment to bring the love of God to his neighbors.
• Tony Toto ’66, P’98 Award: Liam Heffernan (Georgetown University)
o The Boston College High School Teachers’ Association celebrates the ever-reverberating life’s work of Mr. Tony Toto ’66 by honoring a senior whose talents, passions, and principles reveal an inspiring seamlessness between faith and reason, the sciences and the arts, solitary reflection and community building. Though the student’s myriad activities may differ from those of the master teacher, scholar, carpenter, musician, film buff, and environmentalist, he shares with Mr. Toto an unebbing curiosity, ever-synthesizing mind, and wide-open heart.
• Donaher Classics Award for Greek and Latin: James Desmond (Greek, Amherst College) and Conor Lynch (Latin, Loyola University Maryland)
o The Donaher Award, named for Brian P. Donaher ’55, P’91,’94 outstanding Greek and Latin teacher, is awarded to a senior who demonstrated excellence in the study of Homers’ Odyssey.
• Imago Dei Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Josiah Andrade (St. John’s University), Jaylen Barros (Fayetteville State University), Gregory Gabelus (University of Pennsylvania), Damien Gichohi (University of Massachusetts Lowell, Sebastian Pina (Brandeis University)
• Jack Shields ’79, P’06 Center for Innovation Award: Zain Khan (Georgetown University)
• Lawrence H. Hyde ’42 Center Global Education Award: Owen Oates (Santa Clara University)
• Michael D. White ’70 Center for Emerging Leaders Award: Arya Mogtader (Cornell University, Rowing)