St. John's Prep Of Danvers Celebrates 113th Commencement Ceremony

DANVERS, MA — Thomas Healey of Peabody and National Merit Scholarship recipient Leyad Zavriyev of Swampscott addressed the crowd as senior speakers as part of St. John's Prep of Danvers' 113th Commencement ceremony on Saturday morning.

There were 272 seniors in this year's graduating class with 17 each coming from Danvers and Marblehead, and the remainder from towns across the North Shore, Merrimack Valley and New Hampshire.

Healey and Zavriyev were chosen by their classmates to speak at graduation. Healey heads to UMass-Amherst this fall and Zavriyev will attend Brown University.

In his valedictory address, Jonathan R. Rodriguez of Lawrence, the son of a father who immigrated from Puerto Rico and a mother who immigrated from the Dominican Republic, urged graduates to shape their future in a manner that pays tribute to and creates avenues for both those who got them to this point, and those who will follow.

"None of us is here graduating today solely because we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps," he said. "To one degree or another, we have all received instruction from a teacher or mentor. A handshake that communicated something greater than a mere greeting. We have received financial as well as moral support, indescribable love, and a much longer list that I will let each of you fill in for yourselves.

"But what will you live for, tomorrow?” he continued. “We must choose to live for things that will outlive us. My family has taught me not only with their words but also with their sacrifices that, whether I succeed or I fail spectacularly, this moment is not the end. Following their footsteps, I must learn to live not only for my own future but for the future of my family as well. We have gathered here today to celebrate our past and to face each of our futures. How will you choose to shape yours?"

The class salutatorian was Jackson Belanger of Boxford.

Head of School Dr. Edward Hardiman advised graduates to be forthright and true to their convictions but to remain vigilant about a universal truth: Words matter, and more often than not, actions speak louder than words.

"As you prepare to leave this campus, it is essential that you constantly remind yourself what you say, to whom you say it, and how you say it matters and impacts others," he said. “It is also essential that you seek to ground your words and actions in love. Sometimes, our words and actions are challenging, even though they are focused on the common good. (Harness) the power of one who uses words and actions to be a beacon of respect, a beacon of community, a beacon of love, and one whose actions and words show the world your commitment to knowing, valuing, and loving all whom you encounter."

More than half (53 percent) of the graduating seniors are members of the National Honor Society, while 11 were National Merit Scholar-commended students and four — Matthew A.P. Dunn of Danvers, Brian T. Nguyen of Melrose, the valedictorian Rodriguez, and senior class speaker Zavriyev — were NMS Finalists.

This year's graduating class (by hometown):

* Denotes National Honor Society

Amesbury

Theodore M. Batmaca

Silas Arjuna Cash *

John Wilkinson Conrad *, Computer Science Medal, Drama Medal, National Merit Commended Student

Brennan Seamus Hanratty

Michael Kevin Murphy Jr.

Mason J. Simcox

Andover

Xavier Leonard Langley Blais *

Brody Chaiyarat Candela * Religious Studies Medal

Thomas James Dankert *, Social Studies Medal, Loyalty and Service Award

Nicholas David Fietze

Daniel S. Greene

Cole Joseph Hosmer *

Rawson W. Iwanicki *

Michael Elias Nabbout

Rohan Raisingani *, Religious Studies Medal

Jack Michael Sewall *

Aidan Thomas Sheehy, Computer Science Medal

Parker Kennedy Sherlock

Charles James Magauran Smith *

Jason Nicholas Stellakis *

Colin Patrick Vaughan *

Bedford

Peter Joseph Henry King *

Belmont

William Harnett Monks

Beverly

Tyler Lucas Berman

Finn Robert Bonner *

Michael Joseph Boyle

Jackson Michael Burke *

Maxfield D. Chan *, Chinese Medal

Coleman Matthew Connors *

Michael P. O'Brien *, National Merit Commended Student

Evan Michael Pinciaro *

Henry Roland Pizzo IV *

Nathan Peter Reinbold

Billerica

Brian Michael Cronin

Boston

Joseph Salines III

Boxford

Jackson Louis Belanger *, Salutatorian, Academic Excellence, National Merit Commended Student

Michael Bertinato *

Cole Richard Blaeser, German Medal

Heath Steven Cashton

James Vincent Ellard III *

Dylan George Mercier

Carter Yong Joo Newport

Joshua Marcus Spanier

Burlington

Drew Michael McGowan *

Byfield

Tanner Clark Ciano

Vaughn William DeAngelo

Danvers

Jackson Raymond Annese *, Mathematics Medal

Kevin Bleta

Aaron Christopher Blum

David William Butler

James M. Byrne, English Medal

Andrew Palmer Davis

Timothy J. Demakis

Matthew Adriano Patrick Dunn * National Merit Finalist, Academic Excellence

Dillon M. Duval *, English Medal

Jack Patrick Jaworski, Religious Studies Medal

Ryan Philip Lepore *

Drew Patrick McStay *

Lang Qin * (Also from Guangdong, China)

Nicholas Peter Rizos *

Ian Thomas Rourke

Kristian Ido Sheraj *

Siqi Wang *

Essex

Samuel Steven Dane Phippen *

Georgetown

Niccolo M. DiChicco

William Ashael Minor *

Matthew Joseph Stauss *, Mathematics Medal

James Edward Trigilio *

Gloucester

Christopher Joseph Esposito *

Christian Morey Galatis

Danyl L. Levytskyi *, English Medal, Science Medal, Spanish Medal

Groveland

Daniel Robert Cantore

Tyler David Knox

Ian Louis Rose *

Hamilton

James Dawson Ayers *, Student-Athlete Award

Jack Joseph Danzinger *

Zhenglong He * (Also from Guangdong, China)

Gabriel Artem Klein *

Yucheng Lin * (Also from Beijing, China), Academic Excellence

David Michael Minogue *, Art 2D Medal

Michael Joseph Pallazola *

Ryan Connor Petryszyn *

Haverhill

Lucas Paul Magliocchetti

Chase J. Nunamaker

Harrison Montgomery Wakefield *

Ipswich

Tej S. Bhatia

Grant John Drinkwater *

Mateo George Geringer

Jackson Lawrence Hopkins

Ben Charles Liptak

Benjamin Charles Mazer, Social Studies Medal

Matthew John Morrow *

Lawrence

Juan Carlos Amador

Jewllian Myles Gadson

Elias Hajali

Alain-Raphael A. Kiriza *

Jeffrey R. Lopez *

Marthy Gabriel Martinez Jr.

Daniel A. Pena

Izeah David Rivera

Jonathan Raul Rodriguez * Valedictorian, National Merit Finalist, Academic Excellence, Loyalty and Service Award

Lexington

Joseph Ercole Baldassarre *

Lowell

Victor D. Abramson

Lynn

Henry Chima Azzun

Pius Chukwuma Ejindu

Dominic Pablo Greaves, Social Studies Medal

Albert J. Hofeldt III *

Kon Franco Wol Majok

Nicholas Anthony Marino

Gabriel M. Mieses *, Hispanohablante Sobresaliente Award, Multicultural Affairs and Community Development Award

Lynnfield

Joenel Aguero

John Joseph Burns IV *, Music Medal

Matthew Joseph Ciampa *, Campus Ministry Award

Jake Thomas Guertin

Henry David Indresano *

Nathan M. Lopez, Athletic Directors Awards

William Richard Van Sicklin *

Manchester

Marco Bussone

Maximillian K. Samiei *

Marblehead

Colin John Berg

Matthew Benjamin Bernstein * Academic Excellence

Andrew William Bianculli

Collin Mather Burke *

Tyler Joseph Callahan *, Art 3D Medal

Patrick Finn Dever, Campus Ministry Award, Honorable Mention Scholastic Art & Writing Award for Photography

Lucien Robert Elmer *

Ethan Jordan Kaye

Patrick Angus McDonald

Ian William Mertens

Callum B. Rigby

William Hills Schieffer *, National Merit Commended Student, English Medal, Computer Science Medal

Theo Jones Scola, Chinese Medal

Jackson Neal Selby *, National Merit Commended Student

Charles Patrick Smith

Jack Emerson Stein *, Science Medal

Zachary M. Verdun *

Medford

Ronan Charles Mullan

Melrose

Travis Albert Bohnke * Religious Studies Medal

Nicolas B. Goodman * Academic Excellence

Sam Davitt McCormack *

Brian Thuong Nguyen * National Merit Finalist, Academic Excellence

Justin Scott Smith

Jonathan Michael Viliott *

John Armando Wagner *, National Merit Commended Student, Science Medal, Spanish Medal

Methuen

James William Crocker Jr. *

Angel Jacey Melendez

Victor Rivera Jr., Xaverian Award, Religious Studies Medal

Alexander Augusto Ruffini *, Religious Studies Medal, Computer Science Medal

Middleton

Jack Michael Fillion *, Loyalty and Service Award

Brady Marshall Pallotta *, English Medal, Mathematics Medal

Marco Richard Zirpolo *

Alexander Lho *, National Merit Commended Student

Nahant

Maxwell Avery Hausler * Academic Excellence

Gregory H. Keane, Latin Medal

Newbury

Callum Michael Brown, Social Studies Medal

Christopher William Brown *

Evan Maddox Rosolowski

Owen Frank Vetree *

Newburyport

John Thomas Betz *, Mathematics Medal

Tucker Joseph Dunagan *

Marcus Benjamin Duren

Matthew J. Finnegan *

Quinn Daniel Fortuna

Nathaniel S. Gasperoni *, Mathematics Medal, German Medal

Phineas J. Grinnings

Samuel Karam Joor

James Oliver Wauchope

North Andover

Ryan Christopher Albano

Benjamin Connor Bailey *, Science Medal, German Medal, Loyalty and Service Award

Matthew Owen Barrett *, Science Medal, Social Studies Medal

Ethan Kutz

Paul Killilea Lovett *, Academic Excellence

Christopher Sean McDonough

Brady Patrick McGuire *

Nicolas A. Petrosino *

Andrew M. Phaneuf *, Spanish Medal, Loyalty and Service Award

Tyler Jacob Schwalm *

Owen Burdick Sheppard *, English Medal

Adam Tyler Slivka *

Matthew T. Syme *

Elias J. Tripodis *

North Reading

Justin Andrew Armata *, Loyalty and Service Award, Silver Key Scholastic Art & Writing Award for Ceramics and Glass

William M. Sawyer

Peabody

Travis Nathan Broadbent

Carson James Browne *, Spanish Medal, Best Athlete Award

Jack Thomas Castrichini *

Jared Michael Castrichini

Andrew Leonard DeRosa *, Loyalty and Service Award

Nicholas John Healey

Noah Berube Mootafian

Paul Robert Neal Jr.

Daniel Raymond Pawlyk *, Loyalty and Service Award, Drama Medal

Ryan David Saslaw *

Reading

Ioannis Andrikopoulos *, Chinese Medal

Jonathan Mathias Clapp

Max Sherman Conway *

Luke Mark Christopher Farrell *

Benjamin E. Hennessy *, Loyalty and Service Award

Cooper Bradley Johnson

Benjamin Joseph McGilvray, Athletic Directors Award

Sean Robert Murphy *

Ryan John O'Leary *

John J. Reilly III *

Maximus Francesco Rizza *

Andrew Robert Taupier

Christopher Stephen John Traub

Thomas M. Walsh *

Revere

Santiago Quiceno

Rockport

Michael McCarthy Hale *, Latin Medal, Silver Key Scholastic Art & Writing Award for Ceramics and Glass

William J. Mueller

Rowley

Owen Bell *

Peter S. DePasquale * Academic Excellence

Salem

Cristhian Difo Reynoso

Anmoldeep Singh Gahunia

Jack Darcy Hartfelder *

Jesse Ofurie

Alexander K. Schaeublin

Daniel James Trainor *

Saugus

Tighe Shadrack Cole

Gerard E. Glover Jr.

Stephon A. Patrick

Tyler K. Tercetti

Stoneham

Jacob J. Evangelista

Matthew R. Kirby * Academic Excellence

Paul Gerard Santosuosso Jr. *, Social Studies Medal

Jake Edward Scully *

Swampscott

Alexander G. Borkland

Stephen Earle Burse Jr. *

Adam Joseph Callum *

Thomas Augustine Healey *, Loyalty and Service Award

Nathaniel Patrick Jones *, Silver Key Scholastic Art & Writing Award for Drawing and Illustration

Gavin Lauchlin Kornitsky

Nathaniel J. Marston *, Mathematics Medal

Alexander S. Perault *

Andrew Patrick Sheehan

Max Frederik Westhoven

Michael Xu, National Merit Commended Student

Leyad R. Zavriyev * National Merit Finalist, Academic Excellence, Sonia Weitz Award

Tewksbury

Braedon Michael Pincher

Topsfield

Kyle Gomes DaSilva

Aidan O'Neil Holland

Patrick James Llewellyn, Art 3D Medal

Matthew Troy Long * Academic Excellence

Calvin Russell Massaro *

Felix Garcia Rogovin *

Alden Fergus Rolfe *

Matthew Owen Vandewalle *, Art 2D Medal

Lucas Tian Verrier, Athletic Directors Award

Wakefield

Noah Edward Brown

Liam S. Buys *, National Merit Commended Student

Alexander Steven Dubow *

Joshua Neal Linehan *

Rowan Michael Mondello *

Wenham

Liam Franklin Donovan *

Harlan Elliot Graber *

Nicholas Patrick Riccio *, Science Medal

West Newbury

Wesley Cater Grant

Gustavo Robert Wood *

Wilmington

Nicholas Paul Ackerman

Philip Leo Murray *

Winchester

John Robert Frahm, Music Medal

Alexander J. Zarur

Atkinson, New Hampshire

Joseph Charles Alviti

Joseph James Quaratiello *, National Merit Commended Student

Epping, New Hampshire

Tyler Christopher Curtis

Exeter, New Hampshire

John Michael Bennett Jr.

Kensington, New Hampshire

William Edison Parker Feld * Academic Excellence, National Merit Commended Student

Newton, New Hampshire

Joseph William McDaniel

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Jeffory Sean Groth *, Athletic Directors Award

Rye, New Hampshire

Killian John Gray

Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Tyler Bennett Bosma *, Latin Medal

Salem, New Hampshire

Matthew Reed Tomamichel

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)