Malvern Prep Celebrates Class of 2016 at School's 90th Commencement

Malvern Prep’s 90th Commencement was held June 2 under beautiful skies at Wolfington Plaza on the School’s Chapel lawn, as the Malvern community paid tribute to the 115 seniors of the Class of 2016 for their accomplishments, commitment to service and the strong bonds of brotherhood that they have formed.

Class Speaker Aaron Salinas noted that 2016 was a class of excellence, in academics, the arts and athletics, but what was most important was the brotherhood that his class shares and their commitment to service. “We have formed bonds that cannot be broken,” he said. “I have seen truly inspiring things. We have supported classmates who struggled to beat cancer. We have brought smiles and laughter to impoverished children on our Christian Service trips.”

Salinas noted that they will be joining a larger brotherhood of Malvern alumni. “Today is not an end. We are now part of something bigger than ourselves. We are one body, one body in Christ,” he said, referencing a popular song performed by the School’s Liturgical Music Group. Salinas closed with a message to his classmates, “Take strength from our brothers, seek truth and wisdom, and let your light shine bright.”

Next to talk was Commencement Speaker the Rev. Donald F. Reilly, O.S.A., D.Min., Malvern Trustee, President of St. Augustine Prep and former Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. Reilly noted that these graduates are the beneficiaries of a Catholic, Augustinian education grounded in the 2,000-year history of the Order. He picked up on Salinas’ reference of service and spoke about the overarching Augustinian value of caritas – what he defined as seeing the face of God through loving service.

Reilly shared his remarkable story of his unexpected and transformative experience with someone infected with HIV. In 1986, one of Reilly’s close friends died of AIDS. To honor his friend and to give back in a meaningful way, he signed up to support someone afflicted by HIV. He did not expect that he would be paired up with a 12-month old boy. He was not prepared. He thought about quitting, but he took care of this baby who was in foster care, and watched him grow. The visits continued over the years, even after doctors said that he would not live another because of neurological defects. This year, that child received his master’s in social work from Smith College.

The relationship changed Reilly. The experience made him empathetic more than he ever was. He said that when you have empathy for another, you leave the world of black and white and reside in the gray, the place where decisions are not easy.

“Accept the invitation to live an empathetic life,” Reilly said. “Place yourself in the shoes of another so you may live vicariously through them. When you let that happen, you do become transformed.”

Malvern’s commencement ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. with a Baccalaureate Liturgy, presided over by the Rev. Jim Flynn, O.S.A., Malvern President, and featured musical selections throughout by the Liturgical Music Group and Band Ensemble. The Commencement ceremony began with the Class Speaker and Commencement Address, and included a number of Academic Excellence and Memorial Awards (below) before the conferring of diplomas by Fr. Flynn, Head of School Christian Talbot, and Assistant Head of School Steven Valyo ’70. The formal ceremony ended with a final blessing by Fr. Flynn before the traditional cap toss around the statue of St. Augustine at the entrance to campus.

Senior Awards

Highest Grade Point Average for Senior Year: Jack Buttimer

Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average for Four Years: Jack Buttimer

Memorial Awards

The Thomas J. O’Brien ’67 Memorial Award: Aaron Salinas

(Given to a senior who excels in academics and athletics.)

The Father Duffy Memorial Award for Activities and Leadership: Robert DiCicco

(Given to a senior who is an active leader in his class.)

The Grifferty Award: Mason Abate

(Named for longtime teacher and Augustinian, presented to a senior who has performed beyond highest expectations through persistence and positive attitude.)

Christian Service Award

The Saint Augustine Christian Service Award: Michael Morabito

In addition, on Wednesday morning at the Senior-Parent Awards Breakfast, a special award and scholarship was given toMichael Narzikul – the Michael P. Finnegan ’81 Scholarship, given in memory of the man who dedicated his student years to the service of the school, and who later served as Malvern’s alumni director, theology teacher, and who continued to remain involved in campus ministry and the spiritual life of the school.

The Malvern Prep Class of 2016

Mason Benjamin Abate

Christopher James Abbott

Joseph John Abel

Brett Kolin Allan

Rory McGlynn Allen

Riley Ketrick Ammerman

Kyle Robert Anderson

William George Beard

Ethan Hunter Bedwell

Gerard Joseph Bendinelli

Justice Colton Bennett

David Michael Bettenhausen

Brian Christopher Boyle

John Connor Brennan

Christopher Thomas Brown

Christopher Lim Bunn

Evan Chadwick Butcher

Jack Alex Buttimer

John Henry Capper

Matthew Dean Casaday

Zachariah Andrew Chan

Anthony Joseph Ciro

Christian William D’Ascenzo

Michael James Daubney

Skyler Freeman Davis

Anthony Del Vescovo

Christopher Joseph DeStefano

Robert DiCicco

Chance Blaise DiFebbo

Matthew David Dinehart

Philip Aloysius DiTrolio

Jarrett James Donaghy

Michael Thomas Droogan III

Nicholas Anthony Elia

James George Faunce V

Patrick Dooney Finley

Michael Joseph Flanagan

Sean Patrick Flynn

Alexander Freud

Alexander MacAllister Galilea

Justin Michael George

Robert Vincent Gibbons

Adam Richard Goldner

Collin Michael Gordinier

Michael Devlin Gormley

Harrison Alexander Dyment Grant

Brent Patrick Greeley

Brian Jeffrey Haines

James John Harrington

Matthew Thomas Heisler

Theodore Philip Holleran

Michael John Hollingsworth

Timothy Thomas Irvine, Jr.

Patrick Alan Kavanaugh

Benjamin Kihyo Koo

Matthew Edward Kropiewnicki

Matthew Christian Lattanze

Nicholas Andrew Lattanze

J. Nicholas Leasure

Tyler Francis Legner

Samuel Li

Rashon Cherief Lusane

Peter Vincent Lutz

David Francis Lynch

Alexander Ronald Mankowski

Joseph Leo Markferding

Harrison James McCurdy

Tait Michael McGlinn

Richard Martin McGuckin, Jr.

Ryan Gerald McNulty

Nicholas James Mensack

Michael Peter Miller

Michael Joseph Morabito

Liam Joseph Moran

Addison Vail Mueller

Jake Ryan Mullan

Brendan Timothy Mullen

Kevin James Munyan

William Daniel Murphy

Ian U. Murray

James Joseph Murray

Ryan M. Murray

Michael Gregory Narzikul

Joseph Andrew Naselli

Joseph Henry Panichelli

Andrew Christian Panzo

John Christopher Papandon III

Hunter Christopher Peck

Matthew Charles Pichola

James Joseph Piombino

William John Powers

Charles Fraser Reid

Kevin Richard Roussey

Nicholas Henry Rubino

Xavier Amir Ruffin

Aaron Michael Salinas

Christian Michael Savino

William Jonathan Schaffer

John Vincent Skrocki

Kevin Michael Smyth

Alexander John Sorensen

Samuel Shober Stroud III

Evan Cassidy Tate

Angelo Louis Tedesco

Coleman Owen Thomas

Andrew John Traynor

Timothy James Trusk

Benjamin Rylan Tuohey

Steven Edward Van Ommeren

Liam Martin Wheeler

Zachary James White

Cameron Wade Williams

Colin Michael Wills

Benjamin Joseph Yankelitis

Joshua Robert Zegel