It is two days of festivities that seemed so far away four years ago. Now they’re here, the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday and graduation on Saturday.
At Friday’s graduation liturgy, the Rev. David Choquette ’90 told the Class of 2022 that while they are headed out to unchartered territory, one thing remains certain: God will be with them as he has been during their time at Xavier.
On Saturday at 9 a.m.,182 members of the 56th graduating class will become Xavier High School alums.
Friday’s Baccalaureate Mass and Ceremonies can be viewed HERE.
Saturday Graduation Ceremonies can be viewed HERE.
Awards & Recognition
PRINCIPAL’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP: Dylan Misenti.
This award is given annually to a graduating senior in the College Prep or Accelerated programs who has embraced the full Xavier experience, consistently worked to his potential in and out of the classroom, steadily improved his GPA over four years and exemplified what we demand of each of our students – to simply do his best day in and day out.
In the classroom, Misenti has always worked hard and maintained excellent grades throughout his four years, earning his way into five different honor societies. He was an XLI participant and served as a valued Big Falcon for the freshmen. He has volunteered his time at his local church delivering food to those in need and serving as a summer camp counselor. His guidance counselor said of him: “He is one of those students who simply rolls up his sleeves and takes care of business, ensuring that he diligently follows through with his commitments.”
It came as no surprise to anyone that Misenti was named captain of the soccer team and helped lead the team to the SCC Championship and to the Class L state semifinals. He is the son of Jeffrey and Lynn of Middletown and will continue his stellar career as a Bryant University Bulldog.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS
Each year, approximately 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship program by taking the PSAT in their junior year. Of those students, approximately 3 percent are recognized nationally as Commended Students for their outstanding performance. Seven members of the Class of 2022 have been named National Merit Commended Students: Chris Andrei Abarientos, Adam Chasse, Stephen King, Matthew O’Connor, Mario Pugliese, William Schneider, and Liam Sheeley
NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST
About 1% of those 1.5 million students are recognized nationally as Finalists for their outstanding performance. One member of the class of 2022 has been named a National Merit Finalist: Aidan Higgins.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS
Each year the College Board recognizes students who perform exceptionally well on multiple college-level Advanced Placement exams. While the results of this year’s AP exams are not yet known, at the conclusion of their junior year, members of the Class of 2022 were recognized by College Board for their outstanding performance.
AP Scholars: James DeDonato, Matthew Fuffo, Vincent Graham, Duane James, Stephen King, Joseph Lallier, Nicholas Martin, Wyatt McElroy, Alec Pawlowicz, Samuel Rector, Noah San Vicente, Liam Sheeley, Boyu Shen, Spencer Thompson
AP Scholars with Honor: Adam Chasse, Simon Collins, Colin Loria, Mario Pugliese, Matthew Reardon, Matthew Tracy
AP Scholars with Distinction: Chris Andrei Abarientos, Selorm Dogbey, Aidan Higgins, Matthew O’Connor, Aidan Pesce, Griffin Prushinski
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS
Each year, Xavier recognizes as Distinguished Scholars those members of the senior class who have taken the most challenging course load over their four years. Students must have taken at least 6 AP courses in their time at Xavier while maintaining the highest academic standards. They are: Chris Andrei Abarientos, Niko Anastasiades, Christopher Beaudoin, Damian Bianchi, Andrew Cataldi, Adam Chasse, Simon Collins, James DeDonato, Selorm Dogbey, Matthew Fuffo, Shane Gilhuly, Vincent Graham, Aidan Higgins, Brady Higgins, Duane James, Stephen King, Joseph Lallier, Dylan Levesque, Guanshen Li, Colin Loria, Nathaniel Lowry, Dillon Luke, Nicholas Martin, Wyatt McElroy, Matthew O’Connor, Alec Pawlowicz, Aidan Pesce, Owen Pestka, Griffin Prushinski, Mario Pugliese, Matthew Reardon, Samuel Rector, Noah San Vicente, Alexander Schumann, Liam Sheeley, Boyu Shen, Lukas Simko, Spencer Thompson, Matthew Tracy, Sathvik Vakati, Marko Vidackovic, Nikita Zuev, Austin Zwick
XAVERIAN BROTHERS SPONSORED SCHOOLS JUNIOR RETREAT
Each year a group of juniors represent Xavier at the XBSS Junior Retreat with students from the 12 other Xaverian schools. These are the Class of 2022 members who were participants as juniors in the 2020-2021 school year. They also are being thanked for living out the XBSS mission here at Xavier over the past four years: Nicholas Cusano, Selorm Dogbey, Brady Higgins, Joseph Lane, Colin Loria, Joseph O’Brien, John Roy, Sheel Vallam. Loria was the senior leader for Xavier at the retreat this school year.
PEER MINISTERS
Each year a number of seniors are selected through an interview process to serve the Xavier community as Peer Ministers. These young men played an integral part in our retreat programs, prayer services, liturgies, and service programs: Chris Beaudoin, Damian Bianchi, John Carrozzella, Adam Chasse, Nick Cusano, James DeDonato, Selorm Dogbey, Matt Fuffo, Isaac Gonzalez, Brady Higgins, Chris Jacy, Stephen King, Nick Kirejczyk, Tristan Kolb, Joe Lallier, Joey Lane, Colin Loria, Thomas Lunt, Rory McCormack, Joe O’Brien, Justin Patenaude, Alec Pawlowicz, Andrew Quintana, Jack Roy, Alex Schumann, Liam Sheeley, Sam Simko, Keegan Truscinski, Sheel Vallam, Marko Vidackovic, Will Webb, Isaac Wolfgang, Mitch Wollen.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
& NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS
The Presidential Award is presented each year to seniors in recognition of excellent academic achievement. Separately, the Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools recognizes those students elected to the National Honor Society. The following students have received one or both of these distinctions: Chris Andrei Abarientos, John Amatrudo, Niko Anastasiades, Jamie Ayepah, Joseph Barbagallo, Christopher Beaudoin, Daman Bianchi, Eamon Burke, Marcelo Burno, John Carrozzella, Andrew Cataldi, Adam Chasse, Simon Collins, James Colwell, Eamon Conneely, Nicholas Connors, Nathaniel Correia, Nicholas Cusano, Carter Dahl, James DeDonato, Michael Del Monaco, David DeTuccio, Selorm Dogbey, Kyle Egidio, Alessandro Fernandez, Matthew Fuffo, Dillon Gallo, Ryan Gerry, Jake Gesseck, Kevin Gilhuly, Shane Gilhuly, Ryan Godburn, Eduardo Gonzalez, Isaac Gonzalez, Vincent Graham, Anthony Guzzardi, Brian Hartley, Aidan Higgins, Brady Higgins, Noah Howell, Duane James, Mason Jordan, Sanchit Kikanamada, Stephen King, Jacob Kirejczyk, Kyle Kirejczyk, Oliver Klimas, Adam Kordalski, Shea Krassner, Matthew Kraus, Drew Kron, Shane Kulhay, Joseph Lallier, Joshua Lesniak, Dylan Levesque, Guanshen Li, Andrew Liptak, Colin Loria, Nathaniel Lowry, Dillon Luke, Thomas Lunt, Rongzhuo Ma, Zikun Ma, Collin MacKeen, Michael Mahon, Brian Malicki, Nicholas Martin, Rory McCormack, Evan McDonald, Wyatt McElroy, Dylan Misenti, Aidan Muldoon, Robert Mullins, Ashton Murphy, Kyle Noska, Joseph O’Brien, Matthew O’Connor, Bennett Pancoast, Justin Patenaude, Alec Pawlowicz, Aidan Pesce, Owen Pestka, Benjamin Pitruzzello, Braden Pollack, Griffin Prushinski, Charles Puckhaber, Mario Pugliese, Vincent Rappoccio, Matthew Reardon, Samuel Rector, John Roy, Noah San Vicente, Brody Santagata, Alexander Sauer, Alexander Schumann, Liam Sheeley, Boyu Shen, Julian Sicurella, Lukas Simko, Samuel Simko, Luke Solomon, Joseph Spurgeon, Jack Susca, John Szeghy, Spencer Thompson, Bryce Tindall, Hartley Torrison, Matthew Tracy, Luke Traub, Keegan Truscinski, Sathvik Vakati, Marko Vidackovic, William Webb, Steven Wohlmuth, Maxwell Wojtusik, Mitchell Wollen, David Wright, Jr., Ziyang Zhang, Nikita Zuev, Austin Zwick
BROTHER CELESTINE MEDAL
The medal is awarded each year to students who, upon the completion of the academic year, have an overall final average of A with no final average grade less than an A- in their major subjects. This prestigious award, which a student can be given only once during his four years at Xavier, is the highest academic tribute that the school bestows. The award is named after Brother Celestine Killigrew who taught history and Religion at Xavier in the early 1960’s and died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Over the previous three years, 60 members of the class of 2022 have been honored with the Brother Celestine Medal: Chris Andrei Abarientos, John Amatrudo, Joseph Barbagallo, Christopher Beaudoin, Damian Bianchi, Andrew Cataldi, Adam Chasse, Simon Collins, Nicholas Connors, Nicholas Cusano, Carter Dahl, Selorm Dogbey, Matthew Fuffo, Ryan Godburn, Eduardo Gonzalez, Vincent Graham, Aidan Higgins, Duane James, Sanchit Kikanamada, Stephen King, Kyle Kirejczyk, Matthew Kraus, Drew Kron, Dylan Levesque, Guanshen Li, Colin Loria, Dillon Luke, Nicholas Martin, Evan McDonald, Wyatt McElroy, Aidan Muldoon, Ashton Murphy, Matthew O’Connor, Bennett Pancoast, Justin Patenaude, Aidan Pesce, Owen Pestka, Griffin Prushinski, Mario Pugliese, Matthew Reardon, Samuel Rector, John Roy, Noah San Vicente, Alexander Sauer, Liam Sheeley, Boyu Shen, Julian Sicurella, Luke Solomon, Jack Susca, John Szeghy, Spencer Thompson, Bryce Tindall, Matthew Tracy, Luke Traub, Keegan Truscinski, William Webb, Mitchell Wollen, David Wright, Jr., Nikita Zuev, Austin Zwick.
This year two more members of Class of 2022 are being recognized for having earned this honor in their senior year: Jacob Kirejczyk, Benjamin Pitruzzello
XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD
They did not miss a day of school in 4 years: Jamie Ayepah, Dillon Luke, Liam Sheeley
APPOINTED TO A U.S. SERVICE ACADEMY
The Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy takes great pleasure in recognizing Lukas Angeles Simko with an offer of Appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Lukas’ uncle and godfather, Col. Joey Angeles, US Air Force Academy Class of 1998, presented the citation.
The Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, on behalf of the President of the United States of America and the Admissions Committee, takes great pleasure in presenting a certificate of appointment to Mitchell Reed Wollen.
OTHER AWARDS
Many of our graduates have received special recognition from Xavier or from national, state, and local organizations.
John Amatrudo received the LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD.
Joseph Barbagallo received the KIWANIS FOUNDATION OF MIDDLETOWN.
Marcelo Burno received the GEORGE V. KEITHAN, SR. MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP.
Adam Chasse received the SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE SCHOLAR LEADER AWARD.
Nicholas Cusano received the CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS AWARD and THE ROTARY CLUB OF WETHERSFIELD/ROCKY HILL SCHOLARSHIP.
Carter Dahl received the MONTARTO SCHOLARSHIP.
James DeDonato received the FOREST CITY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, COUNCIL NO. 3 AWARD and SCHOLARSHIP, the BIG Y Scholarship, and the RALPH J. MONACO MEMORIAL CIVICS EDUATION AWARD.
Michael Del Monaco received the GEORGE V. KEITHAN, SR. MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP and the CONNECTICUT STATE RIFLE AND REVOLVER ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP.
Selorm Dogbey received the MIDDLETOWN SPORTS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD.
Matthew Fuffo received the ST. PATRICK CHURCH KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP.
Kevin Gilhuly was recognized by the CONNECTICUT SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
Ryan Godburn received the BURGER KING SCHOLARSHIP, the CONNECTICUT STATE RIFLE AND REVOLVER ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP, the JUSTIN WISNIEWSKI SCHOLARSHIP, and the CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP.
Isaac Gonzalez received the ALTRUSA SCHOLARSHIP, the CHRISTOPHER CORBETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, the CUNO FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP, the MIDDLETOWN ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP, the STEPHEN PHILLIPS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP and the MID-STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SANFORD S. SHORE HISPANIC OUTREACH LEADERS IN ACTION EDUCATION AWARD.
Vincent Graham earned a SILVER MEDAL for his performance on the LEVEL 4 NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM and a CERTIFICATE OF HONOR for his performance on the LEVEL 5 NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM.
Aidan Higgins received the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY LOUIS V. TROTTA AWARD and YALE UNIVERSITY’S WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY PROGRAM HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY AWARD.
Brady Higgins received the MARK SCHAEFER SCHOLARSHIP.
Noah Howell received the EAST HAMPTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP, the VFW EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR AWARD, the ST. PATRICK CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP, and the EAST HAMPTON ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP.
Oliver Klimas received the POLISH CULTURAL CLUB OF GREATER HARTFORD JENNIE MARCONI-JAVOSKI SCHOLARSHIP.
Drew Kron received the HEBRON VETERANS OF FOREIGH WARS SCHOLARSHIP.
Dylan Levesque received the BIG Y SCHOLARSHIP, and the EAST HAMPTON ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP.
Colin Loria received the CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD.
Nathaniel Lowry earned a CERTIFICATE OF HONOR for his performance on the Level 4 NATIONAL FRENCH EXAM.
Thomas Lunt received the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY COLTER ABELY ACHIEVEMENT FUND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AWARD.
Evan McDonald received the XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS AWARD.
Wyatt McElroy received the KOREY LEE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP and THE EAST HAMPTON ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
Reilly O’Connell received the JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA BAND AWARD
Matthew O’Connor received the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY LOUIS V. TROTTA AWARD
Bennett Pancoast received the NATIONAL SCHOOL CHORAL AWARD.
Frankie Perez received the WILLIAM AND MARION TITTEL SCHOLARSHIP.
Aidan Pesce received the SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE SCHOLAR LEADER AWARD, earned a CERTIFICATE OF HONOR for his performance on the LEVEL 5 NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM, and received a FOUR-YEAR NATIONAL ARMY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP.
Benjamin Pitruzzello received the XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ARTS AWARD.
Samuel Rector received the CONNECTICUT HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD.
Liam Sheeley received the CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS AWARD and earned a CERTIFICATE OF HONOR for his performance on the LEVEL 4 NATIONAL SPANISH EXAM.
Samuel Simko received the NATIONAL SCHOOL ORCHESTA AWARD.
Jack Susca received the UNICO BOOK AWARD.
John Szeghy, Jr. received the JAMES V. TILLONA CLASS OF ’96 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP.
William Webb received the OLD SAYBROOK GARDEN CLUB SCHOLARSHIP.
Steven Wohlmuth received the ROBERT C. AND MARGUERITE C. GRAVES MEMORIAL SCHOLASRHIP and the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER NEW HAVEN COUNTY WILLIAM AND MARION TITTEL SCHOLARSHIP.
D.J. Wright received the NEW HAVEN COUNTY CHAPTER NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION GENE CASEY SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD.
Nikita Zuev received the GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIP.