Class of 2009 - Devon Prep’s 50th Graduating Class

Devon Preparatory School graduated its 50th Class, the Class of 2009, on June 6 during a commencement ceremony held in the school’s athletic facility packed with parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives and friends.

This Class proved to be an outstanding one with over $7.1 million in college scholarships and more than 275 acceptances to nearly 100 schools, including 14 Ivy League acceptances from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania.

The 56 graduates hailed from communities in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties.  In addition to the Ivy League acceptances, they also received acceptances from MIT, Johns Hopkins, the US. Military Academy, NYU, Tufts and Georgetown among others.

The Class of 2009 included 33 AP Scholars (15 AP Scholars with Distinction), two National AP Scholars, 12 National Merit Scholars (four were Finalists, two of whom were Scholarship winners) and one National Hispanic Scholar. In addition nearly 20% of the graduates will participate in collegiate athletics.

This group of young men also performed over 1800 hours of community service doing everything from collecting and distributing food to needy families to raising more than $34,000 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

One senior, Brian Lefchak, accumulated over 200 service hours supporting the Arthritis Foundation. In addition to advocacy efforts he planned and performed in two concerts to raise several thousand dollars for a scholarship fund for Camp JRA (Juveniles Reaching Achievement), where children with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases can have fun, learn about their disease, and form social bonds with others who share their challenges. The money he raised will provide tuition for 10 children (ages 8 -18) to attend the week long summer camp.
 
According to Headmaster Rev. James Shea, Sch.P., these graduates are an outstanding group of young men. “During their time at Devon Prep they have consistently excelled in and out of the classroom, and have dramatically increased the spirit of the school. I am delighted to see their excellence recognized by being accepted into the finest colleges and universities in the United States,” Fr. Shea said. “These young men are a credit to our school and their families.”

Speaking at this year’s graduation was class Valedictorian Patrick T. Mannion and class Salutatorians Felix deRosen and Christian R. Mirabile. All three of these young men were AP Scholars with Distinction as well as National Merit Scholars. Mannion was also a National AP Scholar and National Merit Scholarship Winner. Both Mannion and deRosen will attend Harvard University in the fall and Mirabile will attend the University of Pennsylvania.

Mannion told his fellow graduates,”…the memories that have happened here will be with us each and everyday. We’ve left our mark on the school…but more importantly we’ve left our mark on each other.”
 
According to Mirabile Devon Prep’s small size turned out to be a great asset for the Class of 2009. “Thanks to our small size which really proved to be an advantage, the class of ‘09 developed into a family of 56 brothers over these four years,” he said. “And of course as you would expect, brothers disagree, but at the end of the day, we know that we would do anything for any one of our classmates, and that is the real definition of a family.

“Unlike other high schools,” he continued, “where everyone is dedicating the majority of his time trying to fit in, here we encouraged each other to stand out. And that was a pivotal factor in our success as a class.”

This year’s Commencement Speaker was Devon Prep Class of 1993 Alumnus and Delaware County native Mr. Mark Malseed, bestselling coauthor of “The Google Story,” a critically acclaimed book published in more than 25 languages worldwide.

As an investigative journalist and the executive researcher for Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, he also collaborated on the #1 New York Times bestsellers “Plan of Attack,” about the decision to invade Iraq, and “Bush at War” about the US response to 9/11.
 
“A wonderful thing about Devon Prep is that beyond the academic rigors it provides a very full four years of developing friendships, of learning how to lead,” Malseed told the graduates.

 “In fact by surviving Devon, you’ve just earned yourself a huge head start on the rest of your life,” he said.  “As Philadelphia sports fans, you know how fleeting a lead can be. So don’t squander it! Take your head start and build on it!

Also during Devon Prep’s graduation ceremony Class of 1977 Alumnus Mr. Francis X. Diebold received the Alumni Achievement Award.  Diebold is J.M. Cohen Professor of Economics, a professor of finance and statistics, and Co-Director of the Financial Institutions Center at the University of Pennsylvania and its Wharton School.

Finally, the graduates also honored their mothers during the ceremony by presenting each with a single yellow rose. Mrs. Mary McNichol was presented with a special gift by Headmaster Rev. Shea as he thanked her for her dedication and the countless volunteer hours she has given to the school throughout her nine years as a Devon Prep mom.

 

Following is a list of Devon Prep graduates and the colleges they have chosen to attend

George Abraham– Villanova University/ Drexel College of Medicine
Daniel F. Albornoz -  Drexel University
Salvatore S. Anzaldo  – Penn State University
Vincent A. Arcana – La Salle University
Kevin W. Auriemma – Cabrini College
Michael P. Baldassari – University of Pennsylvania
Griffin T. Becker – University of Delaware
Andrew J. Bellwoar – Penn State University
Andrew T. Bigelow – Villanova University
Ryan F. Blumenthal – Immaculata University
Christopher P. Caporale -  Rochester Institute of Technology
Stephen J. Contigiani  – La Salle University
Vincent A. Coppa  – La Salle University
Christopher J. D’Aniello – University of Georgia
Marco Degli Espost– Penn State University
Felix deRosen – Harvard University
Christopher J. Doody – Susquehana University
James M. Gamrat  – Mulhenberg College
David W. Grashof – Boston University
Jeffrey A. Hackman – St. Joseph’s University
Stephen J. Johnson – University of Pittsburgh
L. Bradley LaBoon – York College of Pennsylvania
Brian T. Lefchak – Drexel University
Benjamin R. Limoges – Tufts University
Michael R. Livesey – University of Richmond
Sean G. Livesey – University of Richmond
Conor M. Logan – University Richmond
Patrick T. Mannion – Harvard University

 

Philip A. Marsili – Penn State University
Brian P. McCarthy – University of Delaware
Sean E. McIntyre – American University
Albert McMahon – Widener University
Edward J. McNichol – King’s College
James T. McParland – University of Delaware
Matthew J. Meeth – High Point University
Lucas A. Migliarino – Villanova University
Christian R. Mirabile  – University of Pennsylvania
Neil F. Moerman  – Albright College
Kevin M. Mucchetti  – University of Pennsylvania
Timothy S. Murphy  – George Washington University
Leo L. Nentwig – King’s College
Henry M. Okonski–Monmouth University
J. Bradford Parkes - MIT
Anthony J. Petras– Drexel University
Matthew J. Radomile–  La Salle University
Mark P. Rafferty– Tufts University
Aaron R. Rosania–University of Maryland
Alexander P. Sakers– Tufts University
Joseph M. Santos– Villanova University
Richard M. Say– American University
William P. Schwarz– Villanova University
Walter R. Snook– Princeton University
Christian A. Staub– Neumann University
Joseph F. Stormes– Dickinson College
Garrison J. Weaver– University of Richmond
Jeffrey T. Young  – Arcadia University

Awards and winners presented during the graduation ceremony.

General Excellence – Christian Mirabile

Loyalty and School Spirit -  Sean McIntyre

Excellence in Philosophy and Religion – Mark Rafferty

Excellence in English and Literature

  • English — George Abraham, Edward McNichol Chester
  • AP English — Andrew Bellwoar, Kevin Mucchetti, William Schwarz

Excellence in Mathematics

  • Pre-Calculus — Ryan Blumenthal
  • AP - Calculus AB — Brian Lefchak
  • AP Calculus BC — James McParland
  • AP Statistics — Michael Baldassari

Excellence in AP Computer Science — Bradley LaBoon

Excellence in Accounting —  Christopher Doody

Excellence in Chemistry

  • Chemistry — Walter Snook
  • AP Chemistry — J. Bradford Parkes

Excellence in AP Physics C — Benjamin Limoges

Excellence in AP U.S. Government & Politics —  Alexander Sakers

Excellence in AP Spanish — Jeffrey Young

Excellence in AP German — Patrick Mannion

Excellence in Italian — Christopher D’Aniello

Excellence in Forensic Science —  Salvatore Anzaldo

Excellence in Vietnam War Studies — Richard Say

Excellence in Public Speaking — Timothy Murphy

Excellence in Classical Literature —Stephen Johnson, Joseph Stormes

Highest Average in Senior Year — Christian Mirabile

Brady-Gallagher Award — Patrick Mannion

  • This award is presented in memory of Daniel Brady, class of 1964, and Richard Gallagher, class of 1962, who died for their country in the Vietnam War. The recipient is chosen by the Student Council members for his exemplary selflessness and his devotion to Devon Prep and his fellow students.