Devon Prep’s Class of 2010
Earns
Over $7.6 Million in Scholarships
Devon Preparatory School’s Class of 2010 received over $7.6 million in college scholarships and more than 250 acceptances to nearly 100 schools, including Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Pennsylvania. They will graduate on Saturday, June 5 at 10 AM in the school’s athletic facility on campus in Devon, PA. Rev. Mario Vizcaino, Sch.P., Provincial of the Piarist Fathers USA Province, will preside over the ceremony.
Graduation, June 5, 2010
The 56 seniors, who hail from the five county Philadelphia area, graduated on Saturday, June 5 in the school’s athletic facility on campus in Devon, PA. Rev. Mario Vizcaino, Sch.P., Provincial of the Piarist Fathers USA Province, presided over the ceremony.
The Class of 2010
Among Devon Prep’s Class of 2010 are 26 AP Scholars, 18 of whom are AP Scholars with Distinction, two National AP Scholars, 12 National Merit Scholars, nine National Merit Scholarship Winners, and six Eagle Scouts.
AP Scholars
In addition, this senior class has performed over 1800 hours of community service doing everything from collecting medical supplies for earthquake victims in Haiti to raising over $35,000 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Commencement
Robert M. Smith and Theodore J. Lawrence
The commencement ceremony began with a Salutatory Address by Robert M. Smithwho told his fellow graduates, “Change will come, but it is important to keep our memories of this place alive, to keep the friendships we made here for times both good and bad, and to always retain the moral values this school has taught us. Use the talents given to you, not for your own benefit, but for the good of others. To whom much is given, much is expected. “
In his address, Class Valedictorian Theodore J. Lawrence chose to thank those who influenced him most, his parents, fellow classmates, and the Devon Prep faculty. “The teachers make the school what it is. They dedicate their time, their knowledge, and their undivided attention to educating us and giving us the tools we need to be leaders in the future, “he said.
“When it comes right down to it, Devon is not about its exterior. At the heart of Devon Prep are its people,“ Lawrence explained. “A school can spend millions on new buildings and expensive upgrades, but there is no substitute for good people…. Devon is rich where it matters most.”
“My message for all of you today, “ he concluded, “is to not lose sight of what really matters. It’s easy in today’s society to get wrapped up in materialism…. But, ultimately, material things are trivial and insignificant. There is more to life than frivolous pursuits. It is the people in our lives who really matter. I pray that we never lose sight of this. May Devon serve as our example of this lesson. We are truly blessed to be part of such an incredible community.”
Guest Speaker
This year’s guest speaker was Devon Prep Class of 1971 Alumnus Dr. Anthony Coletta, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the Holy Redeemer Health System and a pioneer in the development of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Coletta also volunteers his services with Christian Services International (CSI). He made two trips to Haiti this year after it was hit by a devastating earthquake in January. His most recent trip was in April when he led 18 medical professionals into Haiti to live and work at the Adventist Hospital in Carrefour for a week.
In his address Dr. Coletta talked about his first night in Haiti, when he performed emergency surgery in less the ideal conditions, to save the life of a father of five who had come into the clinic in extreme pain.
“I realized that night, I’d been given a gift, “he said ”It’s a God given gift. We all work hard. We get good grades. We achieve. But my dexterity; the way my brain works; my sense of compassion, was given to me. And I was in the lucky position to be able to nurture it.
“And so,” Dr. Coletta continued, “my message to you is: early on in your life, realize the gifts that you have been given and nurture them. Not only the gifts that have been given to you through the sacrifice and love of your parents, not only the gift of a Devon Prep education, not only the gift of being born and / or raised in the United States. Look for and understand your God given gifts. They are present and different in every one of you.”
Finally, he urged the graduates, “The sooner you embrace those gifts and nurture them, the richer your life will be. When the right time comes, sooner rather than later, do what we all do, or what we all want to do, when we’re given gifts… give back.“ (A personal account of Dr. Coletta's trips can be found at http://www.devonprep.com/alumni/events0910/haiti-letter.html.)
Alumni Achievement Award
Also during Devon Prep’s graduation ceremony Class of 1986 Alumnus Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Boyle received the Alumni Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the United States of America and the US Military Academy at West Point where he earned his BS degree in Aerospace Engineering. He served in Germany as well as two tours in Iraq, the most recent in 2006 as Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command in Baghdad. Currently Lieutenant Colonel Boyle is assigned to the Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award particularly as I look around at the other graduates that are in attendance today,” Lt. Col. Boyle said.
“I know at Devon you are surrounded by excellence. And because of that, sometimes it is difficult to mark your progress as it unfolds. I can tell you what you will become. You will undoubtedly be future leaders in whatever your chosen profession. ,… but you are more than just leaders, you are leaders of character,” he explained. “And there is a big difference.
You have a moral and ethical foundation that was laid by your families long before you stepped foot in Devon. But once you got here that was nurtured and cultivated by the staff and faculty and then through your fellow classmates. In short, I know you know the difference between right and wrong... I think you’ll have the strength to choose the harder right over the easier wrong. …
“Finally, “ Lt. Col. Boyle concluded, ”I know you are men of faith…There may be an instance at some point in your life, when for others hope becomes forlorn. You’ll be the pillars of strength, the ones that come from only those who have a strong sense of their own beliefs.
These are the traits that each of you has and they are the hallmark of the Devon graduate.
So although my achievements have been recognized today, I am very confident that the achievements of the Class of 2010 will far exceed those.”
Student Awards
The commencement ceremony also included the presentation of several awards to the graduates honoring them for academic excellence, school spirit and community service. These included the following:.
Michael G. Bevilacqua– Excellence in Mathematics, AP Calculus
Robert F. Bildner – Excellence in Mathematics, Pre-Calculus
Jacob R. Boehmer - Excellence in AP English
Stephen T. Chase – Excellence in Accounting
Justin P. Chiccarine - Excellence in Italian
Brendan M. Coyne - Excellence in Mathematics, AP Statistics
Peter A. DeLong - Loyalty & School Spirit
Matthew C. DiMaio - Excellence in Fiction Writing
Patrick T. Doherty - Excellence in Vietnam War Studies
Brendan P. Fulmer - Excellence in AP German
Matthew C. Gruchacz - Excellence in AP Political Science
Stephen A. Haas - Excellence in AP German
Thomas R. Hallinan – Excellence in Chemistry
Patrick W. Henry - Excellence in AP English
Mark L. Hillegass - Excellence in Honors Chemistry
Shane J. Howard - Excellence in AP Physics C
Theodore J. Lawrence - Excellence in AP Chemistry
Carl B. Luchetti - Excellence in Forensic Science
Matthew L. Purcell - Excellence in Classical Literature
Andrew L. Robie of – Excellence in Classical Literature
Christopher F. Smith - Excellence in AP Spanish
Robert M. Smith– General Excellence, Highest Average Senior Year
Daniel H. Stack – Excellence in Mathematics, AP Calculus BC
Joseph A. Stucynski- Excellence in AP English
John P. Thomas - Excellence in Public Speaking
Brendan R. Tomoschuk– Excellence in AP Physics C
F. Quinn White - Excellence in English
John W. Wujcik– Excellence in Philosophy & Religion
Brady-Gallagher Award
Stephen Chase
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.
Sean Popper Award
Michael Magnotta
A memorial award to honor Sean F. Popper, a 1998 alumnus who passed away in 1999. This scholarship award is given to a student who personifies a love of God and perseverance despite diversity. Like Sean, the recipient has accepted life’s difficulties with grace and dignity and maintained a positive spirit that motivates him to achievement both academic and personal.
College Choices
Below is a list of Devon Prep’s Class of 2010 and their college choices.
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Michael G. Bevilacqua – Lafayette College |
Ryan P. Luffey - University of Pittsburgh |
