Start Your Legacy Journey Now: Admissions Early Application Deadline
Alumni Career Day
Community Gathers for Liturgies for peace and justice
"In the Classroom"
Student-Athletes Participate in Signing Days
Augustinian Friar on Track for Sainthood
Support the Austin Prep Fund This Holiday Season
Alumni Events & Happenings
Reunion Recap
We are grateful for the opportunity to safely bring alumni together over recent weeks after a quiet year without in-person alumni gatherings.
In October, alumni from the classes of 1980 and 1981 enjoyed a beautiful day on the greens at Hillview Golf Course, followed by a gathering at the Horseshoe Grill. A few of the alumni closed out their 40th reunion with an exclusive tour of campus and pictures with some of their teachers. Thank you to Bob Baldassari ’80, John Shinney ’80, Kevin Murphy ’81 and Larry McQuaid ’81 for organizing the weekend.
On November 6, 32 alumni from the classes of 1995 and 1996 toured Austin Prep, enjoyed homemade flatbreads straight out of the pizza oven, then headed over to The Charles at Bunratty in Reading Center to continue their 25th Reunion celebration. Coach Maradei was the guest of honor! Bob Surette ’95 and Gregg Dennis ’96 were instrumental in pulling their reunion together, thank you!
The Thanksgiving holiday brought five classes together to celebrate reunions:
On Wednesday, 76 members of the Class of 2020 returned to campus for their Alumni Breakfast. The last time this class was together was at their Baccalaureate Mass in May 2020.
Friday marked 20th and 10th reunions for the classes of 2001 and 2011, respectively. Forty alumni got together to celebrate and reminisce. Thank you to Libby (Dowd) Basile ’01, Bridget (Monagle) Kent ’01, Thomas Martin ’01 and Kasey Mazza ’11 for gathering your classmates together!
Class of 2011
Class of 2001
On Saturday evening a total of 98 alumni came together for the 5-year Reunion for the class of 2015 and the 15-year Reunion for the class of 2005. Gratefully, Ava Clemente ’15, John Smolak ’15 and Joey Carregal ’05 (with help from Ashley (McCarthy) Leo ’05) spearheaded the events. Faculty Nate Piccini ’93 and Marla Pascucci-Byrne P’26 stopped by to celebrate with the alumni.
Class of 2015
Class of 2005
The journeys we have all experienced are wide and varied; but the common thread of Austin Prep pulls us together. We look forward to continuing to welcome alumni back to campus! If you would like to help plan your class reunion, please contact Director of Alumni Relations & Giving Jennifer Hodgdon at jennifer.hodgdon@austinprep.org.
Blue Mass Returns
Austin Prep celebrated Blue Mass on November 22.
Representatives from the Reading Police and Fire Departments, as well as first responder parents from the Austin Prep community, turned out for Austin Prep’s 5th Annual Blue Mass and Mass of Thanksgiving on Monday, November 22. The Mass, held annually in gratitude for all those who put their lives on the line for others, returned to campus for the first time since 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view photos from the event here.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark O’Connell, JCD Episcopal Vicar of the North Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, who emphasized the importance of giving back while looking out for everyone, especially those on the margins.
“At Austin Prep, you have been given a great foundation, but it is important what you do with it,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Do something with your life that is virtuous. There is no better example than first responders. We saw this during the pandemic. Because of them, we can be safe in our homes, protected from disasters.”
“It is important to be aware of everyone, including the people on the edge, because that is imitating our Lord,” Bishop O’Connell added.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D. offered his thanks: “On behalf of the Austin Prep community, I extend our gratitude to all the first responders who are present this morning, and those who are present in our thoughts, including the families of first responders who share in the burden and the sacrifice.”
After Mass, Bishop O’Connell blessed the emergency vehicles in the school parking lot and gave a special blessing to the first responders. Following the Mass, first responders enjoyed breakfast in the Heritage Room with Austin Prep faculty and staff. Today's Blue Mass comes on the heels of the recent National First Responders Day, which was recognized on October 28.
Father-Daughter Legacy Family Performs Together
Brian Sensale ’93 is third from left; Celia Sensale ’27 on right.
Celia Sensale '27 and her father, Brian '93, P'27, starred in Romeo and Juliet at the Quannapowitt Players, Inc. in Reading, during the month of November.
An all-volunteer organization, The Quannapowitt Players, Inc. mission is to produce quality and affordable theater, encouraging the arts in our community. The Quannapowitt Players, Inc. has provided this quality community theater for over 80 years in a converted historic 1853 Little Red School House, which features a black-box performance space with intimate seating for 150 patrons.
Start Your Legacy Journey: Priority Application Deadline is Today
Austin Prep Head Green Key Ambassadors.
As a reminder, Austin Prep's Priority Application Deadline is today, December 15. All applications that are completed by this date will be reviewed first and released with the initial round of decisions at the end of January. To access your application, please login to your Admissions Portal. Once the Application Fee is paid and Demographic Information is complete, the remainder of the application checklist will populate.
Alumni Career Day is Back!
Alumni will once again return to campus for Alumni Career Day on Friday, January 28, 2022. Grades 10, 11 and 12 will choose from a variety of alumni panel discussions moderated by faculty, followed by attending a career fair in Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall. We are thrilled to announce that we are at capacity for alumni panelists for the 2022 day!
The 2020 Alumni Career Day brought 43 alumni back to campus to meet with students and to share their professional experience in areas such as Health & Wellness, Broadcasting, Government Relations and Engineering.
Community Gathers for Liturgies for peace and justice
As an Augustinian Catholic community, we believe that every act of racism and violence is a failure to acknowledge and respect that we are created in God’s image and that every human person has worth and dignity. Our school community celebrated two liturgies for peace and justice on Monday, November 15th in the Chapel of St. Augustine.
"In the Classroom"
Discussion & Debate: Prior to Ms. Jennifer Gaudette and Ms. Nicole Marley’s Discussion & Debate students reading “Dear Martin” in November, alumnus Mr. Jim Martin ’70 joined three of the classes virtually to speak to students about his Austin Prep experience as the first African American person to graduate from the School. He shared his story about growing up in Dorchester, commuting to Austin Prep each day; how being in the wrong place at the wrong time impacted his journey; and how he has used his experiences and values learned at Austin Prep to shape the person he is today.
AP European History: Mr. Tony Biscardi's '88 AP European History class experienced the return of the Enlightenment Salon. Students each represented a person from either the Scientific Revolution or the Enlightenment and debated ideas. Some even dressed as their assigned persona.
Oceanography Lab: Students in Ms. Anjali Bhardwaj's Oceanography Lab created seawater in the lab with the same salinity that would be found in the ocean. The purpose of this lab was to demonstrate how the ocean is a solution that is not homogenous; there are different layers with different temperatures and salinity. Students looked at how temperature and salinity impact the density of salt water and create layers in our ocean. Students saw that salt water with a higher salinity will sink, and when salinities are equal, warmer water will rise and colder water will sink. These layers help create currents, which is the next topic of instruction.
Astronomy 1 Honors: Students in Mr. Ric Vanegas' P'21, '24 Astronomy 1 Honors class illustrated the different moon phases using Oreos.
Honors Statistics: Students in Ms. Doreen Fuller's P'09, '13 Honors Statistics class participated in Normal Distribution bingo. This version of the classic bingo game had students solve statistics problems using the normal distribution which implements the rule of 68%-95%-99.7%, a topic which is also mentioned and explained in psychology.
Student-Athletes Participate in College Signing Days
Coach Peter Smyth ’04 with Jack Seibel (L) and Matt Bellis (R).
This fall, six senior student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic endeavors beyond Austin Prep. We look forward to following their athletic journeys!
Jack Iannibelli - Stonehill College (baseball)
Evan Blanco - University of Virginia (baseball)
Matt Bellis - St. Michael's College (lacrosse)
Jack Seibel - Nazareth College (lacrosse)
Maeve Carey - Stonehill College (ice hockey)
Kathryn Karo - Stonehill College (ice hockey)
Augustinian Friar on Track for Sainthood
Father Bill Atkinson, O.S.A.
A history-making Augustinian friar has made it one step closer to sainthood after a ceremony last week at the Church of St. Thomas of Villanova, located on the campus of Villanova University. Father Bill Atkinson, O.S.A., a popular Augustinian priest and high school teacher, will have his name submitted by Archbishop of Philadelphia Nelson Pérez to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with Pope Francis ultimately making the final call regarding the outcome of the cause.
Upon graduating from high school in 1964, Father Atkinson asked to join the Augustinian Order, and spent a year as a postulant at the Augustinian Academy in Staten Island, New York, before entering Villanova Province’s novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel in New Hamburg, New York. While studying to be a priest, Father Atkinson was severely injured in a winter toboggan accident, leaving him almost completely paralyzed from the neck down. He survived the accident, and despite being confined to a motorized wheelchair for the rest of his life, continued in his desire to continue as an Augustinian. A care team of friars assisted Father Atkinson during his time in formation, and he completed his years of college and theological studies at Villanova.
Father Atkinson became the church’s first quadriplegic to be ordained a priest after receiving special dispensation from Pope Paul VI, and in 1974, almost nine years after the accident that left him a quadriplegic, he celebrated his first Mass at the Fieldhouse of Villanova University.
For nearly thirty years, Father Atkinson taught at Msgr. Bonner High School outside Philadelphia, where he was a theology faculty member and school chaplain, senior class retreat coordinator, moderator of the football team, and the director of the after-school and Saturday detention program. He was the recipient of many awards and acknowledgements, among them an honorary doctorate from Villanova University in 2000, and was known as an excellent teacher and moderator as well as for his love of life, deep compassion, bright sense of humor, and his gratitude despite his challenges. He died in 2006.
We deeply appreciate all who have already made a gift to the 2021-2022 Austin Prep Fund. The money annually raised for this essential campaign makes an Austin Prep education exceptional. Along with providing resources for expanded academic activities, gifts to the Austin Prep Fund provide resources that support the arts, athletics, clubs and other activities that give students important opportunities to improve their skills and discover new interests.
As we approach the holiday season, we ask you to make Austin Prep a charitable priority in your year-end giving plans by contributing to the Austin Prep Annual Fund. Your gift can be directed to Academics, Athletics, Mission and Inclusion, Student Life and Arts, Tuition Assistance or Austin Support (goes to the area of greatest need).
Please click here now to make a donation. Thank you in advance for your continued support of the Austin Prep Fund during the holiday season and beyond!
Alumni Events and Happenings
We look forward to welcoming our alumni back to 101 Willow Street!
January 18: “Austin Prep Presents: Balancing Your Overall Health Through Posture & Stretching” with Dr. Abbey Denaro ’05, hosted by science faculty Dr. Ric Vanegas P'21, '24.
January 28: Alumni Career Day
March 5: Classes of 1971 & 1972 Suite at Merrimack vs. Northeastern Men’s Hockey
March 29: “Austin Prep Presents: Exploring Entrepreneurship” with Jamie Dooley ’92
May 19 and 20: 50th Reunion for Classes of 1970, 1971 & 1972
May 23: 35th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament
For up-to-date information and registration links for events and happenings, please visit theAlumni pageof our website and social media.
