June 2025
In This Issue
- The 2024-2025 Academic Year Comes to a Close
- The Class of 2025 Joins the Ranks of Austin Prep Alums
- Alumni Career Day Recap
- Austin Prep Inducts 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
- Class of 1975 |50th Reunion
- Austin Open Golf Tournament Another Huge Success
- Austin Prep Contributes Over $38K to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Class of 2005 | 20th Reunion
- Pollard '97, Fernandes '25 Reach 100 Career Wins
- Alumni Baseball Game
- Austin Prep Lifers Get Married
- Austin Prep Students Travel to Bermuda, Japan, and Washington, D.C.
- Help Austin Prep Continue to Grow and Thrive!
- Brick Walkway
- Stay Connected
The 2024-2025 Academic Year Comes to a Close
6th graders no more! These guys are now on to the 7th grade after celebrating with a fun Field Day on the final day of school June 6.
That’s a wrap for the 2024-2025 Academic Year! We would like to thank our entire alumni community for your continued support of your alma mater. Read below for a recap of recent happenings on campus and with our alums!
The Class of 2025 Joins the Ranks of Austin Prep Alums
Austin Prep celebrated the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2025, Friday, May 16 on Father Seymour Field. Friends, family, faculty, staff, Austin Prep Board of Trustees and 131 graduates came together for Mass and the conferring of diplomas for members of the Class of 2025. A full program for the Baccalaureate Liturgy can be found here.
Fr. Art Johnson, O.S.A., remarkably celebrated his first graduation mass in his over 60-year affiliation with Austin Prep.
In his homily, Celebrant Rev. Art Johnson, O.S.A., who was one of Austin Prep's founding fathers when the school welcomed students in 1963, drew connections between the historic election the week before of Pope Leo XIV – an Augustinian Friar – and the experiences of the students in the Class of 2025. "As an Austin Prep student, you have learned some of the same skills that have made Pope Leo successful, what has made him so special." Fr. Johnson said. "He paid attention to his faith and his Augustinian heritage, and those words, veritas, unitas, and caritas. He used the same teachings of St. Augustine that you learned about here at Austin Prep."
"I hope you just don't remember those words: veritas, unitas, and caritas. They were Pope Leo's pathway to success, and they can be part of your success, too."
Despite Fr. Art's long history with Austin Prep, and his presence at many significant milestone events on campus over the years, the Baccalaureate Liturgy was remarkably the first graduation mass he celebrated in his over 60-year affiliation with the School.
Austin Prep Class of 2025 Salutatorian Bruce McGinley.
Bruce McGinley, Class of 2025 Salutatorian, focused on the process of trial and error and the importance of being able to make a mistake while continuing with the task at hand by trying something new. "It is a mindset to be harnessed. It's the ability to embrace uncertainty, to take risks, and to understand that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather a crucial part of it," Bruce said. "Every mistake, every setback, every rejection is just another step toward something greater."
Austin Prep Class of 2025 Valedictorian James Bergeron.
Class of 2025 Valedictorian, James Bergeron, had a similar reflection, focusing on the journey, and not necessarily always on results. "Results are not defined by memories, but defined by the path you took to reach them," James said. "We have all gone through an amazing journey together at this school, and in the process, obtained the knowledge, the character, and the work ethic to be exceptional individuals."
Dr. Hickey in the Chapel of St. Augustine with the Class of 2025 before Commencement.
While addressing the graduates, Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D. P’22, ’23, ’24, '27, like Fr. Art, took the opportunity to reflect on the significance of Pope Leo's election.
"The election of Pope Leo XIV roughly coincides with the graduation of Austin Prep’s Class of 2025 – you are the next regiment of the Augustinian cavalry who will continue their journey beyond 101 Willow Street – with veritas, unitas, and caritas, imprinted on your hearts – ready to make the world more just using Augustinian values as your moral compass. Like Pope Leo, you are sons and daughters of St. Augustine," Dr. Hickey said.
"In the same way that Pope Leo’s formation as an Augustinian will inspire his journey and his leadership as our Holy Father, I am beyond confident the Augustinian charism will guide you in the right ways in the days ahead."
Austin Prep Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Mr. Thomas Flynn '83.
The event also included remarks from Austin Prep Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Mr. Thomas Flynn '83. "As an alumnus, I can tell you from experience that the lessons you’ve learned at Austin Prep will stay for a lifetime. Some of those lessons might have been hard to understand in the moment, like the times you might have felt overwhelmed or unsure, but trust me when I tell you that they have shaped you into the strong, capable individuals that you are today," Mr. Flynn said.
"The education that you have received here, at the school that has given so much to me, has prepared you for more than just the next step of a journey, Austin Prep has prepared you to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impression on the world."
Mr. Flynn also congratulated the Class of 2025 for being accepted to some of the top colleges and universities in the United States, and for being awarded over $45 million in scholarships.
Austin Prep Hosts Career Day
John Guanci '92 and David Quirk '84 lead a panel discussion during Alumni Career Day. Mr. Quirk, owner of Quirk Construction Corp, has had a major impact on the physical footprint of campus, having led construction efforts at Fr. Seymour Field and the Lower Field Athletics Complex.
On Thursday, April 3 Austin Prep hosted Career Day, welcoming over 30 alumni to campus to share their professional experiences with students through panel discussions organized by profession, and a career fair to end the day. Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 participated in the day, with faculty and staff serving as moderators. Students had the opportunity to attend two panel discussion sessions, covering a wide variety of professions, and enjoyed individual conversations with our Alumni.
Panel discussion sessions, broadly covered the following professions: Broadcasting/Media, Education, Engineering, Entrepreneurship/Business, Finance, First Responders, Government Relations/Politics, Health & Wellness, Legal Services, Marketing/Communications, Military, Performing Arts, Real Estate/Sales, Sciences, Technology, and Writing/Journalism.
A special thank you to all the alums who spent the day on campus! View photos from the day here.
Austin Prep Inducts 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
The 2009 Football Team headlined this year's Athletic Hall of Fame induction.
The Austin Prep Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was inducted in a ceremony Saturday, April 26 on campus.
This year’s inductees include:
Bill Kopecky ’84 | Boy’s Ice Hockey
Sean Mullane ’03 | Golf
Robert Perras ’82 | Tennis
Stephanie Wood | Head Coach Girl’s Ice Hockey
2009 Football Team
1982 Tennis Team
It was great to welcome so many alums and families back to campus. Congratulations to all! View photos from the night here.
The Class of 1975 | 50th Reunion
The Class of 1975.
As a part of Commencement Weekend, we welcomed back the Class of 1975 for their 50th Austin Prep Reunion. A special thank you to Fr. Art Johnson O.S.A., who not only celebrated Baccalaureate Mass for the Class of 2025 on Friday, May 16, but a special mass for the Class of 1975 on Thursday before. It was great to welcome everyone back to campus! View photos from the event here.
Austin Open Golf Tournament Another Huge Success
There were many familiar faces from the alumni community at the Annual Golf Open.
The 37th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament, held at Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, was a great success raising over $95,000! You can view photos from the day here and a video from the day here.
The Annual Golf Tournament is vital in our efforts to continue to provide exceptional educational experiences for all our students. A special thank you to alumni families for their 2025 Title Sponsorships: Pimentel Construction and Quirk Construction Corp. The proceeds from the Austin Prep Open have always helped ensure that Austin Prep students are provided an extraordinary experience rich in academics, extracurricular activities, community and faith. This year, tournament proceeds will support STEM initiatives on campus. Your participation and support makes extraordinary possible at Austin Prep.
View all our Title, Lunch, Breakfast, Player Gift and Cart Sponsors here.
If you have questions about future golf sponsorships and events, please contact Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Head for Administration at sbelanger@austinprep.org.
Austin Prep Contributes Nearly $38k to St. Jude
Members of Austin Prep's Student Government and Mr. Jonathan Pollard '97, Associate Head of School, present a check for $37,804 to Emily Brooks, Development Specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
At a Community Meeting before Easter Break it was announced that Austin Prep raised $37,804 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the three Spirit Weeks this academic year. The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, prevention, research and treatment for pediatric catastrophic diseases, and the Hospital has been the beneficiary of Austin Prep’s charitable efforts in recent years. We appreciate the generosity of our families, and thank St. Jude for their continued efforts in treating the toughest childhood diseases. Austin Prep raised an additional $7,211 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to help support those impacted by the tragic wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area.
Class of 2005 | 20th Reunion
The Class of 2005 celebrated their 20-year Reunion on Saturday, May 31 at Kings in Lynnfield. It was great to see over 30 alumni in attendance! A special thank you to Joey Carregal '05 TR for making this night a great success!
Pollard '97, Fernandes'25 Reach 100 Career Wins
Dr. Hickey, Coach Pollard '97, and Alex Fernandes '25 celebrate 100 wins.
Austin Prep's 3-1 victory vs. Phillips Exeter on May 19 took the Austin Prep Baseball team to 18-2 on the season (they finished the season 20-2). It also marked Head Coach Jonathan Pollard's '97 100th career win, and Alex Fernandes' '25 100th win with the program. After the game, Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D. presented Coach Pollard with a new “Belt” for the program and custom bat signifying the milestone. Alex was presented with a custom bat noting his 100th career win, as well. Congrats to Alex and Coach Pollard!
This summer, Coach Pollard returns to USA Baseball to coach the 2025 Athlete Development Program. The ADP is a four-day developmental opportunity for the best baseball players in the country, held at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. Read more about the team here.
On Deck: Alumni Baseball Game and Luncheon
Baseball alums, have you been to the new Little Field yet? This is your chance!
This summer, we are excited to host the inaugural Alumni Baseball Game and Luncheon on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Our hope is to make this an annual tradition. An official invitation was recently sent out to all varsity baseball alumni via email. If you have questions, please reach out to Darren Stewart, Director of Alumni Relations, at darren.stewart@austinprep.org.
Austin Prep Lifers Get Married
Grace McCarthy ’16 married Michael Nigro ’16 on February 1, 2025. Grace and Michael both
attended Austin Prep together beginning in 6th grade. The photo features the following alumni in attendance from left to right: Frankie Pagano’16, Christina (McLellan) Pagano’16, Robert Pagano’15, Katelin Nigro’14, Stephen Reddy’18, Nino Pingaro’16, Cas Gast’16, Michael Nigro’16, Grace (McCarthy) Nigro’16, Kyle Havey’15, Mike Reddy’16, Sarah Klucznik’16, Katie Kiley’16, Nicole Rosania’16, Emily Rakers’16, Lily Burkett’17, Emily O’Connor’16.
Austin Prep Students Travel to Bermuda, Japan, and Washington, D.C.
Austin Prep Students in Bermuda.
At Austin Prep, every student has the unique opportunity to enhance their educational journey by participating in our global travel experiences. During the 2025 March Break, a select group of students embarked on an unforgettable adventure to the island of Bermuda, where they explored the world of Marine Science and engaged in hands-on research. From studying plankton beneath a microscope to swimming in crystal-clear caves, their days were filled with discovery and excitement.
Austin Prep students and staff in Japan.
Not to be outdone, also during the March Break, another group of Austin Prep students embarked on an unforgettable two-week adventure to Japan. Their journey took them to the vibrant cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, where they explored cutting-edge innovations at the STEM Hub Tokyo and delved into the rich cultural history of Kyoto. The trip also included a visit to Disneyland, where they were amazed at how technology and entertainment can work together. Students were immersed in a world of discovery and innovation. This trip not only expanded their understanding of STEM fields but also fostered a deep appreciation for the diverse and dynamic world around them.
Austin Prep students Alex Killilea '29, Sonya Vaysman '29, and Myles McEwen '29, with Head of Middle School Mr. Michael McLaughlin, had the honor of participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Just before the March Break, The Class of 2029 traveled to Washington, D.C. this week for their Class Capstone Trip. Students visited a number of monuments and sites celebrating the history and heritage of the United States. While at sites like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, students delivered presentations to their classmates about the significance of the site and notable features of the monument. The experience of students learning from each other represents the immersive way in which teachers designed lessons prior to the trip and experiences in the itinerary to provide students with ownership of their learning and contribute their voices to the program. Students also explored a number of Smithsonian Museums, and visited the new interactive "People's House" exhibit.
A highlight of the trip was the visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where Austin Prep students Alex Killilea ‘29, Sonya Vaysman ‘29, and Myles McEwen ‘29, and Head of Middle School Michael McLaughlin, had the honor of participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You can view the ceremony here.
The class trip was a unifying experience for the students with experiences like a class dinner at the Hard Rock Café, the celebration of Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Peter's on Capitol Hill, and a dinner and dance for students at the hotel to close the trip.
Help Austin Prep Continue to Grow and Thrive!
The strength of Austin Prep lies in our supportive community. Each year, the gifts to the Austin Prep Fund help to sustain the impactful programs and opportunities that keep Austin Prep at the forefront of educational excellence, both inside and outside the classroom.
The 2024-2025 Austin Prep Fund Campaign ends on Monday, June 30. If you have yet to make your tax-deductible donation, please join the alumni community and make a gift today by clicking here. Thank you to all who made their gift already!
Alumni Brick Walkway
Hundreds of families and alumni have literally etched their names permanently into Austin Prep’s
history with an engraved brick in the Alumni Walkway. Located from the main entrance doors down to and around Richard Meelia’67 Hall, the walkway connects Austin Prep’s past to its promising future. The walkway contains bricks with the names of alumni from the six decades of our history. It’s never too late to add a brick from any class year! Bricks are $500 and can be reserved with a gift to the Austin Prep Fund. Purchase Your Brick Today!
Stay Connected
The Office of Alumni Engagement wants to stay in touch with you and let you know what is happening at Austin Prep, as well as share your personal updates with fellow alumni. Please share updates including academic and sports honors, career milestones, marriages, births/adoptions, or any of life’s other big announcements.
Update Your Information Here
Submit a Class Note Here
Never a dull moment on our social media accounts! Be sure you follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Alumni group is “Austin Preparatory School Alumni”
