GRADUATION DAY 2022
Reflections , tributes , and the introduction of the Rev . Christopher J . Devron , SJ , REACH Scholarship
M embers of the class of 2022 , their families , Fordham Prep faculty , staff , and trustees gathered at St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral on June 1st to celebrate the culmination of another challenging yet perseverant school year amidst a global pandemic .
This is the second time that commencement exercises were held at St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral , which is also the final resting place of Fordham Prep founder Archbishop John Hughes . Hughes also personally laid the cornerstone of the cathedral 17 years after founding Fordham Prep , as outgoing President Rev . Christopher J . Devron , SJ noted in his speech later that afternoon .
Principal Joseph Petriello PhD , ’ 98 , opened the exercises , which included the singing of the national anthem , and an invocation by Rev . Vincent Marchionni , SJ . It was then that studentselected graduation speaker Arison Cruz took his place on the altar .
“ I am proud to be counted in such a talented group of men ,” Cruz began . After noting the strangeness and unforeseen circumstances that were prevalent during the latter half of their time at the Prep due to the pandemic , he reminisced on some of the highlights from his high school years .
The church filled with laughter as he told the story of Prep students erupting in cheers on March 12th , 2020 when Principal Petriello ’ s voice came over the intercom to announce the switch to remote learning via Zoom . Cruz then asked for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives to COVID-19 .
Cruz compared his class to the servant in Parable of the Talents , stating that “ during those strange times it would have been so easy for [ the class of 2022 ] to bury their talents .” He went on to say that he and his classmates ” chose to be like the other two servants , not giving up what was given to us and working to gain even more .”
He then spoke about his class ’ resilience as well as their bond , and paid tribute to several of the Prep ’ s faculty members .
Cruz remembered his first day of summer football practice and how coaches Lou Barahona ’ 85 and Charles Ray ’ 88 taught him and his teammates the importance of trying new things ,
ABOVE : Graduates of the Class of 2022 cheering after receiving their diplomas at commencement on June 1 , 2022 at St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral .
BELOW : Math teacher Tony Tartaglia P ’ 94 ’ 99 ( left ), Assistant Principal of Professional Development & Supervision Dennis Ahern ’ 63 P ’ 01 ( middle ) and Social Studies teacher Bill Bozzone P ’ 00 ( right ) were each gifted Ram sculptures during the 2022 Commencement .
8 FORDHAM PREP RAMVIEW