G raduates of the Fordham Prep Class of 2024 , their families and friends , faculty , staff , and trustees filled the skyscraping neo-Gothic style church to celebrate the Prep ’ s 179th Commencement Exercises .
After the singing of the national anthem , Chaplain Fr . Jim Coughlin , SJ , opened the exercises with an invocation to the Holy Spirit . He was followed by the traditional Speaker for the Graduates , John Barisano ’ 24 .
“ This day marks my 160th Fordham Prep speech in the last two years ,” said President of Student Government Barisano , a member of the Speech and Debate team as well as the Fordham Prep Dramatic Society ( FPDS ).
We gather to confer these diplomas and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2024 just above the crypt in which Archbishop John Hughes — the founder of Fordham Prep — is buried , and in the seat of the Archdiocese on which he built a foundation of Catholic schools that still endures today ,” said Principal Joseph Petriello , PhD ’ 98 on May 29th at St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral .
Barisano reflected on the hardships brought on by the pandemic in September 2020 , a time when he and his freshman classmates “ thought the world might fall apart .”
“ We were faced with so many new challenges — hybrid learning , restricted sports , no hands-on activities — do you know how hard it is to learn chemistry without touching a chemical ?” he asked .
A freshman year of hybrid learning made returning to Shea Hall together as sophomores in the fall of 2021 more meaningful . They formed stronger connections with each other and their teachers . Barisano acknowledged social studies teacher Edward Jennings P ’ 08 ,’ 10 ,’ 14 , science teachers Matthew Distefano and Jennifer Muller , English teacher William Magner , religious studies teachers Paul Homer ( Director of Christian Service ) and Randall Pedro P ’ 12 ,’ 17 ( Director of Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion ), and modern language teacher Teresa Faustini P ’ 06 ,’ 10 , among others , in his tribute to Prep faculty .
Barisano took another look back in time to the freshman summer assignment , focused on developing the qualities of a Jesuit high school graduate at graduation . “ As the years go by , you actually live [ those qualities ] out ,” he began . “ You
TOP : President of Student Government John Barisano ’ 24 . BOTTOM : Retirees of the 2023 – 24 academic year ( right to left ) Pete McNamara P ’ 11 ,’ 12 ,’ 17 ( Science , Soccer ; 39 years of service ), Paul Homer ( Religious Studies and Christian Service ; 35 years of service ), Dr . Patricia Morris ( Mathematics , Modern Languages , Financial Aid ; 35 years of service ), Teresa Faustini P ’ 06 ,’ 10 ( Modern Languages ; 28 years of service ), Dr . Martin Carney ( Religious Studies ; 29 years of service ).
SUMMER 2024 VOLUME 44 , ISSUE 2 5