Commencement 2024

Mr. De Silva, members of the Board of Trustees, colleagues, parents, grandparents, friends and members of the Class of 2024, it is my honor and privilege to open this Commencement. Our ceremony is a special celebration of the seniors, and all those who helped them get them to the finish line today. It has been a year to remember--torrential downpours, earthquakes as well as aftershocks, a solar eclipse, and even a snowstorm--there was definitely something different about the 2023-24 academic year. Indeed, the entire four-year high school experience for our seniors has been decidedly different, heavily impacted by the pandemic.

However, in the midst of all these challenges, the Class of ’24 persevered and has risen above it all, to reach this Commencement ceremony, the conclusion of their years here at Gill St. Bernard’s.

Last year at this very time, we were struggling with some devastating news, regarding two of our students who had just been in a serious automobile accident. We are all so thankful that both Zia and Christian are with us here today. Thoughts and prayers do make a difference.

The senior class has led with distinction on stage and in the theater, on the playing fields and courts, and through their service to the communities beyond our campus here in Gladstone. Alexa Woodard and Caroline D’Arcangelis were major contributors to our plays, concerts and shows. Ainsley Kroon performed countless hours of service, given her commitment to help others.

Our athletic teams were once again successful, winning a state championship in Boys Soccer (5th straight), Hockey—winning the first hockey championship in school history—the Haas Cup, and there were prep state championships won in Baseball, Softball, and Lacrosse with the Boys Lacrosse team looking to defend the NJSIAA title they won a year ago, later this week.

There were individual achievements too:

• Lance Hollingshead-Somerset County Champion, Nonpublic B State Champion, led to school to its first ever state championship in Golf.
• Brooke Baisley scored 1107 points during her Basketball career and became the all-time hits leader in Softball (141).
• In baseball, Johnny DiGregorio also went over the over the 100 hit total (Finished with 127), and became the all-time home run leader (14).
• Whitney Lapper—Earned her 100th win as a fencer.
• Michael Dumiec, Jack Dahler—were named NJSIAA Scholar Athletes—Jack was our first Tennis player to achieve this. There are more—as our seniors have many talents.

That said, they would not have succeeded, without the help and support of their parents. While we will recognize those students and parents who are GSB Lifers in a few minutes, I would like to ask the Class of 2024 to rise and give your parents a round of applause for all that they have done for you.

The other group mainly responsible for your success is our faculty and staff. Throughout your years at Gill, it has been your teachers, coaches and the members of the staff that have challenged you, supported you, and helped you succeed. Seniors, please stand once more and give your teachers and all those who work at the school a well-deserved round of applause.

I also want to give a shout out to Paul Canada and Jack Williams, for their Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Nominations. Jack for the first time, and Paul…well for the gazillionth time. Congratulations Jack and Paul.

In 1991, a group of St. Bernard’s School Alumni decided to establish an award to honor outstanding teachers at Gill St. Bernard's School. They did so because they understood the profound impact that a good teacher can have on a student, and because they were grateful for the wonderful teachers they had when they were students at the School. The result was the St. Bernard’s Chair of Excellence in Teaching. I would like to ask all previous recipients here today to now stand and be recognized. I also ask last year’s recipient, Dr. Manny Hercules, to come forward to help me present the Chair of Excellence for 2024.

I am pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the SBS Chair of Excellence in Teaching is Sarah Isusi.

There is one more group today that deserves recognition for their service to the students, faculty and alumni of our school, our Trustees. Being a trustee is all about service and sacrifice, giving of yourself with no expectation of receiving anything in return. They safeguard the mission of the school and ensure its viability.

I have heard it said that the ultimate duty of the Board is to protect the future of the school from the present. Gill St. Bernard’s is blessed by the gifts of time, talent and resources that our trustees give on a regular basis. Let us all stand and recognize these women and men for everything they do for Gill.

The GSB Medal was established several years ago to recognize the highest level of service to Gill St. Bernard’s School, and I am pleased to award it once again. This year’s recipient has done it all for the GSB. The father of two Gill alums with one more about to graduate today, he has served on the Board of Trustees for almost 20 years, most recently as the Board Chair for five years. In addition, he Chaired the Development Committee, not one, but two Capital Campaigns and without hesitation, stood by me throughout the years whenever there was a difficult or challenging issue to navigate. His response was always focused on doing what was best for the school, regardless of his own personal opinions. An excellent listener (that may come as a surprise to his children), he never once criticized me, even in private, unless of course, it concerned my golf game (particularly my putting). He too, like all our best, bleeds blue. I am honored to present the GSB Medal to my friend, Doug Matthews.

Our mission at Gill St. Bernard’s is focused on preparing our students for college, as well as for a meaningful life. It is clear that we have done the former. But what of the latter?

David Brooks, in his latest book, How to Know a Person, writes:

“The real act of building a friendship or creating a community involves performing a series of small, concrete social actions well: disagreeing without poisoning the relationship; revealing vulnerability at the appropriate pace; being a good listener; knowing how to end a conversation gracefully; knowing how to ask for and offer forgiveness; knowing how to let someone down without breaking their heart; knowing how to sit with someone who is suffering; knowing how to host a gathering where everyone feels embraced; (and) knowing how to see things from another’s point of view.”

I am confident that the Class of 2024 has learned at least some of these things here, and I pray, will continue to understand their importance as they begin their next journey in a few months on different campuses. This is how you make a difference. And making a difference is what living a meaningful life is all about. It is what you give to the world and something that no one can ever take away.

Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2024 and everyone in the GSB community on this special day.

Thank you and Go Knights!