When Michael Haxton received a request in January from Mark DeCiccio, Bishop Hendricken High School’s principal, to be the keynote speaker for the school’s 64th graduation exercises, Haxton wasn’t sure he was up for it.

Sure, he had once been a Hawk, graduating from Hendricken in 1978. But there was something he had to confess to the 130 graduating seniors and their guests gathered in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul as he began his address Tuesday evening: “I dreaded going to Hendricken.” A school without girls seemed unimaginable to him, he said, and he went “kicking and screaming” at his parents’ insistence.

 Today, though, he sees things differently.

“I’m so thankful for my parents for sending me to Hendricken back when I attended,” Haxton said. Now a graduate of Roger Williams University with a family of his own and a fulfilling career in sports – as a former college football player and retired coach – he credits Hendricken with laying the groundwork for the person he is now.

 “You never know what plans God has in store for you,” Haxton said. “It was 50-plus years ago that I begrudgingly came to Bishop Hendricken, but I could not be more thankful for the education and the life lessons that I learned here.”

 As the members of the Class of 2025 prepared to embark on their next journeys after high school, they took the time to reflect similarly on how Hendricken had already played a role in shaping the kind of man they would be. Under a canopy of ceiling murals and stained-glass windows, student speakers shared how an education at the elite boys’ Catholic school had transformed them over the course of four years. Musical selections from the Young Men’s Chorus, which featured a handful of graduating seniors, served as reflective interludes between the speeches.

Salutatorian Inesh Rai began by offering gratitude to the friends, teachers and family members that have supported him throughout his academic journey — including his grandparents, who had flown to the United States from India to attend the ceremony.

 Rai, who will attend the University of Virginia on a full-tuition scholarship, said that “what these past four years have taught me is that being a Hendricken man does not mean becoming the same person as everyone else.”

 “A true brotherhood does not make us the same,” he said. “It gives us the space and the courage to become ourselves, and to use our individual talents to create a stronger, united community.” He encouraged his classmates to “keep making space for others to be themselves, the way Hendricken made space for us.”

Joseph Nicchia, valedictorian, recalled feeling apprehensive at the beginning of his time at Hendricken — though he says he will now leave with lifelong friends as he prepares to attend Brown University in the fall.

 “I still remember walking in on the first day,” Nicchia said. “Quite terrifying because I didn't know a single person in my class, and back then I wasn't good at starting conversations or talking to new people.”

 “I found myself surrounded by friends,” he said. “Friends I'll still talk to in college, invite to my wedding. Maybe my future children's godfathers.”

 While the future may be daunting, Nicchia said, “I know each and every one of us will rise to the occasion and do what we are going to do.”

 In his greeting to the audience, Principal DeCiccio noted the class’s standout achievements: More than 177 college acceptances, amounting to over $35 million in scholarships. But what truly mattered, he said, was how the Class of 2025 contributed to the school community.

 “There’s an old adage that we should leave places better than we found them,” he said. “And gentlemen, you have done just that. The spirit, the tenacity, the compassion, the brotherhood and keeping Christ in your hearts – it’s the truth.”

Bishop Hendricken class of 2025

Zachary Joseph Adams

Eric Adejuwon Aikulola

Kyle Eric Almeida

Michael Joseph Alves

Arion L. Amoruso 

Stephen Antonucci Jr. 

Alexander Thomas Arnold

Akbar Askarov 

Jared Damian Badillo 

Rylan James Barbato 

Scot Belford Jr

Americo Marc Besachio

Logan Michael Breault

Aidan James Brindle

Johan Brito Moya

Benjamin Brooks 

James Arturo Caldarella 

Braeden Charles Campbell 

Lucas Caporaso 

Michael Elijah Carreiro 

Patrick Joseph Cavanagh

Ethan William Charnley

Patrick Clemmey

Jack T. Colgan

Jack Thomas Corcelli

Harrison Robert Coupe

Aiden Charles Craft

Ronald Frederick Cronin

Boden Frazer Dair 

Cameron Michael Daley 

Michael S. DaSilva Jr

Carson Edward Dean

Dominic M. DeHaven

Jack Thomas DePalma

Pasquale  Anthony DiRocco III

Brenan Ashton Duquette

Terrence C. Ebere

Alexander Cole Elevado

Christian Tyler Faraj

Xavier Logan Fisher

Brandon G. Flood

Evan Charles Franchina

Hank D. Francis

Noah Andrew French

Billy Gallogly Landon

James Girouard Luca

Edward Gobis

Ryan Kenneth Goodwin

Thomas Franco Hanson

Santiago Kipp Harrington

Addison Micheal Heffernan

Hunter Sali Hennessey 

Joshua  C. Holland

Thomas John Hughes IV

Zachary F Iacabbo-Sawyer

Zachary D. Iamarone

Russell Oliver Ide

Aidan Michael Igoe

Tristan Denio Jordan

Brent Araujo Karpowich

Mason James Keenan

Belayneh Jacob Reedy Kerachsky

Joshua Joseph Kline

Jace P. LaPlante

Gianluca Matthew Lepore

Ryan Nicholas Lopez  

Maddox Antonio Lora

Vince E. Lossini

Dylan James Lynch

Jacob Osbert Madriaga

Cooper Aaron Maher

Grant William Mandeville

Luca Stefano Marinucci

Ryan Charles Martin

Carmen Ryan Massemini

Matthew Joseph Massemino

Scott Earl Matarese Jr.

Seth Payne McGrew

Jake Metcalf McNeil

Dezman Alexander Mey

Jacob Damon Montenegro

John Robert Moretta

Colin P. Murray 

Ryan James Narcessian

Sebastian Ian Nault

Alexander J.Newman

Joseph Donald Nicchia

Matthew Andy Nong 

Ronan Charles George

O'Connell Quinn

Michael O'Connell

Justin Richard Onysko

Josiah Ortega Noah

Matthew Pace 

Vincent Thure Palazzo

Joshua Jamil Perez Vazquez 

Logan Matthew Peterson

Joseph Rocco Pezza,III

Avery John Picchione

Evan Allen Presbrey

Christopher Frank Pullano

Brady Patrick Queenan

Inesh Rai 

Emmitt Yao Rattey

Jeremy E. Redd

John S. Renza IV

Jakob R. Reyes

Jonathan Patrick Riley

Jonus Rivera

William A. Ruskaup

Brendan Mark Ryone 

Francesco Marino Savoretti

Ian R. Sechio

Michael Kulin Shah

Nathan William Sisson

Noah Soban 

Andrew G. Soscia

Benjamin Tamul

Nathanael M. Tarlue

Emmanuel Taveras 

Frank James Tillinghast V

Logan Toussaint

John R. Treat

Eamonn J.Trenn

Dylan Joseph Tupaz

Benjamin Patrick Warr

Henry Thomas Waters

Braydon W. Wilding 

Benjamin Dexter Williamson

Timothy Douglas Wishart