Celebrating the Class of 2023

On Saturday, May 13, Xaverian Brothers High School celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2023 in the school’s varsity gymnasium. Diplomas were conferred to the 164 graduates by Head of School Jacob Conca ’94, Ph.D. and Principal Michael Nicholson, Ed.D. The Class of 2023 is Xaverian’s 57th graduating class. The 164 graduates have enrolled in 84 different colleges and universities, including BC, Catholic University, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard, Holy Cross, Michigan State, Rensselaer, RISD, Stonehill, Tulane, UVM, and Wake Forest. Nineteen graduates have committed to collegiate athletic careers in track and field, golf, baseball, swim, football, and lacrosse. 

Rishabh “Rishu” Nevatia is Xaverian’s Class of 2023 salutatorian. He’s a National Merit® Finalist who is attending Georgetown University. Rishu is also an actor and was an active member of the Walpole Children’s Theater. He was cast as a featured extra in the Hollywood film, “The Holdovers,” and was recently awarded the Best Actor title for his role in “Art Boy,” which was featured in Boston University’s Redstone Film Festival Honors. Rishu is also a star of the Xaverian theater, most recently filling the role of Biff Loman in “Death of a Salesman.” He’s a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, and the International Thespian Society. He also served as the captain of the Speech and Debate Team and as an athlete on Xaverian’s ultimate disc team. 

Braden Kennedy is Xaverian’s Class of 2023 valedictorian. He is a National Merit® Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a member of both the National Honor Society and the French National Honor Society. Braden is an Eagle Scout (Troop 131 - Wrentham) and has served as a National-Level Leadership Instructor for the Boy Scouts. He was captain of the Xaverian robotics team and a four-year member of Xaverian’s math team. He was involved in mock trial and was integral to the revival of the school’s chess team as well. In addition, he has served as an instructor for Schoolhouse World (a Khan Academy affiliate), a position he was offered due to his high standardized test scores. Braden is attending Cornell University.

The highest honor bestowed upon a graduating senior at Xaverian is the Xaverian Award. Members of the graduating class, in concert with the faculty and staff, nominate a senior for this special honor and the recipient isn’t revealed until the graduation ceremony. The Xaverian Award recipient must have distinguished himself by living the mission and core values associated with the school, including humility, trust, simplicity, compassion, and zeal. The Class of 2023 Xaverian Award winner is Joseph Di Martino. Dr. Conca said that Joe “epitomizes all that it means to be a Xaverian hawk.” He added, “Joe is dedicated to personal excellence while simultaneously being committed to his fellow students and community. In both word and action, he brings his best self to every situation and thereby positively enhances the lives of those in his midst.”

Joe served as president of the student council and was instrumental in driving school spirit and participation this year. He was a four-year member of the Xaverian hockey program and served as the 2023 varsity hockey captain. He earned the nickname “Playoff Joe” for the goals he scored to help the team secure a spot in the 2023 Division 1 state finals. He was also active in the campus ministry program through retreats, SpiritHawk, and participation in the Christian Senior Service program. Joe is attending High Point University.

Describing the Class of 2023, Dr. Conca called them among the very best he has seen in nearly two decades as a school administrator. He said, “Not only are they committed to academic inquiry, they are also deeply committed to enhancing the world in which we live. I look forward to watching each of them do great things in the years to come.”

American University

Assumption University

Bentley University

Berklee College of Music

Boston College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Bridgewater State University

Bryant University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Clemson University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Cornell University

Curry College

Elon University

Emerson College

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Fairfield University

Florida State University

Framingham State University

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

High Point University

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Maryland

Lynn University

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Merrimack College

Miami University (Oxford)

Michigan State University

North Carolina State University

Northeastern University

Nova Southeastern University

Pace University (Westchester)

Plymouth State University

Providence College

Purdue University (Main Campus)

Randolph-Macon College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhode Island School of Design

Roger Williams University

Sacred Heart University

Saint Anselm College

Salve Regina University

Stevens Institute of Technology

Stonehill College

Suffolk University

The University of Alabama

The University of Findlay

The University of Tampa

Tulane University of Louisiana

University of Arizona

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Florida

University of Maryland (College Park)

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

University of Massachusetts (Boston)

University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)

University of Massachusetts (Lowell)

University of Miami

University of Mississippi

University of New Hampshire (Main Campus)

University of Oregon

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

University of Scranton

University of Vermont

University of Wisconsin (Madison)

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Wake Forest University

Wentworth Institute of Technology

West Virginia University

Western New England University

Wheaton College - MA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Lucas Almeida, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Mike Larmond, Pace University

Jayvens Lebrun, Salve Regina University

Jon Mould, Harvard University

Jason Vonhandorf, UMass Dartmouth 

Nathan Young, Plymouth State University

 

Patrick Kiernan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ryan Scollins, College of the Holy Cross

Thomas Hagar, University of Alabama

Cam Grindle, University of Pittsburgh

Josh Gauvain, University of Findlay

Michael Oates, University of Connecticut

Danny Powers, Roger Williams University

Jack Tubman, Roger Williams University

Braden Young, Wheaton College

 

Dylan Benoit, Assumption

Will Pesanelli, Boston University

Anthony DeGloria, Saint Anselm College

Warren Gillis, Catholic University (Football/Track)