Eight members of the Class of 2026 received Golden Keys Awards at a ceremony on June 6.
Inaugurated in 2023, these honors recognize sophomores at Prep who foster a sense of community among their peers, just as Saint Peter himself fostered the Church as its first pope.
Named to recall the keys to the kingdom of Heaven, entrusted to Saint Peter and emblazoned on the Prep seal— as well as the boat in the statue of Young Peter in Prep’s own courtyard—the Golden Keys Award celebrates those students who use their own “keys” to make their class even better than it already is by encouraging their classmates to open their hearts to all whom they encounter.
Recent graduate Nick Valente, ’24 offered remarks to the sophomore and junior classes.
“I ask you to be the best of leaders that you have had in your lives while simultaneously adding your own unique style,” he said. “I ask you to lead by example and to continue to keep the Good Company at Saint Peter’s Prep. It is truly the people that make the Prep experience so unique and one of a kind- Remember that. You are the ones who help make Prep what it is.”
Golden Keys Award committee members Mr. Michael Fletcher, P’21, Ms. Alison Gorab, Mr. Patrick Laguerre, and Ms. Deirdre McDermott then presented Golden Keys Awards.
We congratulate all this year’s honorees:
- Tyler Barksdale, ’26
- Nikolozi Zakaidze, ’26
- Anthony Maffia, ’26
- Evan Donath, ’26
- Eric Roman, ’26
- Patrick Cansino, ’26
- Steven Mazewski, ’26
- Luca Merletti, ’26