Class of 2026 Brigadier Announced

Congratulations to Marco Felipe Alberni ’26, who was selected as this year’s Brigadier. Marco was chosen because he best embodies the values of a Belen education. Since entering Belen as a 6th grader, Marco has achieved academic excellence and has been very involved in student activities such as crew, Key Club, peer ministry and the National Honor Society. He intends to study Chemistry in the fall and is enrolled in the University of Florida Honors Program.

“Aside from being an exceptional student, Marco is a wonderful example of this year’s motto, Iron Sharpens Iron, and is an inspiration to his classmates and teammates,” said José E. Roca ’84. “The Brigadier is about being a man of faith and a leader both in and out of the classroom. He’s a great choice and I look forward to hearing his speech.” On May 20, Marco will deliver a speech to his Belen brothers at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami during the graduation ceremony.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as this year’s Brigadier,” said Marco. “I want to thank my classmates, teachers, faculty, staff, coaches, and family for facilitating my development in all aspects of life, but most importantly, a true faith in God. This opportunity is so special not only because so many good candidates could’ve done a great job representing our class, but also because of how much this group of people means to me, which pushes me to do my best in speaking on their behalf. I hope to share all the goodness this class has brought to those around us and am so grateful to be blessed with this opportunity.”

The Brigadier fulfills the characteristics of Jesuit education in an exemplary fashion. He is a leader of men: religious, open to growth, intellectually curious, loving, and committed to doing justice, as identified in our school’s mission statement.

“A tradition as old as Belen itself, the title of Brigadier is bestowed on the one student of the senior class who best personifies the values of a Belen Jesuit education,” said Fr. Guillermo M. García-Tuñón, S.J., Ed.D., ’87. “The French word, whose origin dates back to the early 17th century, refers to the title given to a leader of a brigade who leads his men into battle. For Belen, the Brigadier refers to a student leader who, through his example, as he stands at the end of his Belen career and prepares for the next chapter, leads his classmates into the rest of their lives. Marco is a wonderful example of those ideals and will be a wonderful example to his classmates by continuing to lead the life of a Catholic man.”