Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Class of 2018 Graduates

Teresa Martinez | Director of Communications
The class of 2018 celebrated the culmination of their time at Belen Jesuit at their graduation on May 23 at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami. Students, faculty and members of the administration sat on stage while family and friends watched the ceremony and heard speeches.
 
“As you face forward, each and every one of you is going to take a special journey into adulthood. I am sure that your education at Belen, both in and out of the classroom, has given you very special preparation and opportunities to do well in this life’s journey that you are really commencing,” said Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg, President of Florida International University, during the commencement address.
 
The class valedictorian was Andrés Dones and salutatorian was Jorge Moscoso. Additionally, twelve students were presented with Senior Awards: 
  • Felipe Pardo and Deiter Prussing – Seniors of the Year
  • Eric Lastres – Jesuit Schools Network Award
  • Manuel Fernández – Archbishop Award
  • Juan Lam – Gerard Manly Hopkins, SJ English Award
  • Placido Valdés - Andrea Pozzo, SJ Humanities Award
  • Roger Torres – Christopher Clavius, SJ Mathematics Award
  • Rodrigo Marín – José Rubinos, SJ Modern Languages Award
  • Deiter Prussing – St. Francis Xavier, SJ Scholar Athlete Award
  • Francisco Barrera – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ Science Award
  • William San Pedro – John Carroll, SJ Social Studies Award
  • Javier Fraga-Vásquez – Karl Rahner, SJ Theology Award
 
“We are not only the largest and best graduating class in Belen’s history, we are the last graduating class to have carried text books instead of iPads. In fact, back in sixth grade many of us carried two backpacks and actually used our lockers,” said Dones during his valedictorian address. “We are the first graduating class to eat in the brand new Dining Hall – which we earned after spending almost two years eating outside in a tent. We are also the first class to jump into the brand new Gian Zumpano Aquatic Center accompanied by Father Willie and Mr. DQ. There are a lot of things that make Belen a special place, but what sets us apart from all other schools is our Jesuit foundation. Belen taught us that our faith isn’t just about saying a few prayers and following a set of rules. It’s about building a relationship with God and being dedicated to something greater than yourself.”
 
The class of 2018 had three National Merit Finalists, 16 Semifinalist/Commended, 20 students received Hispanic Recognition, two students were National Merit Special, eight students were Silver Knight Award Nominees and two received Honorable Mentions.

Click here to view the photo album. Click here to watch the ceremony.
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BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain.  The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline.  In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty.  The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow.  Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.