On Friday, June 1, 2018 the Class of 2018 and their parents attended Mass in the Abbey Church followed by dinner in the gym where they heard speeches from Valedictorian Matt Donnelly '18, Salutatorian Sean Russell '18, and 2017-18 Student Body President Gianni Vinci '18. Headmaster Br. Paul Diveny, OSB, concluded the evening with some advice, as translated from an Italian proverb: "Tell me who you hang out with and I will tell you who you are." He told the boys, "It is easy to be a good person at Delbarton, because you are surrounded by good people", and encouraged them to seek friends with similar values as they proceed into their college years and beyond.

Two days later, Sunday, June 3, a hundred-and-thirty-one members of the Class of 2018 graduated surrounded by family members, the monks of St. Mary's Abbey and the Delbarton faculty. Graduation day dawned overcast and unseasonably cool for the Class of 2018, punctuated by a brief spatter of rain as graduates reported to the Senior Garden at 1:00 pm. 'Rain rain go away'...and it did. Garbed in jackets and Delbarton class ties, boys helped each other pin on graduation lapel tacks, formed up in two columns and led the procession of Delbarton graduates, faculty, trustees and award presenters into the Abbey Church at 2 PM.

Graduation speaker Brian Regan '73, scholar, author and former Associate Director of the Morgan Library, brought up the procession's rear with Br. Paul and Abbot Richard Cronin, OSB. This was Br. Paul's final graduation and a poignant event as he nears the end of his tenure as head of school.

Inside the Church, with younger brothers and sisters serving as ushers, the first order of business was the presentation of diplomas, from 'Alberto' to 'Zgombic', followed by special awards and the presentation of Delbarton medals. Captain Rick McGoey, from the United States Naval Academy, presented Will Andersen '18 with an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Br. Paul introduced Regan, who spoke of memory, adveristy and gratitude, and of Delbarton's 'unique character', the product of Benedictine ethos shared in a place of magnificent beauty. Read his remarks here.

After his speech, Regan was presented with Delbarton's highest honor, the Delbarton medal, by Br. Paul. Abbot Richard offered benediction and the crowd followed the graduates into the Senior Garden for the post-graduation reception.

Picture-taking was the order of the day and the fountain was the favorite photo venue. Graduation was a memorable day for the senior class and their families, and we've got the proof. Enjoy this Graduation 2018 photo gallery and we invite you to share your favorite family photo here for inclusion in the album...

Click here for the list of the colleges our graduates will attend this fall. Congratulations, gentlemen. We encourage you to stay in touch with the Delbarton Alumni Association, the glue that keeps our alumni network together. Your first (of many) Alumni Association invitations is on Wednesday, June 13 where alumni gather for the Annual June Meeting and Pig Roast. Rain or shine -- meet your friends back in the Garden!