Reconnecting with Gray Bees

When 12 of the 14 groomsmen in your wedding party are Benedict’s brothers, you are perfectly suited for alumni engagement at St. Benedict’s Prep. Giovanni “Gio” Bonilla ’08, the newly named Alumni Engagement Officer in the Office of Advancement, is a natural connector of people, especially Gray Bees. 

 In 2020, Mr. Bonilla returned to The Hive to be the Velvet Rope counselor; he had been one of seven original members of the behavior modification program housed in Leahy House. COVID-19, however, put the program on pause and Mr. Bonilla transitioned to Spanish and ESL teacher and coached JV soccer. “It’s really special to come back here as an alum,” he said. “I loved teaching and the relationships you build with the students. But I also felt like I could do more.” 

The opportunity presented itself last May, when Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement Mary Hauck H’17 asked if Mr. Bonilla could help round up alumni from the 1990s and forward for a rooftop event at Adega Grill in the Ironbound. “Luckily, people liked me in high school,” he joked. Eighty-five alumni showed up for the event, and Mr. Bonilla was tapped for the permanent position of Alumni Engagement Officer, which he began in July. 

Re-engaging alumni with the School — to socialize, network and give back — is a big part of the job. One of the lingering effects of social distancing during COVID-19 was that the robust alumni attendance for Gray Bee athletic events dropped off significantly. “People who went to Benedict’s like to meet face-to-face,” said Mr. Bonilla. Last October, he organized a pre-game gathering at McGovern’s Tavern before the Benedict’s vs. Salesianum School soccer match. “We were hoping for 20 people and 65 alumni came. It was a great time. We marched over to the game at the Rutgers-Newark field waving St. Benedict’s flags. It turned out exactly how I envisioned. Now, we’re looking to continue that momentum,” Mr. Bonilla said. 

If you are feeling FOMO because you missed the October 2024 pre-game event or the Alumni Christmas Party at Adega, Mr. Bonilla has a couple of reminders. First, bleachers and stands are once again filled with Gray Bee alums for games and matches, so drop by if you can. Second, two social events are in the works for this summer, including a golf outing on June 23 at Hendricks Field Golf Course in Belleville. The best way to stay updated is to follow two Gray Bee Instagram handles, @graybees and @graybeesports. 

“We all have great stories and great memories,” Mr. Bonilla said. “I’m connecting with guys I haven’t spoken to for years. I’m also seeing how important the work of alumni engagement is to the kids and the School.” Counselor, teacher, coach and now advancement team member, Mr. Bonilla said he’s grateful for all the roles he’s held over the past five years. He sums up his reasons for devoting his professional life to The Hive this way. “What Benedict’s does for you and what you can do for the kids, it makes you want to be here.”  

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Gray Bee alums should follow: 

@graybees
for general news,updates and alumni events. 

@graybeesports
for updates on teams, scores and athletic reunions.

 

Giving Day Tally

The 10th Giving Day on March 21, the Feast of St. Benedict, was a show of unity and strength from the community. More than 500 alumni and friends contributed, which unlocked an additional $100,000 for St. Benedict’s Prep. Gifts were still coming in as St. Benedict’s Prep magazine went to press. There is still time to make an impact this year! Visit sbp.org/give.