COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

Shout Out to Benedict’s Teachers

A powerful new video, released during National Teacher Appreciation Week in May, spotlights the enduring influence of St. Benedict’s Prep faculty. 

Teaching is much more than a job at St. Benedict’s Prep, it’s a vocation that requires a deep sense of purpose and commitment to walking with students through the most pivotal years of their lives. “Not all lessons come from the syllabus,” is a short video that conveys the staying power a teacher, coach, counselor or mentor can have on Gray Bees, by cycling through a series of faculty names — past and present — on the classroom door plate.

“The video is not intended to be a test on how many teacher names you recognize or how many taught you when you were a student here,” said Director of Marketing and Communications Larry Geraghty ’05. “It’s a way for alums to reflect on the people who played a bigger role in your life than you realized when you were a kid.” The video is part of an end-of-fiscal year push for The Benedict’s Fund, which is aiming to increase alumni participation in annual giving. 

Last fall, two-time Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones ’02 shared a story about his toughest teacher at Benedict’s when he visited The Hive for Convocation. “His name was Marc Onion ’89,” said Mr. Jones, referencing the longtime English teacher whose name appears in the video. In what Mr. Jones called “a cool twist of fate,” Mr. Onion was his freshman and senior English teacher who called on him often to read aloud in class, knowing that young Jones’s biggest fear was public speaking. The constant practice in class helped Mr. Jones overcome his fear of speaking, which he practically does for a living now as a motivational speaker and national advocate for water safety. “What Mr. Onion saw in me was that I knew how to write, I knew how to explain myself.”

The 2026 Hall of Fame Dinner on April 22 presented another opportunity for graduates to thank teachers, present and former, living and deceased. Alumni recorded messages to faculty using a landline phone. “Hello Coach Johnny Allen. How are you sir?,” began the message from Brian Froelich ’64, who thanked the late wrestling coach on behalf of the entire Froelich family. “We miss you, we love you and we want to thank you for the years and years of memories and how important you were to us, our development.” 

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“The video is not intended to be a test on how many teacher names you recognize or how many taught you when you were a student here. It’s a way for alums to reflect on the people who played a bigger role in your life than you realized when you were a kid.”

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Paul Freeman ’97 left a message for his Spanish teacher, Hank Cordeiro ’72, who he likened to, “a father figure, an uncle, and a big brother, and a best friend all wrapped up in one person.” Elvin Alicea ’19 thanked his physics teacher, Rich Molina ’06 and David Rodriquez ’96, now Dean of the Boys Prep Division, paid tribute to his mentor, Mike DiPiano, Sr. H’82, and the wrestling coaching staff. “Wrestling taught me to deal with adversity when things didn’t go my way,” he said. “It is thanks to all the coaches I had to see day in and day out. They pushed me to be the best person I could be.”

Contributions to the campaign, “Not all lessons come from the syllabus,” can be made through June 30. Alumni and teammates are invited to honor a Benedict’s faculty member when they make their gift.  

Our teachers are what make Benedict’s feel like home. Help us show them how much they mean to our community. Make a meaningful gift in their honor.