Malvern Prep’s 116 members of the senior class were honored Monday morning during their final chapel service at the school. The ceremony was an opportunity for the underclassmen, faculty and senior parents to spend time with and acknowledge the Class of 2011, as the seniors departed later in the day for two weeks of Christian service prior to their graduation on June 2.
At the service, the Malvern community paid tribute to the academic achievements of the graduating class, first bestowing upon them the Class of 2011 medallions, and then honoring the many individual achievements of the seniors. Malvern’s National Merit Finalist and three National Merit Semi-finalists were acknowledged, and the class’s 37 National Honor Society Members received their gold recognition cords.
Highlighting the service was the presentation of the Kevin J. Fitzpatrick ’81 Senior Class Award to Brendan Bell of Havertown. This award was voted on solely by the seniors and recognizes a senior who represents kindness, friendship, leadership and loyalty to his class and Malvern Prep. Brendan, a MECO Leader and member of the National Honor Society, will pursue his academic career at the University of Notre Dame where he received both a University and Provost Scholarship. The senior tribute ceremony also recognized Keith Dreyer of Malvern for his appointment to the Air Force Academy and US Naval Academy Prep candidates Thomas Hanzsche, Jr. of Berwyn and John Morgenthaler, Jr. of Downingtown.
In addition, outgoing Student Council President Brian Swanick of Malvern addressed his fellow classmates and passed the Student Council Gavel to President-Elect Thomas Pitt of West Chester.
Another highlight of the senior tribute service was the dedication of the 2011 yearbook, the Malvernian. Co-editors Colin Laws of Downingtown and Edward Brooks of West Chester offered this year’s yearbook to John DeAngelis, a Social Studies teacher and alum of Malvern Prep. Laws noted in his dedication “One of the most important things we are taught at Malvern is ‘respect.’ This respect goes beyond the classroom, sports field and art room and is brought into all aspects of our lives. When thinking about this level of respect, Mr DeAngelis in particular comes to mind.”
Leading up to graduation, Malvern seniors are scattered across the world on Christian service trips, with some performing service in the local community; others heading to national sites including West Virginia, Lawrence, Mass., and New Orleans; and others traveling as far away as Honduras, Peru and South Africa.
Malvern Prep will be holding a Senior/Parent Awards Breakfast on June 1, and will hold its graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. at Wolfington Plaza on the chapel lawn on the school’s campus.