On Sunday, June 8th sixty-five Heights men joined the ranks of alumni. Here is a brief summary of the day and a look at some of their accomplishments and where they are headed.
The class of 2025 processed into the gym from the main building. Per tradition, the Men’s chorus sang the National Anthem and To The Heights. Fr. Diego Daza prayed an invocation, entrusting the graduates to God their Father.
Kevin Garvey, father of Jack ‘25, gave the commencement speech. Kevin is an accomplished attorney with experience in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the White House Counsel’s Office. He drew mainly on his experience as a father and offered some thoughts on what makes a man fully alive. He encouraged the graduating cavaliers to embrace God’s gift of freedom, live fearlessly, stick together, and honor women. He drew from the wisdom of his own family, including the work of his father John Garvey, the 15th President of The Catholic University of America.
The class of 2025 featured twenty lifers (students who have attended the school since third grade) and one son of an alumnus.
Fourteen students graduated as Robert H. Jackson Scholars. Named after the first longtime Headmaster, these students successfully completed a thirty to forty page research paper and thirty minute presentation before a panel of faculty judges. The following are a sample of some thesis titles from these scholars: From Caesar’s Rome to Caesar’s Sportsbook: Digital Sports Betting and Chance, Skills over Pills: Reexamining Our Approach to ADHD, and Do Good and Avoid Evil: The Morality of Using and Possessing Nuclear Weapons.
These graduates are dedicated to service. Eleven attended the YSI Service Project to Peru the summer after their sophomore year. Seven attended the Jamaica Crescite Trip serving at an orphanage for children with disabilities. Many others were involved in their local churches either teaching catechism, volunteering for summer camps, or helping feed the hungry. Three graduates will participate in ROTC programs in the fall, two in Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and one Clemson. Another will attend the Naval Academy. One graduate is entering the seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington in the fall.
The class leaves a strong legacy for the drama and fine arts departments. Ten graduates performed in up to nine shows over four years. Several were student directors, lighting and stage directors, scriptwriters. One directed and wrote a short film released this spring. Eighteen graduates sang in the Men’s Chorus and five played instruments in the band.
Several graduating cavaliers performed strongly in athletics. The Rock Climbing team won the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League (WAICL) Championship meet for the third time, defending their first place title from last year. In various varsity sports, five graduates earned WCAC Honorable Mention; three earned WCAC Second team; six earned WCAC first time. Two rugby players were named to the all-league team. A swimmer was All-Met Honorable Mention. A lacrosse player earned All-American honors, WCAC Player of the Year, and the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. Some will continue to compete at the collegiate level in the following sports: Division I Swimming (Purdue), Division I and Division III lacrosse (Naval Academy; Franciscan University and Catholic University), Division III Baseball (Franciscan University and University of Dallas), Division III Soccer (Franciscan University), Division III Golf (St. Norbert’s College), and Division I Rowing (Fairfield University).
Our 2025 graduates will go onto a variety of different colleges, universities and trades, including: University of Maryland, College Park (5 grads), Catholic University of America (4), University of Navarre (4), Franciscan University of Steubenville (4), Villanova University, (3), University of Dallas (2), Texas A&M (2), Princeton University, Columbia University, Stanford University, Notre Dame, University of Michigan, Thomas Aquinas College, Boston College, Providence College, Clemson University, Iowa State University, College of William and Mary, Baylor University, Ave Maria University, Holy Cross College, Emory University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Biola University, Grove City College, University of South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Penn State, among other Universities and community colleges. Some will directly enter their professional fields including working for the National Security Administration and joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Congratulations to the class of 2025!