Michael Drummey, Jr.; Iona Prep President Brother Thomas R. Leto, CFC, Ed.D.; and Daniel Resua
Iona Preparatory School Celebrates 107th Commencement Exercises on May 21
Iona Preparatory School proudly graduated 180 young men during its 107th Commencement Exercises held Thursday, May 21, at Iona University’s Hynes Athletics Center.
The ceremony featured valedictory and salutatory remarks from Michael Drummey, Jr., of Rye, and Daniel Resua, of the Bronx, honoring their exceptional academic achievements, leadership and service throughout their time at Iona Prep. In their remarks, both students reflected on gratitude, personal growth, service to others, and the lasting impact of their experiences at Iona Prep — collectively referred to as “the brotherhood” — as they prepared to begin the next chapter in their scholastic careers.
“As we leave today and all embark on different journeys and paths, we will be able to live our lives knowing that not only was today an amazing day to be a Gael,” Drummey, Jr. remarked, “but that every single day ahead holds that same promise, because of what we will now carry with us as Iona [Prep] alumni.”
During graduation, it was announced that the Class of 2026 earned over $40 million in academic scholarships, with more than 77 percent of graduates receiving merit-based awards averaging more than $62,000 per scholarship. Five seniors received full-tuition scholarships — two academic and three athletics, while nearly 20 percent of the class will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level, approximately three times the national average, underscoring the exceptional academic and athletic achievements of this year’s graduating class.
“We are incredibly proud of our Class of 2026 graduates!” said Iona Preparatory President Brother Thomas R. Leto, CFC, Ed.D. “These young men leave Iona Prep prepared to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ by leading with integrity, serving with compassion, and making a meaningful impact on their communities and beyond.”
Also honored at commencement were sixteen Gael seniors who received Legacy Medals presented by their fathers and grandfathers who preceded them at Iona Prep. Four of the young men, Alfred Blanco of Danbury, Conn., Jack DiFiore of Harrison, Adrian Gocaj of Mount Vernon, and Cole Melillo of Dobbs Ferry have studied along Wilmot and Stratton Roads since Kindergarten.
“We look back with gratitude on the people we have met and the things we have done during these four short years,” Resua said in closing his Salutatory remarks, “and we remain confident that everything we have learned and experienced has built us into better men and will guide us all on our paths in life, wherever they may take us.”
This year’s Alumni Award recipient and commencement speaker, Michael Petrillo LS’89, US’93, is the president of MFM Contracting Corp. and PETRO Real Estate Development, and the father of Michael ’25, Matthew ’26 and Christopher ’26, all of whom attended the Lower School like their father. The Petrillos are one of Iona Preparatory School’s most recognizable legacy families, with roots dating back to 1928 and the graduation of Felix J. Petrillo. Current patriarch Felix M. Petrillo ’57 was on hand for the James A. Moore, Sr. ’47 Legacy Medal presentation to his two graduating grandsons. Michael reflected on the principles of discipline, hard work, creativity and the lifelong value of an Iona Prep education (i.e. “the brotherhood”).
“I wish I could sit here and tell all of you that the path was easy, that success came easy, and that you are never going to struggle, but that’s not the real world,” Petrillo acknowledged to the graduation class. “I can guarantee that each of you will struggle, get knocked down, feel lost at times, but I would remind all of you to think back to the principles of discipline, hard work, creativity, and the brotherhood that you developed at Iona Prep.”
Michael Drummey, Jr. will attend the University of Virginia this fall with plans to pursue law school following his undergraduate studies. A two-time Varsity Football State Champion and Varsity Lacrosse State Champion, Drummey distinguished himself both on and off the field. He served as one of the chief representatives for Unified Sports and as President of the Bring Change to Mind Club, demonstrating a strong commitment to inclusion, advocacy and student leadership. In his valedictory remarks, Drummey reflected on gratitude, personal growth, and embracing the opportunities and lessons gained throughout his time at Iona Prep. He credited his time at Iona Prep Lower School, where he was also Valedictorian in 2022, with preparing him for the rigors of high school and making the transition to the Upper School a natural one.
Daniel Resua will attend The Catholic University of America this fall, where he plans to major in History. He served as Vice President of Student Government and Co-President of both the Prep Readers Club and Philosophy Club. During his junior year, he was selected as an ACTION Ambassador, helping lead Iona Preparatory School to a first-place finish in the Tom Gambardella Advocacy Award competition. He also served as Co-President of Gaels for Life during his sophomore and junior years, and is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, while also serving as an IGNITE Mentor. In his salutatory remarks, Resua spoke about service, community and carrying forward the lessons, relationships and values formed at Iona Prep as graduates begin the next chapter of their lives.
The graduation ceremony was livestreamed and is available on demand at IonaPrep.org/SportsEngine. Photos of the school’s 107th Commencement Excercises may be purchased through Christopher Pope Photography.
Recommended for reaccreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools in 2021, Iona Preparatory School PK-12 sits on 37 acres of suburban green in New Rochelle, N.Y., where it educates young men to be moral and ethical leaders. Iona Preparatory School is a Catholic community inspired by the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice as expressed in the Essential Elements of a Christian Brothers Education, developing young men into moral and ethical leaders who are dedicated to Christian service and who strive for spiritual, intellectual, and physical excellence. Iona Prep is Westchester’s only all-boys Catholic school to make the “NY top 100 private schools list” on Niche.com. For more information, please visit www.IonaPrep.org.