A New Tradition Begins: St. Augustine Prep Inducts Inaugural IEE Fellows

St. Augustine Prep formally inducted ten students into the inaugural cohort of its IEE Fellows Program during a landmark evening celebrating the beginning of a new tradition in Richland.

The induction dinner, held at The Greenview Inn in Vineland, NJ, was the centerpiece of a day intentionally designed around both recognition and responsibility.

Before the Fellows received their commemorative pins and custom neckties, introduced themselves to the community and signed their commitment letters, they gathered earlier in the day for a leadership presentation from Athletic Director and Prep alumnus Mr. Michael Rizzo ’86, P’11.

Mr. Rizzo’s presentation was more than a prelude to the dinner. It provided the moral framework for the commitment the Fellows would formally make that evening.

Lessons in Leadership from a Model Hermit

Mr. Rizzo’s connection to St. Augustine Prep spans generations and nearly every dimension of school life.

After graduating in 1986, he returned to the Prep as a coach and became a longtime member of Coach Paul Rodio’s esteemed basketball staff. His tenure spanned one of the most memorable and dominant eras of Hermits Basketball and included the Hermits’ 1999 and 2004 state championship seasons. Coach Rizzo also contributed to the school’s baseball and football programs before moving into athletic administration.

He joined the athletic office as an Assistant Athletic Director in 2012 and became Athletic Director in 2014. Across more than three decades of service, Mr. Rizzo has influenced generations of Hermits as an alumnus, coach, administrator, mentor, Prep parent, and Hermit big brother.

That lifelong connection made him an especially meaningful choice to address the founding IEE Fellows cohort.

Mr. Rizzo did not present leadership as a title, position or opportunity for recognition. He challenged his Hermit Brothers to consider a more important question: What happens to other people because a leader is present?

His message focused on influence, humility and service.

Do what is right when no one is watching. Never consider a responsibility beneath you. Recognize when another person needs encouragement. Accept correction and take ownership of mistakes. Leave every team, program and community stronger than you found it.

Those principles came to life through several stories from Mr. Rizzo’s time at the Prep.

He recalled an occasion when an unexpected cleanup was needed in the dining hall. Rather than assume it was someone else’s responsibility, he stepped in and handled it himself. The importance was not in the task itself, but in the example set when a person in authority showed that no act of service was beneath him.

That same spirit was evident in the students who remained after a recent football game to clean the bleachers long after most of the crowd had departed. They did not stay because recognition was waiting. They stayed because the Prep was their shared home, and they cared about how they left it.

Those quiet decisions, Mr. Rizzo explained, reveal character more clearly than any title.

Responsibility Rooted in Truth, Unity and Love

Mr. Rizzo connected his presentation to the Prep’s Augustinian values of truth, unity and love.

Truth requires the courage to make the right decision when no one is watching. It also asks leaders to acknowledge mistakes, accept accountability and remain honest with themselves.

Unity reminds leaders that their responsibility is not to elevate themselves above a group. Their role is to bring people together, recognize the contributions of others and help a community become stronger.

Love appears through encouragement, attention and care. A thoughtful word can change someone’s day, particularly when that person may be struggling. Leadership requires noticing others, offering support and, when necessary, providing honest guidance.

For the inaugural IEE Fellows, Mr. Rizzo’s final challenge carried particular significance. Thanks to the work of this inaugural group, future cohorts will enter an established program. These ten students have the responsibility and opportunity to establish its standards, traditions and culture.

The Inspiration Behind the IEE Fellows Program

That evening, Fellows, families, educators, benefactors and members of the Prep community gathered for the inaugural IEE Fellows Induction Dinner.

Head of School Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A., Ph.D., traced the history of the program and reflected upon the many people whose ideas, generosity and passionate work brought it to life.

Among those in attendance was Mr. Will Abele, whose sponsorship helped make the inaugural dinner possible.

The Abele Scholars Program that Mr. Abele and his family helped to establish at Ursinus College served as an important inspiration for the IEE Fellows Program at St. Augustine Prep.

At Ursinus, Abele Scholars become part of a cohort centered on academic achievement, leadership, civic engagement, ethical decision-making and a commitment to paying opportunity forward. Scholars receive financial and programmatic support designed to help them grow academically, professionally and personally.

That combination of scholarship, mentorship, enrichment, accountability and community offered an influential model as St. Augustine Prep considered how to build a distinctive fellowship rooted in its own mission and Augustinian identity.

The Prep’s program is not a duplication of the Ursinus model. Rather, it brings the spirit of sustained investment and cohort-based formation into the life of the Hermit Brotherhood.

Mr. Abele’s presence at the induction dinner connected the established legacy of the Abele Scholars Program with a new initiative beginning at St. Augustine Prep. The Prep is beyond humbled that Mr. Abele blessed our Fellows with his presence.

Many Hands Behind a New Program

Fr. Murray also recognized that the IEE Fellows Program came to life through the combined efforts of many individuals.

Dean of Academics Sean Grealis ’95, P’22 and IEE Program Architect Ms. Jeanmarie McGinley helped transform the initial vision into a program that could provide students with meaningful academic, professional and leadership opportunities.

Key contributors Jill Marsteller and Penny Sager-Rossi joined the IEE Fellows Committee and guided the selection and development of the inaugural cohort, while members of the IEE Board helped shape and support the program’s broader direction. Both groups were represented at the induction dinner.

The evening also welcomed alumni leaders already sharing their professional experience through the Prep’s IEE programming:

• Engineer-in-Residence Scott Brosman ’10

• Entrepreneur-in-Residence Carmine Catalana IV ’76, P’07

• Inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence Nelson Carvalho ’68

• IEE Committee Member Nick Amechi '17

Their presence reflected one of the program’s greatest strengths: the ability to connect current students with accomplished professionals—and particularly Hermits Alumni—who can offer knowledge, mentorship and a living example of values-based leadership.

An Evening Centered on the Inaugural Fellows

While the induction dinner recognized the people who helped build the program, the evening remained centered on its inaugural Fellows.

Each student introduced himself to those gathered, giving the community an opportunity to meet the individuals behind the cohort and hear directly from the young men who will help shape the program’s future.

The inaugural IEE Fellows are:

Stefan Dragos ’27, Puri Garzone ’27, Hugh McElroy ’27, Owen Morley ’27, Matteo Naman ’27, Ryan Clark ’28, Luke Jackson ’28, Michael “CJ” Phillips ’28, Cameron Quinn ’28 and Austin Wainwright ’28.

The students were selected for qualities including academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, initiative, character, leadership and entrepreneurial promise.

Together, they represent a range of interests and perspectives. What unites them is a willingness to embrace opportunity, challenge themselves and contribute to a collaborative community rooted in leadership, innovation and service.

Symbols of Commitment

The evening concluded with a moving induction ceremony during which each Fellow received an official IEE Fellows pin and custom necktie.

These items serve as visible signs of membership in the cohort, but their meaning extends beyond recognition. They represent the standards each student has accepted and the example he is now called to provide.

The Fellows then signed their commitment letters, formally placing their names behind the responsibilities of the program.

The signing connected the celebration of the evening with the leadership lessons Mr. Rizzo had offered earlier in the day. The students were not simply accepting an honor; they were committing themselves to put its principles into practice.

They pledged to approach their opportunities with discipline and gratitude, lead with integrity, support one another, serve the Prep community and help establish a program worthy of those who will follow.

In that moment, the inaugural cohort became more than the first ten students selected. They became the founding stewards of a new Prep tradition.

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Learn more:

What Is the IEE Fellows Program?

The IEE Fellows Program is a transformational initiative within St. Augustine Prep’s Innovation, Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship Program.

It was created to develop entrepreneurial and adaptive leaders grounded in the Augustinian values of truth, unity and love.

Opportunities available to Fellows may include:

• Professional and faculty mentorship

• Experiential-learning opportunities

• Innovation and entrepreneurship experiences

• Specialized academic projects

• Leadership development

• Conferences and enrichment programs

• Collaboration with fellow student leaders

• Merit-based financial awards

The program’s purpose extends beyond academic achievement. It seeks to form young men prepared to think boldly, lead with integrity and use their abilities in service to others.

A New Tradition Takes Its First Step

The inaugural IEE Fellows Induction Dinner celebrated a program coming to life—but it also made clear that this was only the beginning.

The evening honored the inspiration of Mr. Will Abele, the leadership of Fr. Murray, the work of Mr. Grealis and Ms. McGinley, and the dedication of the IEE Fellows Committee, IEE Board and professional mentors helping create meaningful opportunities for students.

Most importantly, it welcomed ten young men into a community that will challenge them to transform opportunity into action.

Their pins and neckties identify them as Fellows. Their signatures record their commitment. Their conduct, leadership and service will now determine what the distinction means.

As Mr. Rizzo’s presentation reminded them earlier that day, leadership will not ultimately be measured by the title they received, but by whether others are better because they were there.

Learn more about Innovation, Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship at hermits.com/IEE.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the St. Augustine Prep IEE Fellows Program?

The IEE Fellows Program is a selective leadership and experiential-learning initiative within St. Augustine Prep’s Innovation, Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship Program. It combines mentorship, career exploration, innovation, academic enrichment, leadership development and service.

What inspired the IEE Fellows Program?

The Abele Scholars Program established by Mr. Will Abele and his family at Ursinus College provided important inspiration. Its cohort model combines scholarship support with mentorship, enrichment, leadership development, civic engagement and a commitment to paying opportunity forward.

Who addressed the inaugural IEE Fellows?

St. Augustine Prep Athletic Director Mike Rizzo ’86, P’11 led a leadership presentation before the induction dinner. Head of School Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A., Ph.D., later offered remarks about the program’s history, inspiration and development.

Who helped develop the IEE Fellows Program?

The program was shaped through the work of Dean of Academics Sean Grealis ’95, P’22; IEE Program Architect Ms. Jeanmarie McGinley; the IEE Fellows Committee; the IEE Board; school leadership; professional mentors; benefactors; and other members of the Prep community.

What happened during the inaugural induction?

Each Fellow introduced himself before receiving an official IEE Fellows pin and necktie. The ceremony concluded with the students signing commitment letters that formalized their responsibility to uphold the program’s values and help establish its traditions.

How many students are in the inaugural cohort?

The inaugural IEE Fellows cohort includes ten students: five members of the Class of 2027 and five members of the Class of 2028.

Where can families learn more?

Additional information about the Prep’s Innovation, Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship programming is available at hermits.com/IEE.