Anthony Medina of Secaucus, a senior at Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, was among nine students presented with the Prep Spirit Award during a ceremony on April 1. Spirit Award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of faculty and students for their ongoing active participation in the school community, modeling the qualities that define a the ideal Prep student: open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice. The program seeks, in particular, to recognize the “unsung heroes” of the school. The award has been presented to several students each year since 1981.
Medina was described in his award citation as “a bright light in the Prep community.” He has been a leader on the school’s ever-improving rugby team for four years, and his intensity on the field is matched only by his friendliness and good cheer off the field. “His kindness, sincerity, and his incredible ability to make everybody feel comfortable and happy define the kind of person he is,” read one nomination by a fellow student. As a senior, Medina has been part of the school’s Campus Ministry Team, acting both as a “Big Brother” mentor to freshmen and a leader in the Emmaus retreat program for juniors. The same desire to be a mentor to others has also led him to volunteer as a tutor in the Higher Achievement Program (HAP), giving up several weeks each summer to help middle schoolers improve their academic skills and get ready for high school. Pictured are Anthony Medina, in the center, with Saint Peter’s Prep President Fr. Robert E. Reiser, S.J. on the left and Principal Mr. James C. DeAngelo after receiving his Prep Spirit Award on April 1.
Saint Peter’s Prep honors Secaucus resident with Spirit Award
