Enduring Community and Cherished Traditions at Nazareth Prep
Year-end celebrations are a staple of any high school experience. Tight-knit community and deep connections are what make these traditions different at Nazareth Prep. As the academic year came to an end, the school community enjoyed several annual events including our senior awards ceremony and brunch, senior sunset, graduation ceremony, year-end Mass, and school-wide barbecue.
Seniors were recognized for their academic achievements during an awards ceremony and brunch attended by their families. In the evening, they took part in senior sunset, a newer tradition that allows our graduates to enjoy a final gathering together at the school. This year, the Class of 2026 celebrated with the Community Kitchen food truck and the Kona Ice snow cone truck on campus, enjoying food and fellowship with their fellow graduates and underclassmen.
This year’s graduation took place in a new venue, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, across the street from our campus. The sanctuary offered a beautiful backdrop to mark this monumental moment for our graduates. Valedictorian Mark Stuckey highlighted the close-knit school community, taking time in his speech to call out each one of his classmates’ ambitions for the future: an orthodontist, pilot, architect, and more. “As we walk across the stage today,” Mark said, “let us not only celebrate how far we have come, but look forward to how far we can go.” The Class of 2026 was cheered on by friends and family, along with several Nazareth Prep alumni who came to support their classmates, further highlighting the strong connections our students make across grade levels.
Year-end traditions don’t end with the graduating seniors. All Nazareth Prep students worked hard to complete assignments, prepare for exams, and maximize their internship experiences. On the final day of school, students, teachers, and staff gathered for the final Mass of the year, celebrated by Father Philip Farrell from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
After Mass, the school community went outside for the annual school-wide barbecue, featuring burgers, hot dogs, nachos, fries, funnel cakes, and more! Across the campus, students could be seen shooting hoops, cooling off with water balloons, or hanging out in the shade.
Each year is marked by unique events and exciting new opportunities, but Nazareth Prep’s traditions keep our school community thriving. As we prepare for new students to arrive this fall, we look forward to welcoming them into the caring family made up of our faculty, students, and families.
