FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 277 GRADUATES AT 162nd COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Class of 2026 Heads to Top Colleges and Universities Across the Globe
Boston, MA, May 16, 2026 — Boston College High School proudly celebrated the achievements of the 277 graduates of the Class of 2026 during the school’s 162nd Commencement Exercises on Morrissey Boulevard. Thousands of family members, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends gathered to honor the graduates and welcome them into the lifelong brotherhood of the BC High alumni community.
The ceremony was marked by pride, reflection, and excitement for the future as the Class of 2026 crossed the commencement stage surrounded by the people who supported them throughout their BC High journey.
This year’s commencement address was delivered by Vincent D. Rougeau, president of the College of the Holy Cross and a nationally respected scholar of legal education and Catholic social thought. Rougeau, who became the 33rd president of Holy Cross in 2021, challenged graduates to lead lives grounded in purpose, justice, compassion, and service to others – hallmarks of a solid Jesuit education.
The program also featured remarks from student speakers Timothy Sullivan ’26 (Arlington), who will attend Brown University, and Henry McConville ’26 (Milton), who will attend the University of Notre Dame. Both reflected warmly on the friendships, faith, and sense of belonging that defined their years at BC High and the enduring bonds of brotherhood formed during their time at BC High.
President Grace Cotter Regan P’12 encouraged graduates to carry the values of Jesuit education into the next chapter of their lives, reminding them that leadership begins with integrity and a commitment to serving others.
“The Class of 2026 represents the very best of BC High,” said President Regan. “These young men have challenged themselves academically, served their communities generously, competed with heart, and grown into thoughtful leaders grounded in faith and purpose. Their accomplishments — in the classroom, on the field, and beyond — reflect not only extraordinary talent, but also a deep commitment to becoming men for and with others. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and excited to see the impact they will make in the world.”
President Regan also welcomed back members of the Class of 1976, who returned to campus as Golden Jubilarians to celebrate their 50th reunion, continuing one of BC High’s most cherished commencement traditions.
The accomplishments of the Class of 2026 are both impressive and far-reaching. Ninety-nine percent of graduates plan to enroll in four-year colleges and universities, while more than 18 percent will attend Jesuit institutions after earning admission to 21 of the 22 Jesuit colleges and universities to which they applied.
Members of the class earned admission to six of the nation’s eight Ivy League institutions, with graduates matriculating to Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Princeton. Seven students will continue their education internationally in England, Ireland, and Canada, while others received appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Air Force Academy.
Graduates of the Class of 2026 received acceptances to leading colleges and universities across the country and around the world, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, Boston College, University of Notre Dame, Tufts University, New York University, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of Chicago, and Trinity College Dublin.
Top matriculation destinations for the Class of 2026 include Boston College, College of the Holy Cross, Providence College, Northeastern University, Fairfield University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Georgetown University, and the University of South Carolina.
Beyond academics, the graduating class distinguished itself through athletics, leadership, creativity, and service. More than 27 student-athletes committed to continue competing at the collegiate level, while many graduates earned certificates through BC High’s Centers of Human Excellence in areas including leadership, innovation, global education, justice and belonging, and Ignatian identity and formation.
Members of the Class of 2026 also earned numerous prestigious honors and distinctions, including National Merit Scholarship recognition, AFL-CIO scholarships, and merit-based awards celebrating excellence in scholarship, leadership, athletics, service, and the arts.
Throughout their four years at BC High, the Class of 2026 embodied the school’s Jesuit mission to form young men who are intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice.
Saturday’s ceremony marked the culmination of a week of commencement celebrations, including the senior awards ceremony, Baccalaureate Mass, and academic and athletic recognition events honoring the many achievements of the graduating class.
As BC High looks ahead to welcoming a talented group of students this fall, the school continues to build on a period of remarkable momentum, innovation, and growth on Morrissey Boulevard.
A recording of the ceremony can be found here, and photos from commencement can be found here.
About Boston College High School
Founded in 1863, Boston College High School is a Jesuit, Catholic school for boys in grades 7–12. Located on a 40-acre campus in Boston, BC High is committed to forming leaders who seek to do things ad majorem Dei gloriam — for the greater glory of God — through academic excellence, spiritual formation, and service to others.
Contact
Colleen Carter, Vice President for External Relations
Email: ccarter@bchigh.edu