DANVERS — Some 250 members of the St. John’s Prep community and guests gathered Thursday evening for the 15th edition of the school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Reception and awards dinner. Jesus Colon, a 2009 graduate of the school, received the Prep’s MLK Justice & Equity Award, while Radhames Nova, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Boston, was recognized with the ‘No One Walks Alone’ Advocacy Award. Both grew up in the City of Lawrence.
Head of School Ed Hardiman, Ph.D., used the occasion to juxtapose the passion and partnership of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with the isolation and disappointment evident in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. “His words in that letter are powerful and they are a testament to the power of hope, faith, and vision. In moments of glory, celebration, victory, and hope, remember the times of isolation, challenge, and disappointment. And know that in that midst of the glory and the isolation, when we open our hearts to each other as individuals—created in the image and likeness of God—we are one.”
Colon has been a member of the Prep’s Information Services Department since 2013. During the past decade, he has spearheaded initiatives like affinity spaces at the Prep for middle school students as well as faculty and staff, and he serves on the school’s Diversity Advisory Council. He also coaches freshman baseball and launched an after-school cooking club this year. Born in Puerto Rico, Colon, now a Haverhill resident, was a member of the first graduating class at Bellesini Academy. He is a graduate of Merrimack College.
“This is an incredible honor,” said Colon. “It’s humbling to be thought of [as an advocate for justice and equity] on a day we celebrate the great Doctor King. None of the work that we do at St. John’s would be possible without the care and commitment that our Multicultural Affairs and Community Development team puts in every day. I hope this serves as a reminder that the journey for equality is ongoing, and there is always more that we can do to support not just our students, but also our faculty and staff.”
Nova’s award is reserved for a member of the extended Prep community who serves as a role model and agent of change within and beyond the school community. Born in the Dominican Republic, Nova immigrated to Lawrence in 1989. His professional focus has been on nonprofit and mission-driven work, having held leadership positions with the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, the Association of Latino Professionals for America, and his current role with Junior Achievement.
Nova has been a frequent guest speaker at St. John’s all-class meetings and has been generous in sharing his network with Prep students and young alumni, alike. A graduate of Middlebury College who holds an MBA from Boston University, he now sits on the board at Middlebury, as well as for his high school alma mater, Central Catholic.
“I don’t believe in the concept of a self-made man or woman,” said Nova. “None of us walks alone to arrive at our ultimate destination. When I came to Lawrence at age 13, I didn’t speak English or know anything about the city, the country or the education system. Had I walked alone, I may have walked in the wrong direction or even become a burden on society. Instead, I found caring adults who believed in my potential and invested in me.”
The student emcee for the evening was senior Ethan Sheehan of Newbury. Students who offered reflections or read poems were Liam McCarthy ’25 (Lynnfield), Amaré Nieves ’25 (Lynnfield), Harrison Waldman ’25 (Andover), Enzo Daliwan ’25 (Peabody), Ranjan Dey ’25 (North Andover) and Richard Rodriguez ’25 (Lawrence). Middle School students Paxton Barraza ’29 (Melrose), Adrian Castaño ’31 (Danvers) and Hunter Mena ’30 (Melrose) closed out the program with a bilingual salutation.
