Boston College High School celebrated with the recipients of the 2025 St. Ignatius Award and William Kemeza Global Leadership Award during a ceremony and Mass held at the McNeice Pavilion in Dorchester on Oct. 16. The awards recognize alumni and community members whose commitment to BC High and Jesuit education serves as a model for others.
The St. Ignatius Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a BC High graduate, recognizes alumni who live the ideals of the school through moral character, leadership, and service to others. This year’s honorees were Kevin P. Martin, Jr. ’82, a CPA, deacon, and community leader; Dudney Sylla ’04, a youth advocate and education leader; and Jeremiah (Jerry) F. York ’63, the winningest coach in NCAA hockey history who led Boston College to four national titles as head coach.
The William Kemeza Global Leadership Award, established in 2019, honors a leader whose global vision reflects the legacy of former BC High President William Kemeza. This year’s recipient is Rev. José Alberto Mesa, SJ, Secretary for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education of the Society of Jesus.
“These men embody the very best of our Jesuit mission—faithful leadership, courage in adversity, and a deep commitment to serving others,” said Grace Cotter Regan, president of Boston College High School. “Their lives remind us that being ‘men for others’ is not just a call to action—it’s a way of being in the world. We are deeply proud to honor them as members of our BC High community.”
