Local
BC High announces St. Ignatius Award recipients

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Posted: 4/13/2007

BOSTON -- Boston College High School recently announced the recipients of their 2007 St. Ignatius Award, the highest honor bestowed on a graduate of BC High. The 2007 recipients are John H. Danilecki, J. Frank Keohane and James E. Cotter.

The St. Ignatius Award is given to graduates of BC High who possess high moral character, selfless dedication to service without expectation of material reward or public recognition and an adherence to the principles of honesty, justice, compassion and the preservation of human dignity.

The vice principal for Ignatian Mission and Identity, Mike McGonagle, presided over the award ceremony which was held on March 9. Father Thomas Regan, SJ, provincial of the New England Society of Jesus, led the opening prayer and BC High President William Kemeza addressed those in attendance.

A 1980 graduate of BC High, Danilecki was recognized for living out the Jesuit ideal of seeing God in all things throughout his 24 years of service at the Boston Police Department. As a lieutenant detective and commander of detectives in Roxbury, Danilecki has had a life-saving impact through his work as a dedicated police officer and committed practitioner of community policing.

Keohane, BC High class of 1953, is the president of CSA Financial Corporation and serves on the board of trustees for BC High. Keohane was honored for his unremitting determination to generously share of his time, talent and treasure. He actively supports the greater community through various charitable organizations, churches and religious orders.

Cotter graduated from BC High in 1953 and later dedicated 41 years of service to the school as the head football coach of the Eagles. He has also served as teacher, counselor, athletic director and mentor. Cotter was recognized for living out the ideals of the St. Ignatius Award by providing encouragement, loyalty and friendship that has stretched far beyond the football field sidelines.