It wasn’t high school, yet it was.

The corridors of Hendricken were transformed with strings of lights and ceiling high photographs of Federal Hill and Waterfire. Tables with checkered table cloths were strategically positioned between spreads of cheeses, meats, breads, crackers and fruits while nearby  Hendricken men in white shirts and signature green bow ties served hot dishes and helped guests find a seat.

The cafeteria was both a micro brewery and a vineyard. The beers and the wines were all locally contributed as was the food  catered by restaurants including Matunuck Oyster Bar, Iggy’s, and Chelo’s. Tables with white spreads and curtains of fabric turned McNally Gym into a grand ballroom. It was where former Gov. Donald Carcieri was presented the school’s Distinguished Public Service Award and medals of honor were bestowed on Hendricken alumni Michael Flood, the owner of the Flood Auto Group, and the parent of a Hendricken graduate of the Class of 2011and Joseph Healey, ’84, co-founder of HealthCor Management. Gerald “Gerry” Habershaw, the late Principal of Pilgrim High School (and also formerly the principal of Warwick Veterans Memorial), was posthumously honored. More than 250 attended the Epoch 2023 gala, Celebrating the State of Hope. The evening was capped with an auction run by Hendricken graduate and Channel 12 Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca. The more than $150,000 raised will go into tuition assistance, enabling families who have financial difficulty to send their boys to Hendricken. (Text and photos by John Howell)