Community

BCP Alumni

Welcome home. Stay connected

The bonds of brotherhood established at Benedictine last a lifetime. For Cadets from the class of 1911 to last year’s graduates, this is the place to stay connected and up-to-date with Benedictine College Preparatory and fellow alumni. The advancement office strives to create moments and events where our alums are able to connect with each other, with current Cadets, and with their alma mater. Through these connections, it is our hope that we can strengthen the bonds within a brotherhood that spans several decades.
We hope to see as many of our BCP alumni as possible throughout the year at our special events and school activities! Look out for invitations and event information in your inbox and your mailbox, as well as events posted on the Special Events page and on social media. In addition to our two annual magazines (Labora and The Towers), we strive to keep in touch with our alumni through regular email communication and mailers, so it is imperative that you keep your information current (LINK) in our database. 

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

Alumni Headliners

  • Dean Ngendakuriyo '17

    Future Army Medic

    Born in Burundi (East Africa), Dean Ngendakuriyo and his family made their way to the United States when he was six years old. Growing up with a love and talent for football, Dean had his heart set on playing professionally, but always saw his mom (a nurse) as the one who wore the superhero cape. After participating on Benedictine’s Middies football team, Dean saw a future as a Cadet thanks to the Corporate Internship Program. Through that program, he worked at Bon Secours where his love for medicine was heightened. Destined to play football for an ivy league school, Dean instead chose a path in the military via West Point. Unfortunately, Dean experienced several injuries during his four years of playing collegiate football and grew into a deep depression, with a lost sense of identity and hope. Realizing football wouldn’t be his future after college, Dean recalled his time in the hospital and his love for medicine and helping others. After overcoming his own struggles and with his strong Catholic faith as a foundation, Dean became a counselor for his football team and his military company. Now, this summer, Dean will begin his training in the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence and will later be stationed at Fort Hood. When Dean first planned to pursue a career in the medical field, he wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon but after his own battle with depression, he knew God was calling him to something greater. With a desire to bring light to the realities of mental illness, Dean intends to be a psychiatrist for veterans and those serving our country.

  • Rob Wittman '77

    United States Congressman

    Throughout his life, Rob Wittman has continuously asked himself “where can I best serve?,” and what began as a career in public health and science has developed over time and grown into a life of public service. Beginning in 1984 with a desire to give back to his community, Rob helped reform the local Boy Scouts and the Junior Chamber of Commerce which led him to serve on the Montross Planning Commission. And from there, his life in politics took off.
    Over the next 20 years, Rob served on town council, as Mayor, and on the Board of Supervisors before being elected in 2005 to the Virginia House of Delegates. And since 2007, Rob has served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. During his time in office, he authored and helped pass into law the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act,a bill that works to enhance and properly manage Chesapeake Bay programs and resources. And as part of his role on the Natural Resource Committee, he has worked with Virginia’s six Native American tribes to formally receive the federal recognition they deserve. Furthermore, throughout his time in Congress, Rob has been an outspoken advocate for proper defense funding for the United States and for overall global stability. Whether advocating for our men and women in uniform, being a champion of the Chesapeake Bay, or speaking on the House floor, Rob has set a foundation of servant leadership in all that he does. Influenced by his parents, his faith, and his experience at Benedictine and through Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets, Rob is committed to serving others, building a better society, and leading from the heart.

  • Deacon Charles Williams ’69

    Director of the Office for Black Catholics in the Diocese of Richmond

    When his church was closed in the name of integration more than 50 years ago, Rev. Mr. Charles Williams walked away from his faith claiming he did not need the God who allowed it to happen. More than 25 years later, he found his way back to God and immersed himself in his faith and with the goal of effectively serving the black Catholic community. After being ordained in 2013, he became a volunteer chaplain with the diocesan prison ministry and served on the board of GraceInside, an organization aimed at bringing God’s Word to those incarcerated. In 2016, Deacon Charles was recognized for working on the front lines for justice with the national “Keep the Dream Alive Honors” from Catholic Charities USA in appreciation for his lifelong commitment and service. Just two years later, Deacon Charles was appointed director of the Office for Black Catholics to seek opportunities for ongoing inclusion and participation of black Catholics within the life of the diocese. As director, Deacon Charles knows there is a lot of work to be done in Central Virginia. With the realization that there are wounds that need to be healed, he is on a mission to hold listening sessions with the African American Catholic community in an effort to move forward. Constantly seeking ways to change individuals’ minds and hearts, Deacon Charles emphasizes the importance of educating others, engaging in and staying in conversation, and always seeking God’s calling. As only one of two African Americans in his graduating class at Benedictine, he says he always felt cared for and that his voice mattered. Now, he hopes to show that same kindness to other young men – to be that role model – and to show them that they, too, matter.

    *Since original publication, Deacon Charles entered into eternal life on January 27, 2022.

  • Wesley Steelman '15

    Henrico County Police Officer

    “Knowing if someone would have stopped them, they might still be alive.” At the end of his middle school career, Wesley Steelman started researching options for high school and was immediately attracted to Benedictine’s military leadership program where he went on to play varsity baseball and become S-4 Captain. After graduating from Lynchburg College, Wesley was left struggling to figure out his next steps. During his time as a Cadet, he was affected by the deaths of three fellow Cadets (Sam Cadden ’13, Sean Reynolds ’15, and Seth Wilson ’17) – each of whom died in separate automobile accidents.
    As he reflected on his own life and the lives of these Cadets,
    he kept thinking how each of their accidents could have been prevented. In January 2020, after seven months of intense training through the 71st Basic Police Academy, Wesley started his career as a Henrico County police officer. Thinking of his friends, he’s dedicated to road police as he wants to help prevent the loss of life and to save their families the grief of losing a loved one. Wesley even aspires to one day be on the state’s Crash Investigation Team, where he will study, examine, and report on how crashes occur to prevent them from happening again. However, what Wesley likes the most about his job is the interaction with the community. He enjoys learning from citizens, hearing what they need from the police, and how the department can help the community be safer and ensure citizens feel at ease.
12829 River Road
Richmond, VA 23238
Phone: (804) 708-9500
Fax: (804) 784-5410
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