Dominic Savio Award 2026 – Congratulations, Jesse!

Each year at St Dominic’s School, we honour one Year 11 pupil with our most prestigious accolade—the Dominic Savio Award. Our school is named after Dominic Savio, a young Italian boy who lived from 1842 to 1857. He was deeply admired for his kindness, self-respect, respect for others, and his remarkable ability to reflect upon and accept both himself and the challenges he faced. Despite his short life of just 15 years, Dominic worked tirelessly to become the best version of himself and was canonised after his death.

The Dominic Savio Award is a cherished part of our school’s tradition. It is presented annually to a Year 11 pupil who embodies the values exemplified by Dominic Savio. This award allows us to acknowledge and celebrate the significant personal journeys of our pupils.

Staff members who have been part of the school community for a year or more are invited to vote for the pupil they believe most deserves this recognition—someone who has demonstrated true “cheerfulness through adversity”—and to provide reasons for their nomination.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s recipient of the Dominic Savio Award is Jesse. Staff spoke of Jesse’s kindness and quiet determination to succeed. He was someone noted to be a model of resilience, respect and the spirit needed to view setbacks as stepping stones. Jesse himself addressed staff, his family and his peers in chapel this morning to express his gratitude for the support he has been afforded and to courageously share some of his journey.

As has been our tradition since the award’s inception in 1989, Jesse’s name has been added to the Dominic Savio Award Winners’ Board in our main hall and engraved on the commemorative shield—securing his place in the proud history of our school.

We are incredibly proud of all our Year 11 pupils, each of whom has shown remarkable growth, maturity, and resilience. We look forward to celebrating their achievements in the months ahead.