Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award

Dr. Kelly Mollon graduated from St. Marguerite d’Youville Elementary School and attended Father Leo J Austin Catholic Secondary School before the opening of All Saints Catholic Secondary School. She was co-Valedictorian of the first graduating class at All Saints and went on to obtain her Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree from McMaster University. Kelly received her medical degree from the University of Toronto where she also completed her residency training in Family Medicine and Obstetrics.

Kelly practices as a comprehensive family physician in Orillia, Ontario where one of her favourite parts of her job is the honour and privilege of being a small part of when babies are born. She assists in the operating room and is involved in medical education and leadership at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital and the Couchiching Family Health Team. She also spends a few days per month working in a clinic in her community’s local homeless shelter and participates in some occasional medico-legal work.  Kelly sees herself as a strong advocate for primary care, perinatal health, mental health and health for all. 

Teaching has always been important to her and it continues to be a large part of her career. Whether it be training medical learners in her office, mentoring individuals deciding on a career in medicine, training medical residents in Orillia’s new Family Medicine Teaching Unit, or teaching patients day-to-day in her office, Kelly thrives on the opportunity to help others learn and grow.

Over the years, Kelly has remained active in many sports, coaching and giving back to her community through organizations that include the Special Olympics and Best Buddies Canada. She played varsity lacrosse throughout her undergraduate and medical education: the sport she learned to play in her final year of high school at All Saints. Kelly now coaches this through the Orillia Lady Kings organization and hopes to help inspire the love of the game and teamwork in the next generation of athletes. She continues to play hockey in a local women’s league and is an enthusiastic fan at all of her children’s sporting events. 

Of all her roles, the one Kelly is most proud of is being called “Mom” by her incredible, intelligent, kind, compassionate and funny 12 year old son and 9 year old daughter. She is grateful to get to adventure through life with her husband, Brent, who can always make her laugh and has an inspiring work ethic and accomplishments of his own. 

Kelly is grateful for her Catholic education and the teachers who challenged her, stretched her thinking and kept the love of learning and contributing to her community burning strongly. This award is an honour to be remembered and acknowledged by the community that was such a big part of her growing up and becoming who she is today. 

I am so grateful for my Catholic education and the teachers who challenged me, stretched my thinking and kept the love of learning and contributing to my community burning strongly. This award is an honour to be remembered and acknowledged by the community that was such a big part of growing up and becoming who I am today. Thank you.

“Let us be who we are, and be that well, so as to honour the master worker, whose handiwork we are.” - St. Francis de Sales

Bernadette Santiago is an Investigation Advisor with the Toronto District School Board, where she conducts complex investigations involving workplace harassment, student safety, and employee misconduct. She works closely with senior administrators and external partners to ensure fair and timely resolution of high risk-sensitive matters.

Throughout her career, Bernadette has held investigator roles across the regulatory and public sectors, including with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, and Legal Aid Ontario.

Bernadette has served on the Durham Catholic Children’s Foundation Board for four years, including three years as Chair, leading the Foundation from infancy to a thriving organization that raises funds, builds partnerships, and supports programs enhancing student opportunities across the Durham Catholic District School Board. She also serves as a Board Director at Grandview Kids, supporting children and youth with special needs across Durham Region.

She contributes to governance and regulatory committees in Ontario and internationally, including the Ombudsman Association in the United Kingdom, and federally as a Member of the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal.

Bernadette lives in Ajax with her husband and three children, who attend DCDSB schools.

Catholic education teaches more than academics, it nurtures faith, character, and a commitment to serving others. Seeing my three children grow within the Durham Catholic District School Board reminds me how powerful these values are in shaping the next generation.

Ramón K. Pérez is an Eisner and Harvey Award–winning cartoonist and illustrator renowned for his expressive storytelling and dynamic draftsmanship. He is best known for his graphic novel adaptations of Jim Henson & Jerry Juhl’s 1967 screenplay Tale of Sand, and Jane a contemporary reimagining of Jane Eyre created with screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada). His extensive body of work spans both creator-owned and mainstream comics, including Nova: Resurrection (which he co-authored), The Amazing Spider-Man: Learning to Crawl, All-New Hawkeye, and the acclaimed creator-owned series Stillwater with Chip Zdarsky, currently in development for television. Following his recent run on The Flash for DC Comics, Ramón has turned his focus toward completing his long-form personal graphic novel series, Kukuburi. He also serves as Founder and Managing Director of the Royal Academy of Illustration & Design (R.A.I.D.), a multidisciplinary studio, creative agency, and publishing house built on the mandate “For Creators, By Creators.” Through its studio initiatives, publishing arm, and public-facing café and gallery, R.A.I.D. fosters community while championing illustration and sequential storytelling as vital contemporary art forms.

Impact of attending Paul Dwyer Catholic School:

My time at Paul Dwyer Catholic High School came before the school became the strong supporter of the arts it is today. Back then, art class meant a few buckets of paint and hog’s bristle brushes, and drama was a brand-new program — you made great things out of what little you had. What made the difference were the people. Teachers like Diane Aarts and Gino Marcuzzi were incredibly supportive when I first entered high school. Later, educators such as Joe Szekeres, Steve Longauer, and Oliver Pace elevated our ideas and taught with real passion. And mentors like Michael Schneider treated us as equals, pushed us beyond our perceived limits, and inspired us to aim higher. Together, these teachers—and many others—helped shape who I was becoming and laid a strong foundation for my future. As in life, it’s the people around you who define the experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive community during those formative years.

Dr. Kacey Prentice is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto and the Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Pathogenesis. A graduate of Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School in Oshawa (Class of 2006), she went on to earn both her BSc and PhD from the University of Toronto before completing advanced research training at Harvard University. Today, Dr. Prentice leads a research program focused on understanding the biological mechanisms that drive diabetes and metabolic disease, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment for people living with these conditions.

In addition to her research, Dr. Prentice is passionate about teaching and mentorship, supporting and training the next generation of scientists. She also enjoys travelling and building national and international research collaborations that bring scientists together to tackle complex health challenges. She credits her Catholic education with instilling the values of curiosity, compassion, and service that continue to guide her work as a scientist, educator, and member of her community.

My Catholic education instilled in me both a curiosity about the world and a deep respect for the dignity of every person. The values of inclusion, compassion, and service that I learned in school continue to shape how I approach science, mentorship, and education.

Duan Asemota is a Canadian Olympic sprinter and national champion specializing in the 100 metres. He represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 100 metres and the 4×100 metres relay, and in 2025 he became both the Canadian indoor 60 m and outdoor 100 m champion, showcasing national dominance in sprinting. Asemota has run a personal best of 10.03 s in the 100 m and been part of Canada’s World Athletics Relays team. Beyond the track, he serves as an ambassador for Right To Play Canada, using sport to empower youth through confidence and resilience. A proud graduate of Durham Catholic schools, Duan credits his discipline and character to the values instilled through his faith-based education and inspires young people to pursue excellence with strong values.

Keeping God at the center gave our school its soul. That foundation still guides how I compete and how I live.

Joseph DeBenedictis is an Emmy Award–winning video creator, producer, editor, and comedian with more than 400,000 followers and tens of millions of views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Known for his high-energy food adventures, comedic storytelling, and US vs. Canada content, Joseph posts almost daily, building a loyal audience that connects with his personality-driven style.

Joseph began his career working at the Canadian Football League where he created their first ever original documentary productions. He then moved on to producing and editing documentary series, social campaigns, and in-arena content for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Beyond digital content, Joseph develops and produces unscripted television formats through his production company, JOMO Films, where he creates and packages original series for networks and streaming platforms.

My Catholic education instilled in me a belief in service, creativity with purpose, and leading by example. It taught me that success isn’t just measured by achievement, but by how you uplift others along the way. That perspective has shaped every step of my career.