Why St. Benedict’s Students Take on the Appalachian Trail

Most schools test students with exams. St. Benedict’s Prep tests them with a 50-mile hike.

Every freshman must complete the trek—rain, cold, exhaustion, and all—before they can graduate. It’s not just about endurance. It’s about mindset. It’s about learning to keep going even when every part of you wants to stop.

This is more than a school tradition. It’s a blueprint for life.

Why the Hike Exists

In Newark, noise never stops. Sirens, car horns, people yelling—it’s part of the city’s rhythm.

But the woods? Silence.

For many students, that silence is terrifying. The streets they’ve mastered don’t prepare them for this. No shortcuts. No second chances. Just the next step forward.

And that’s the point.

The First Rule: Stay Together

50 miles isn’t about individual success. It’s about the group. No one walks alone.

If one person struggles, the group slows down. If someone’s pack is too heavy, someone else carries it. Empathy isn’t about feeling bad—it’s about taking action.

On the trail, leadership isn’t about being the loudest. It’s about making sure everyone crosses the finish line.

"If I Stop, They Stop"

Sekou, one of the hikers, put it best: “If I wasn’t doing this for them, I wouldn’t be able to do this myself. If I stop here, they’re gonna have to stop, so I better keep pushing.”

That’s the shift. Moving forward isn’t just about you—it’s about everyone around you.

The Moment Everything Clicks

By the end, exhaustion turns into exhilaration. The mountain top feels impossible—until they’re standing on it.

For most, this is their first and last time on a trail like this. But the lesson stays with them. Keep going. Keep pushing. Because if you can do this, you can do anything.

A 50-Year Legacy

In 2023, SBP marked 50 years of this hike.

For Newark Tees Printing Co., it was personal.

As a Newark-based business, they were honored to print the 50th-anniversary hike shirts. The company’s founder? A Newark native, connected to SBP through friends and career paths.

One of those paths led to MBNA, a company co-founded by SBP alumnus Charles M. Cawley (Class of 1958). Cawley’s support helped fund scholarships and shape futures, extending the legacy of SBP beyond the classroom.

“You could feel the DNA of St. Benedict’s Prep at MBNA,” says the founder of Newark Tees. “It’s still the best company I ever worked for.”

More Than Just a Shirt

Printing those commemorative shirts? It wasn’t just another job.

It was a full-circle moment—a reminder that the spirit of perseverance, brotherhood, and leadership at SBP doesn’t stop at the trail.

It keeps moving. Just like the students who take that first step—one foot in front of the other, all the way to the finish line.