Brady Napolitano felt a wave of emotions when his mother handed him the phone and he heard DHS principal Jason Madere’s voice on the other end.
“I kind of knew at that point,” said Napolitano, Destrehan’s salutatorian for the Class of 2025. “I was very excited and happy about it … I worked really hard and it was good to know it meant something.”
Napolitano knew he was in the running for the honor, but wasn’t quite sure of the likelihood. It’s an accomplishment he can look back upon fondly as he departs his high school days and soon heads to Baton Rouge. He will be attending LSU to study biology, with an eye on becoming a doctor.
That career goal was inspired by his mother, Jamie, who received a life-saving heart transplant after suffering a heart attack.
“We’ve always kind of been around the medical field,” Napolitano said. “Also in other ways – I’ve had injuries in sports and have been helped by different doctors. So, I’d like to help other people in that way too.”
It also potentially represents a way for the multi-sport prep athlete to stay connected with sports, as he says he’s got an eye on orthopedic medicine to help athletes recover from injury.
While at Destrehan, Napolitano played linebacker for the football team, while he also competed in track and field – throwing the javelin and running the 400 and 4×800 events – and on the wrestling mat.
He said athletics taught him numerous life skills that he’ll carry forward.
“Especially at Destrehan, you’ve gotta give your all,” Napolitano said. “You’re part of a team. Even with wrestling and track and field, people look at those as more individual competition, but when you better yourself you better the team. You push yourself and you also push others. The coaches want to make you a better athlete, but also help you become a better person. You learn really strong values.”
Those values include dedication, commitment and discipline.
“If you want to achieve anything, you have to have that,” Napolitano said.
He was a member of National English Honor Society, Beta Club, Interact and the Asian Culture Society while at Destrehan.
He has also been an avid volunteer, both through Interact at school, the Boy Scouts and with his church, where he plays bass guitar at services and gives time and effort in community outreach.
“I just feel a need to help others,” Napolitano said. “I’ve been blessed so much in and by this community, and I want to use what I’ve been given to help others. My parents set that example for me, they volunteer a lot too, and I want to do whatever I can.”
Napolitano also volunteers with the Matthew 25:35 food pantry and helps raise awareness to the impact of organ donation to the lives of recipients.
Following major weather events, Napolitano has helped residents with their flooded homes and to clear out damaged furniture and debris, and has delivered food to others hard at work who were doing the same.
Just before he reached high school, he achieved a Life rank with the Boy Scouts in part due to that volunteerism, and he soon progressed to become an Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the scouts program – it takes a minimum of 21 merit badges and one must plan, organize and lead an extensive service project to benefit the community.
As for his success in the classroom, Napolitano said staying organized and prioritizing his schedule helped immensely, as well as being attentive and taking notes in class.
But at the same time, he said achieving a balance between school and fun times with friends made a difference as well.
“Just giving yourself a chance to take a break with your friends before locking back in … that’s always something that’s good to have,” he said.
