The socio-educational project of the Augustinian Recollects in Costa Rica, the Boys’ Town, has reached the end of another academic year, which in the Central American country coincides with the calendar year. Graduation marks the end of a stage for the students completing their time at the center, but it is also a recognition of the work of the educators and the religious community that manages the center.
In the last quarter, several positive developments were received regarding the performance of this comprehensive education provided to the beneficiaries. The Cartago Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Education, organizer of the National Student Games, awarded the Boys’ Town prizes in volleyball, handball, futsal, beach volleyball, and cross-country running.
Five other students shone at Expotécnica with two projects: “Eco Nexus,” for reducing pollution caused by combustion engines; and “Temperature Mitigator,” for improving dairy productivity. They also received an honorable mention for presenting their projects in English.
The Boys’ Town participated in the unveiling of its photographs as a meritorious institution in the halls of the Legislative Assembly, an initiative of Representative Francisco Marín, who had already championed the granting of the title in 2008. Religious leaders, members of the Board of Directors, representatives from the educational sector, and the Student Government were present at the event. From now on, Costa Rican representatives will see these images of the Boys’ Town as they serve their constitutional mandate.
Within the framework of the Educar Network, the Boys’ Town held a virtual meeting with the San José Augustinian School in Villa Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of the South American center’s centennial celebration. The students discussed cybersecurity, sexting, and cyberbullying, and introduced themselves and shared the main characteristics of each of the two schools.
Within the same Educar Network, in 2025 the Boys’ Town received the Melior Certificate of Excellence, a demanding certificate that indicates that the educational center follows the charismatic values of the Augustinian-Recollect Family in its formative ideology and in its daily training.
Finally, on December 10th and 11th, the annual Graduation and End-of-Year celebrations took place, just before the students’ summer break. The graduation prom was held on the evening of the 10th, with the graduating classes of 12th and 9th grade taking center stage—a night filled with elegance, music, and camaraderie.
The graduation ceremony took place the following day at 11:00 a.m., with the two main events—the Eucharist and the presentation of sashes and certificates— held in the sports hall. The Eucharist was presided over by the Bishop of Alajuela, Bartolomé Buigues, a Spanish Amigonian. The ceremony featured a special performance by the Santiago Apóstol Choir.
Starting on December 12, the students went home to enjoy their holidays, while the Town is already preparing for the new school year by launching the student admission process and searching for the necessary collaborators to fulfill all educational functions and services.
In fact, on December 15th, the end-of-year party was held for all the workers, with a lunch, raffles and bingo; and on December 16th there was a Christmas gathering with the human trainers, the people who accompany the students in the hostels during their first year of stay in the City, in a quasi-family regime.
