Christian Brothers Academy has come a long way since September 1959.

Founded on an old horse farm in Lincroft, the Academy is wrapping up its 65^th school year with decades of academic, athletic and community accomplishments in tow.

To celebrate this milestone and the success of the Forever CBA campaign, the Academy hosted the 65th Anniversary Gala in late March, bringing together a collection of alumni, parents, Brothers, faculty and friends.

Featuring the terrific Brian Kirk and the Jirks on stage, the night proved to be a fitting tribute to CBA’s decorated past and a bright toast to the future of educating young men of faith, character and action. The proceeds from the Gala will benefit student financial assistance, as well as supporting CBA’s academic and extracurricular programming.

The Academy also organized the 65 Service Challenge for its students, giving them a chance to honor the school’s history by completing community service projects. Typically, only 15-20 hours of service are required each year, yet the challenge asked students to record 65 hours or more in 2024-2025.

Unsurprisingly, 18 seniors completed the 65 hours before the end of April, with dozens more underclassmen finishing the challenge throughout May. Those underclassmen will be recognized during the Academy’s opening week in September.

In late April, Monmouth County Commissioner Erik Anderson presented President Ross Fales and Principal Neil Begley ’96 with a proclamation to commemorate this special year. The proclamation recognized CBA for 65 years of academic excellence, as well as the impact the Academy has had on the greater Monmouth County community.

CBA was specifically commended for its Lasallian teachings of compassion, service and leadership.

“CBA has been blessed to have many people of vision who have worked tirelessly to sustain and grow the mission the Brothers of the Christian Schools,” Fales said. “The success of those efforts has resulted in the education of over 12,000 well-rounded young men, continued development of CBA’s 157-acre campus, investment in faculty and curriculum, as well as the growth of an endowment, scholarship program and student financial assistance.”

From humble beginnings, the Academy has grown into an award-winning academic institution, one that emphasizes the development of the whole person. To that end, successes in athletics, performing arts, community service and more have added unmatched offerings to the student experience.

Commissioner Anderson may have said it best when presenting CBA with the county proclamation.

“The last 65 years of CBA have been such a positive force not only on our community, but the world as a whole,” Anderson told the student body. “I, along with my fellow commissioners, know that over the next 65 years only better things are to come from Christian Brothers Academy.”